Riiki Reid Makes A Splash with New EP ‘Drench’
Aotearoa alt-pop artist Riiki Reid (Ngāti Porou) today unveils her highly anticipated new project, Drench – a five-track collection capturing the euphoria, vulnerability, and bittersweet comedowns of love and change.
Threading together dreamy pop, alternative textures, and dance-driven energy, Drench charts 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.”
Written 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), the EP marks Riiki’s sharpest and most assured artistic statement to date.
Fresh off her show-stopping performance in this year’s World of Wearable Art (WOW)- where she brought her magnetic presence to one of Aotearoa’s most iconic live productions, Riiki continues to prove herself as a boundary-pushing creative force. And the momentum doesn’t stop there – next month, she’ll join international superstar Rob Thomas as a special guest on his New Zealand tour, with performances in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch (November 11, 13, and 15).
Since her early trilogy of EPs (Newer Oxygen, Crash & Collide, and Skin), Riiki Reid has emerged as one of Aotearoa’s most exciting multifaceted talents – supporting Lorde, L.A.B., Benson Boone, and Ashe, performing with Fly My Pretties, fronting a global Maybelline campaign, and appearing at 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.
