Niques aka Shanique Pearce, is a vibrant emerging artist from Cardiff’s music scene, part of a vanguard of hip-hop and electronic artists (like Mace the Great, Minas, Sage Todz) who are breaking down walls for artists in Wales and beyond. Over the next few years, you won’t be able to miss Niques’s talent that’s burning brightly, she affectionately explores nostalgic musical directions whether it’s hip hop, R&B or garage but she brings them bang up to date – stamping each cut with her own style, addictive and intricate flow and cramming them with her effervescent personality, addictive hooks, quickfire rapping and constantly inventive ear for melody. Ripe with social commentary, self-empowerment and informed by her experiences growing up, Niques isn’t just a fascinating artist she’s also a live wire full of personality.
Her ace new single ‘Don’t do me Wrong’ out today, produced by the innovative artist Zippy is richly detailed with sample loops and glowing beats, Niques tapping into a rich seam of melody recalling the R&B, old school hip hop and future sound of the likes of TLC and Mary J Blige with her own Cardiff twist. Ripe with a hypnotic sway decorating her ability to effortlessly sew fiery bars with infectious sing-alongs, wrestling with the “themes of love’s vulnerability”, she asserts she won’t take any messing from an off-again-on-again partner. Melding intricate, earworm production and the catchy hooks of a chorus that burrows its way into your head, it’s another refreshing and self-empowered track from Niques.
It’s not an exception over the last few years she’s been proving her prodigious talent one release and performance at a time. Niques made an impact on the music scene with her debut single, ‘Love Mixed with Aggression,’ in 2020. This track quickly caught the attention of music lovers and critics alike, establishing her as an artist to watch. Building on this momentum, she followed up with a series of projects that showcased her versatility and talent, including ‘Coming to My Yard,’ ‘Reckless,’. While last year’s ‘I’ve Found My Way’ married glistening beats to bouncing keyboard lines, and a soulful refrain that shows her personal growth and strength of character and her unity with those who helped her along the way. Littering it with a radiant flow, showing the path she’s following, and the ambition she burns brightly with.
“We need some more girls in here/too many men on the stage unfair/I thought you were all feminist out there” spits Niques, on her inventive, witty and prescient bars bounding across ‘GRIME’ a playful cut. She calls out the lack of female artists on the stage; she’s also part of the righteous Ladies of Rage group, in Cardiff, who have been championing talented women in the burgeoning hip-hop scene. Clocking in at under two minutes, it was another tantalising example of Niques fearsome talent.
Niques might be inspired by the ’90s and early ’00s eras and implements that into her music to make it nostalgic but current. Her lyrical content ranges from personal experiences to social commentary as she takes inspiration from her current environment and past experiences. Experiencing health challenges growing up, she now faces life with a “seize the day ” attitude, to “do what makes you happy and don’t wait on anyone – follow your gut and do all the things that scare you because fear reminds us all we’re alive.”
Collaboration has been a key aspect of Niques’s career, allowing her to explore different sounds and styles. Her work with Foreign Concept and Sam Binga, particularly their collaboration on the track ‘Come Back Round’ under Pineapple Records, grew her audience.
Teaming up recently with the former rapper now known as Lupole, previously Elro, and working with Minas, she dove headfirst into collaborative projects that have spanned the realm of music production. Her partnership with Lupole has yielded a string of singles works that have honed in on the intricacies of their distinct and nostalgic sound that has come to define their collective identity.
She’s opened up for Manga and D double E and Edinburgh’s ‘Push the Boat festival’. Niques even got to open for the legend that is Grand Master Flash in the summer of 2023, cementing her reputation as an artist with a magnetic stage presence and infectious delivery. She’s also hooked up with BBC 1xtra at the iconic BBC Maida Vale Studios the lady herself has spoken when featuring on Their RnB Cypher. She also recently joined LUKE RV, Mace and snow on Rinse SWU radio in Bristol having showcasing and free-styled on the show.
In her other occupation, she works as a care worker. She also revealed she was once told that Love Island wanted to use one of her tracks only to turn her back on the idea when they wanted to use “too much autotune” on it.
Her recent single ‘Mate‘ meanwhile is a summery garage banger that bounces on a dance floor beat and cut-up horn samples, with Niques’s witty and impish bars bursting into an empowering chorus. It brings to mind the work of the Artful Dodger, yet given its own Niques twist. Catchy and playful, but delivered with a grin and a don’t-mess-with-me attitude. This blend of harmonious sounds and lively tempo will enrapture your senses, enveloping you in a wave of nostalgia for summer, that you won’t soon forget.
Niques’s journey is one of relentless drive and determination. Her hard work has not gone unnoticed, with BBC Bitesize highlighting her achievements and the Youth Music Awards nominating her as a Rising Star.
With a string of releases planned, she is “focused on continuing to evolve as an artist. With new projects on the horizon, I want to expand my influence and leave an indelible mark on the music world.” She promises a “deeply personal” long player sewn together by elements of her experiences, when it finally emerges next year, we will be all ears and eyes on this exciting Welsh artist and fearless individual, Niques.
Images by 7PG Video Productions
