Niki Kennedy – “Gardenias”

Born in Auckland and now based in Toronto, Canada, this Kiwi singer-songwriter grew up in a vibrant multicultural household. She fell in love with musical theatre and involved herself in acting and singing. At 16 she moved to Canada and enrolled in the Randolph College for the Performing Arts. Since then she’s played festivals like PNE Winter Fair and venues like Guilt & Company. Inspired by Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson and OneRepublic, she debuted with “Cheque, Please” in 2018.

Paying tribute to the memory of her late grandmother, her new single focuses on celebrating life with joy instead of grief. Infusing her lyrics with hope, healing and a sense of peace, the song also embodies the little things that make us feel close to those we’ve lost when we need it most. This ballad is beautifully constructed with an acoustic piano and is slowly ascending with a mild rhythm. And with her vocals taking us from fragile to soaring, this tune honors her grandmother with style.