J'NIQUE NICOLE

J’Nique Nicole is an American singer-songwriter currently based in Tokyo, Japan. She is best known for her songwriting and vocal contributions to NieR: Automata, the critically acclaimed and award-winning video game developed by Square Enix. Her distinctive voice also features in Street Fighter 6 as the lead vocalist for Elena’s theme, “Beats in My Heart,” and she has served as a backing vocalist for several prominent Japanese R&B artists, including Toshinobu Kubota, AI, HIRAIDAI, and Ryuji Imaichi.

 

Having spent her early childhood between Yokota Air Force Base in Tokyo and Nashville, Tennessee, J’Nique returned to Japan in 2012 to pursue a career in music. She began performing in intimate venues such as lounges, clubs, and private events, gradually building a reputation that led to her first major performance as a backing vocalist for Grammy Award-winning artist Ashanti in October 2013.

 

To date, J’Nique has participated in 11 major tours, including AI’s Wa to Yo tour, Toshinobu Kubota’s LOK and Beautiful People tours across Japan, and the NieR:Orchestra Concert 12024 [end of data] world tour, with performances across North America, Europe, the UK, and Asia.

 

J’Nique wrote the English lyrics and performed vocals for “Weight of the World,” the main theme of NieR: Automata. Her voice is also featured on several other standout tracks from the game’s soundtrack, such as “A Beautiful Song,” which was spotlighted during the 2024 Olympics, and “Memories of Dust.”

 

NieR: Automata has sold over nine million units globally, supported by a highly successful soundtrack and two concert DVD/Blu-ray releases. The project has received numerous accolades, including Best Score/Soundtrack, and J’Nique was honored with the award for Outstanding Solo Artist for her contributions.

 

Her additional video game credits include “Miracle Groovin’,” “Rainbow Overload,” and “High on Life” from FOAMSTARS; “Elusive Freedom” from Gran Saga, composed by Yoko Shimomura (Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy); and “A Moment in My Nightmares” from Girls’ Frontline. She also contributed vocals to “Cat Attack Part I” for the Cowboy Bebop live-action soundtrack.

 

Although she has the ability to sing in both English and Japanese, J’Nique primarily writes and performs in English. Her debut album, This Is Only The Beginning, released in 2021, was entirely self-written, arranged, and executive produced. The album's second single, “BAE,” was a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition.

 

Stay tuned for new music from J’Nique Nicole, coming soon.