Artist
Nilka
Nilka
Alternative-Pop singer/songwriter based in Nashville, Nilka combines elements of dark alt pop with opera to create a unique pop sound with dream-like qualities.
For fans of: Lorde, Ruelle, Feist, Halsey, London Grammar, Zella Day
Featured Placements
"Arrow" - Light as a Feather S2 E8 - Hulu
"Metamorphosis" - Light as a Feather S1 E9 - Hulu
Check out Nilka's music video for her single "Sandcastle":
Discover more by this artist
Official artist website
Albums
Songs
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Nilka Bowman (BMI) 100%
Description
Mid-tempo acoustic driven piano ballad about not giving in to anxiety and social pressures you feel. Not being ashamed of who you are or for not fitting in perfectly, but feeling the emotional pain of rejection. BPM - 168
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Verse 1
There’s no hiding
From their watching
I can feel them staring
Downward spiraling
Constant mocking
Still it’s not apparent
How many days
How many ways
Will I be the outcast
No denying
Or conforming
I am what I am
Chorus
Open these veins
If I’m only human
I won’t stop bleeding
And I’m not ashamed
If I’m only human
I can’t stop breathing
Refrain
Breathing for You
For you (x2)
Verse 2
When will they see
They’re just like me
We all need an answer
Hate and envy
So intensely
Emotional cancer
I am no saint
I have caused pain
While lacking compassion
Without treaty
We are deadly
Raise your firearms
Chorus
Refrain
Bridge
If living is dying first
I’ll take their worst
And until they understand
They can, they can
Chorus
Refrain -
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Nilka Bowman (BMI) 100%
Description
A slow, piano driven ballad about staying in a love that you want to get out of but the other person keeps convincing you to stay. Breaking up and getting back together multiple times and getting hurt over and over. Reaching your limit. BPM - 108
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Verse 1
You’ve been creeping in closer and closer
And invaded these walls that I hold up
Try to think it through over and over
But I continue to fall for the setup
Chorus
Put the lock and chains
on my intuition, I keep wishing
you would walk away
But you’re still pushing, so persistent
How long will it take
Oh before we learn that this is a mistake
It always ends the same
My heart was made to break
My heart was made to break
Verse 2
Will I ever perceive the misfortune
Does the anguish I feel ever go numb
Cause swear it just heals for the torture
And leaves me with curses from my tongue
Chorus
Bridge
I reached my limit
And I was good with it
But you wrestled with it
And now I might give it
One more hit, I’ll risk it
Although I’m a cynic
I’m too tied up in this
Chorus -
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Nilka Bowman (BMI) 100%
Description
A slow, piano ballad about facing the things about your significant other/anyone you love that you have problems with based on their past actions. Seeing through the lies and deception that they made you believe while you were in love/deep in the relationship. BPM - 87
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Verse 1
Blind to love, I believed every word you said
Enough lies and schemes planted in my head
I was twisted up
Twisted up bad
Twisted up, twisted
Pre Ch
I came up close to the fire
It’s only a matter of time
Before the smoke clears away
And though the flames would get higher
Light became brighter and shown
On all the games that you played
Chorus
And now I see you for
Who you really are
Yeah now I see you for
Who you really are
Verse 2
Played it cool all along
You put on a show
For fools, mask is gone
And now I finally know
The truth everything that
You do is for you
Everything that you do
Pre Ch
Chorus
Chorus
Refrain
The uglier that you get
The harder to find a mask that fits
The uglier your soul gets
The harder to find a mask that fits
The uglier that you get
The harder to find a mask that fits
The uglier your soul gets
The harder to find a mask that fits -
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writers
Nilka Bowman (BMI) 50% / Mick Utley (old) (ASCAP) 50%
Description
A pop track about not letting anyone walk all over you
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Strike
Verse 1
Sink to the bottom, to the bottom
With the very last breath you breathe
Now you got ‘em, now you got ‘em
Shook the earth and set captives free
In the morning, in the morning
Rising up to claim victory
Not a warning, not a warning, not a warningChorus 1
Every time that you strike, you strike
Not a fool can catch it down, catch it down
Like a fire-bolt in the night, the night
Flare up when you hit the ground, hit the ground
You light a crack in the sky, the sky
With a gunshot sound, ring out, ring out
Every time that you strike, you strike
This world turns back around back aroundVerse 2
Stuck in a cycle, in a cycle
Human suffering and deceit
Faulty idols, faulty idols
Lining up to take our beliefs
Love and glory, love and glory
Storming in as the prophecy
Not a warning, not a warning, not a warningChorus x2
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Nilka Bowman (BMI) 100%
Description
In this suspenseful & moody track, Nilka describes a haunting voice that calls her to come home. Though she describes herself as a wanderer, she likens the voice to an "arrow" she must always follow.
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Paralyzed and for some time
But I feel a change in these bones of mine
Yeah I feel a pulse, I feel a rise
I feel it, I feel it
Breaking from these icy chains
I hear the fire that speaks my name
It begs me to come home again
I hear it, I hear it
Bound to the arrow
Calling me to follow
Calling me to follow now (x2)
And it haunts me, haunts meYeah it haunts me, haunts me (x2)
Running & cross a garnished pave
Was chosen by this path I take
And soon I'll reach those pearly gates
I'll reach them, I'll reach them
Bound to the arrow
Calling me to follow
Calling me to follow now (x2)
And it haunts me, haunts meYeah it haunts me, haunts me (x2)
Oh I've been led out of the dark
By the ringing in my heart
And I may wander back and forth
But I am always headed north
Because I’m…
Bound to the arrow
Calling me to follow
Calling me to follow now (x4)
And it haunts me, haunts meYeah it haunts me, haunts me (x2)
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Nilka Bowman (BMI) 100%
Description
A dark pop track, Metamorphosis is about having a breakthrough, resurrecting the life inside of you, and becoming someone new. It features vocals from a classical choir.
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Heart built like a cage
Home to all the cannibals
Calcium and hate
Making up my weary bones
Holding back ain't easy
Still there is a breakthrough
Everlasting flame
Melting down a frozen mold
Reform, refine, reborn
Metamorphosis (x6)
Wings of dust and gold
Resurrect the life of me
Breath of truth and love
Exhale the enemy
Never fully graved we
Brace for the abrasion
Everlasting stone
Ground this new identity
Reform, refine, reborn
Metamorphosis (x6)
Burn with the fire let it sear through my veinsHeld by the solid rock of ages
Thread with the spirit inter-tangled
Til' I am a mirror of the light(Classical Vocal)
Metamorphosis (x6) -
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Nilka Bowman (BMI) 100%
Description
This track is about going where you've never gone, breaking boundaries, and finding the strength to keep moving and keep looking ahead, despite the hurdles you might face.
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Lost my way from the coastline
Constellations are my guide
Have no fear where this could go
Drifting into the unknownThese are deep waters
These are deep waters
Calling me farther
Calling me...(Ah, ah, ah) Nobody can shake me
(Ah, ah, ah) I’m breaking the boundaries
(Ah, ah, ah) Keep on defying, (with my)
(Ah, ah, ah) Eyes on the horizon
(With my) Eyes on the horizon (x3)
With my…Swallowed by a couple of whales
Hurricanes tore up my sails
But no large fish or bad weather
Can take down my adventure
These are deep waters
Making me stronger
These are deep waters
Calling me farther(Ah, ah, ah) Nobody can shake me
(Ah, ah, ah) I’m breaking the boundaries
(Ah, ah, ah) Keep on defying, (with my)
(Ah, ah, ah) Eyes on the horizon
(With my) Eyes on the horizon (x3)
With my…Can’t see what lies ahead
This fog is almost blinding
If I lose my way again
I’m far too gone for finding
Might never reach the end
Will I settle with the tiding?
Until a new day reminds me…(Ah, ah, ah) Nobody can shake me
(Ah, ah, ah) I’m breaking the boundaries
(Ah, ah, ah) Keep on defying, (with my)
(Ah, ah, ah) Eyes on the horizon
(With my) Eyes on the horizon (x3)
With my… -
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Nilka Bowman (BMI) 100%
Description
This empowering track is about finding your voice and finding the courage to speak up.
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Bound by a hollow grave
Deep breathe in before the chase
Run until you lose it
Only you can prove it
Rise up for your people here
Find strength in the weight of fear
Push until you’re through it
Only you can move itThere’s fire in your eyes
A flame that burns the night away
The drum that beats your heart
Could pound the earth apart
Til’ it breaks, so howl it out
Even if your voice shakes
Even if your voice shakes
Take back what you used to hold
Your soul is the bravest soul
I know, only you can prove it
There’s fire in your eyes
A flame that burns the night away
The drum that beats your heart
Could pound the earth apart
Til’ it breaks, so howl it out
Even if your voice shakes
Ah ooh, Ah ooh, Ooh ooh
There’s fire in your eyes
A flame that burns the night away
The drum that beats your heart
Could pound the earth apart
Til’ it breaks, so howl it out
Even if your voice shakes
Even if your voice shakes -
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Nilka Bowman (BMI) 100%
Description
With cosmic imagery, this track describes two lovers who feel as if they are in their own galaxy when they are together.
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I'm hanging onto the edge
Before the fall
If you would catch me there
I could let goSo far, so far, wherever we are
So far, so long as we’re togetherAll the stars align
Every time you kiss me
And our hearts collide
Cosmic romancing
Will you hold me close to you?
In our galaxy for two
I know you feel the way
The earth is still
When you and I slip away
To our own worldSo far, so far, wherever we are
So far, so long as we’re togetherAll the stars align
Every time you kiss me
And our hearts collide
Cosmic romancing
Will you hold me close to you?
In our galaxy for twoBoy this love, boy this love, boy this love
Expands throughout the skies
The way you love, way you love, way you love
Is every kind of right
All the stars align
Every time you kiss me
And our hearts collide
In a cosmic romancing
Will you hold me close to you?
In our galaxy for two -
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Versions
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Writer
Nilka Bowman (BMI) 100%
Description
Taking a step back and looking at the world around you.
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Verse 1:
I’ve see the battle burn cities down
With just a chill in the air
Humans are greener than island palms
Sometimes they don’t even bleed
Verse 2:
You took your step onto spiral grounds
Now you need to beware
I am a hunter with siren songs
I paint my life like a dream
Pre Ch 1:
Just keep your eyes on me
Just keep your eyes on me
Just keep your eyes on me
Just keep...Chorus 1:
Look at my castle by the water
Made with the finest sands at sea
Look at my crown and shells to treasure
Ooh, don’t you wish you were me?Verse 3:
At first what started out innocent
Has turned morality vague
Should head and heart take on different realms
That’s when you’ve lost controlVerse 4:
Hear these confessions from my expense
Once you have entered the game
The only way you can save yourself
Is to forfeit your thronePre Ch 2:
Just keep your eyes on me
Just keep...Chorus 2:
Look at my castle by the water
Made with the finest sands at sea
Look at my crown and shells to treasure
Ooh, don’t you wish you were me?
Until the tide rolls in, my turn to sink or swim
And there’ll be nothing left for you to seeBridge:
Oh who, who am I kidding?
Who, who am I kidding? (Just keep your eyes on me)
Oh who, who am I kidding? (Just keep)
Tell me who, who am I kidding? (Just keep your eyes on me, just keep)Chorus 3:
Look at my castle by the water
Made with the finest sands at sea
Look at my crown and shells to treasure
Ooh, don’t you wish you were me?
Until the tide rolls in, my turn to sink or swim
And there’ll be nothing left for you to see
When my kingdom is washed away by the sea -
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full-length
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full-length instrumental
Description
A haunting cover of Bill Withers' 1971 hit.
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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
It's not warm when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long
Anytime she goes awayWonder this time where she's gone
Wonder if she's gone to stay
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes awayAnd I know
Hey, I oughtta leave young thing alone
But ain't no sunshine when she's goneAin't no sunshine when she's gone
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away -
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full-length 4:50
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full-length instrumental 4:50
Description
A moody and haunting cover of the Christmas song "O Come O Come Emmanuel."
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O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O IsraelO come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel[Non-lyric vocal interluede]
O come, Thou Day-Spring from on high
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O IsraelRejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel -
