Nikki Wishart is an indie-pop, singer-songwriter from Melbourne Australia who has crafted a song that tells the story of a destructive relationship and its emotional aftermath. “Compromised” is a vulnerable record that dives deep into the painful nuances of heartbreak.
The single begins with an organ and rhythmic SFX, faintly and delicately existing in the mix as Wishart’s strong and beautiful voice swims through the mix as she expresses lyrics about messing up and the setbacks in her relationship. The open space to begin the song creates an intimate timbre from the beginning which serves the context of the song really well.
A higher octave is then introduced with the organ, leading to a beautiful piano melody, ultimately segueing to a four-on-the-floor beat. This anticipation, but patience within the song’s dynamics works really well as a symbolic progression of a destructive relationship. You can feel for Wishart as many can relate with the feeling of a relationship that isn’t seemingly mutual, but also having the questions of whether or not these insecurities are justified or just misguided thoughts in our heads.
The final hook introduces a reverberated snare, adding energy of the song. There are also great subtle choices like a staccato violin that is tucked just inside the mix alongside vocal ad-libs that pan throughout the sound spectrum. These choices add to the cinematic, emotive feel of “compromised”. At three minutes and eighteen seconds, the song concludes, feeling lean and efficiently powerful.
There are an infinite amount of heartbreak songs in the canon of music, but rarely do we get ones that feel refreshing and as sincere as what Nikki Wishart has created. This is a beautiful song and we look forward to hearing what’s next from the Melbourne artist.
Written by Jon Kagan
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