Nikki Nicole is a pop and R&B singer-songwriter from New Jersey who went viral in 2024 for arranging and singing Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” with the Harvard Opportunes, a video her press kit says passed 13 million views. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard that spring, and since then music has had her full attention. Her newest single, “19,” came out in April.
At a glance
- Name: Nikki Nicole (born Nicole Alexander)
- From: New Jersey
- Sound: Pop and R&B
- Known for: The Harvard Opportunes’ “How Will I Know” cover (arrangement + solo)
- Education: Harvard, magna cum laude, social studies (2024)
- Newest single: “19” (April 10, 2026)
- Following: about 115,600 on TikTok, 3.4 million likes
- Handle: @nikkinicolemusic
Who is Nikki Nicole?
Nikki has been on stage since she was seven, when she and her twin sister started performing as the duo Coco & Jojo. After nearly a decade together, she went solo in 2019 and released her debut single, “Let It Rain,” that July. A year later she and her sister made national news when both were accepted to five Ivy League schools. They picked Harvard, where Nikki kept recording, opened campus shows for Social House and Baby Tate, and joined the Harvard Opportunes, which she describes as the university’s oldest all-gender a cappella group.
Her songs are about life, love, heartbreak and strength, and her website describes her as a singer, songwriter and entertainer “with a love for music and a passion for writing and telling engaging stories.”
Nikki Nicole, in her own words
The questions below are ours. Every answer is Nikki’s own words, taken from her “Who is NIKKI?” video (October 2024), her statement on “Confidential” to FEMMUSIC (July 2025) and her comments to CBS News (May 2020). They have been lightly trimmed for length.
When did you know music was it for you?
Nikki: “I was just 2 years old when I first stepped into a recording studio. … Today my dad manages recording artists, including me, and produces music all from our very own home.”
Source: Who is NIKKI? (2024)
How did you go from a duo with your sister to a solo career?
Nikki: “In 2010 I made my YouTube debut with my twin sister. … After nearly a decade of performing with my sister, I transitioned to being a solo artist in 2019. That year I was granted the opportunity to participate in Future Music Moguls, a 14-week program offered by the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University. … By the end of the program I had released my debut single, ‘Let It Rain.’”
Source: Who is NIKKI? (2024)
Most artists drop school to chase music. Why didn’t you?
Nikki: “I think the unique thing about me is that I’m really well-rounded and I’m committed to everything that I do. Music is my passion. It’s the thing that I’ve wanted to do my entire life, but I never wanted it to become something that stopped me from pursuing something equally important: my education.”
Source: Who is NIKKI? (2024)
Were you surprised to get into all five Ivy League schools?
Nikki: “I’ve often thought, well, we’ve put in the time, the hard work, and we have the grades. I don’t see why we can’t get in.”
Source: CBS News, May 2020
What happened with “How Will I Know”?
Nikki: “While with my a cappella group I had the opportunity to solo and arrange a rendition of ‘How Will I Know’ by Whitney Houston. The video ended up getting a lot of social media attention, earning recognition from the GRAMMYs. … This exposure introduced me to a whole new audience. People were connecting with not only my voice but my journey as a young woman pursuing a degree at Harvard.”
Source: Who is NIKKI? (2024)
Where did “Confidential” come from?
Nikki: “When I first heard the track, I had all these melodic ideas but hadn’t written a word. Then I glanced at the bottom of the producer’s email and saw the line: ‘This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential.’ I froze. That word stuck with me, and it ended up unlocking the story I needed to tell.”
Source: FEMMUSIC, July 2025
What is the song really about?
Nikki: “When you’re pursuing a career as an artist, there’s this unspoken pressure to make every detail of your life public. But I’ve learned how sacred it is to keep certain moments just for yourself. That’s what this song is about: the desire to explore something new with someone and keep it between you while you figure out what it really means.”
Source: FEMMUSIC, July 2025
What does this chapter mean to you?
Nikki: “This record feels especially meaningful. It’s the first glimpse of a larger project that reflects who I’m becoming, both as a woman and as an artist.”
Source: FEMMUSIC, July 2025
And now that school is done?
Nikki: “Now as a college graduate, I’m ready to give my all to my career as an artist, and so I invite you to step into my world, the world of Nikki Nicole.”
Source: Who is NIKKI? (2024)
What is Nikki Nicole’s new song “19” about?
“19” is her newest single, released April 10, 2026, and it has already become her most-played song on Spotify. Her TikTok bio now opens with “19 out now.” It follows “Confidential,” which came out August 1, 2025, produced by Tone & Jonk for SLMM Productions and mastered at Sterling Sound by Grammy-winning engineer Chris Gehringer, whose credits include Dua Lipa and Doechii.
Reader poll
Have you heard Nikki Nicole’s “19” yet?
What are Nikki Nicole’s best songs?
Her catalog is all singles so far, released steadily since 2019:
- “19” (2026), her newest and most-streamed on Spotify.
- “Confidential” (2025), a slow-burn about keeping love private.
- “OUT” with Ron Browz (2024), a kiss-off anthem that inspired her “Baby I’m Out” hoodie.
- “Girlfriend (I Don’t Wanna)” with Ofshane (2024), produced with Groove Team Entertainment.
- “Selfish” (2023), produced by Groove Team and denzbeats.
- “Take It Back” and “Different” (2022), “Strangers” (2021), and “Girlfriend,” “Double Take” and “I’m Still Learnin’” (2020).
- Holiday releases: “Winter Wonderland” (2024) and the original “Counting on Christmas” (2025).
This fall she has also been featured on a run of gospel singles by Uncle CooL, including “I Can’t Escape These Walls,” “Lord, See About Me,” “God Is Keeping Me” and “I Survived The Storms.”
Why is Nikki Nicole’s story getting attention?
Part of it is the résumé. In 2020 she and her twin sister, Jessica, were accepted to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Penn and Dartmouth, a story picked up by the Associated Press and CBS News. They told CBS they would be the first generation of their family to attend college. Her own press kit puts it plainly: her story of balancing Ivy League academics with a growing music career “resonates with all demographics.”
The other part is the voice. The Opportunes’ “How Will I Know” clip spread far past campus, and the arrangement was chosen for Varsity Vocals’ Best of College A Cappella 2024 compilation. Her TikTok, where she posts covers and R&B flips of pop songs, now has about 115,600 followers and 3.4 million likes, and her press kit counts more than 154,000 followers across platforms.
Where to find Nikki Nicole
- Website and press kit: nikkinicolemusic.com
- TikTok: @nikkinicolemusic
- Instagram: @nikkinicolemusic
- YouTube: Nikki Nicole
- Spotify: Nikki Nicole · Apple Music: Nikki Nicole
- All links: beacons.ai/nikkinicolemusic
Sources
- Nikki Nicole official website and electronic press kit
- “Who is NIKKI?”, Nikki Nicole on YouTube, October 3, 2024
- “Nikki Nicole – Confidential,” FEMMUSIC, July 31, 2025
- “Twins who got in to 5 Ivy League schools make their choice,” CBS News via Yahoo, May 4, 2020
- “Twin sisters from NJ accepted to 5 Ivy League schools,” Associated Press via FOX 29
- “How Will I Know,” The Harvard Opportunes on YouTube, July 19, 2024
Frequently asked questions
Who is Nikki Nicole?
Nikki Nicole is a pop and R&B singer-songwriter from New Jersey. Born Nicole Alexander, she started performing at seven with her twin sister, went solo in 2019, and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 2024 with a degree in social studies.
Is Nikki Nicole the singer from the Harvard “How Will I Know” video?
Yes. She arranged and sang the solo on the Harvard Opportunes’ cover of Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know.” Her press kit says the video passed 13 million views across platforms, and the arrangement was picked for Varsity Vocals’ Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) 2024 album.
What is Nikki Nicole’s newest song?
“19,” released April 10, 2026. It is currently her most-played track on Spotify. Before that came “Confidential” (August 1, 2025).
Did Nikki Nicole get into five Ivy League schools?
Yes. In 2020 she and her twin sister, Jessica, were accepted to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth. Both chose Harvard and announced it on Inside Edition.
Where is Nikki Nicole from?
New Jersey. News coverage of the twins’ 2020 Ivy League acceptances identified them as graduates of Clifton High School in Clifton, N.J.
How do I book Nikki Nicole?
Her website lists Groove Team Entertainment (info@grooveteam.com) for inquiries, and her TikTok lists info@nikkinicolemusic.com.
Bill Choudhry is a digital marketer who specializes in e-commerce, with a not-so-secret knack for the entertainment industry. He channels that passion into features and interviews for The LA Note.
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