Aotearoa alt-pop artist RIIKI REID today unveils her highly anticipated new project, DRENCH - a five-track collection capturing the euphoria, vulnerability, and bittersweet comedowns of love and change. Listen HERE.Threading together dreamy pop, alternative textures, and dance-driven energy, DRENCHcharts the arc of a season: from the thrill of a first summer fling ('Indulgent'), to the nostalgic ache of romance that may not survive beyond its glow ('Candy'), to heartfelt tributes to shifting friendships ('Race Against My Heartbeat'). Closing with the shimmering single 'What If', RIIKI brings the project full circle - reflecting on whether fleeting connections can withstand real life.
Speaking on the project, RIIKI shares, "DRENCH is about completely immersing yourself in every emotion - the highs, the heartbreak, the nostalgia. I wanted it to feel like an endless summer, but one that's honest about how seasons change. This music is a happy pill, but it's also a reminder to embrace everything that comes with love and life."
After earning acclaim from Rolling Stone Australia/New Zealand, Milky, The Music, and Women In Pop - and dominating the NZ Airplay Charts for seven consecutive weeks with 'Over Romantic' (remaining in the Top 40 for 14 weeks) - DRENCHmarks RIIKI's sharpest and most assured artistic statement to date. For the new EP, she teamed up with a stellar roster of collaborators, including Josh Fountain (BENEE, Ruel, Ladyhawke), Djeisan Suskov (LEISURE, Mitch James), Shungudzo Kuyimba (Jessie Ware, Kylie Minogue), Robby De Sa (The Veronicas, MAY-A, Coterie), and Phoebe Sinclair (Peptalk).
Fresh from her show-stopping performance at this year's World of WearableArt (WOW), RIIKI brought her magnetic presence to one of Aotearoa's most iconic live productions, continuing to cement herself as a boundary-pushing creative force. And the momentum is only building, next month she'll join international superstar Rob Thomas as a special guest on his New Zealand tour, with tour dates in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
In recent years, RIIKI REID has solidified her position as a rising star. Splitting her time between Australia and New Zealand, she has captivated audiences with acclaimed EPs and unforgettable live performances. Her impressive resume includes opening for global powerhouses such as Lorde, Benson Boone, and Ashe. Beyond the stage, RIIKI REID has been the face of global campaigns for prestigious brands like Maybelline and graced the stages of major festivals including Jim Beam Homegrown, Sound Splash, and Electric Avenue.
With DRENCH, RIIKI pulls all sides of her artistry together into a bold, crystalline vision - one that places her firmly among the generation's most exciting new voices.