Niko Rubio Releases New Single KITTY via Atlantic Records
The track was produced by Austin Corona and Wyatt Bernard and co-written with Zacari.
Niko Rubio has released her latest single, 'kitty,' premiering via Atlantic Records. Produced by Austin Corona and Wyatt Bernard (who executive produced Slayyyter's WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA) and co-written with Zacari (Kendrick Lamar, Skrillex), the track is accompanied by an official lyric video streaming now on YouTube.
''kitty' was the first song I wrote for my upcoming project,' shares Niko Rubio. 'It was the first song I knew had to be mine. I didn't show anyone; I kept it close to my heart and thought it was so weird. I was really afraid of what people would say about it because it was so different to what I had been putting out. Ultimately, the bass/trip-hop drum sound became a signature for this next record, and I ended up diving headfirst into this world. I'm very grateful for this song and for Austin, Wyatt, and Zacari, who produced it and wrote it with me—allowing me to explore the weirdest of places. It became the foundation of all that came after.'
On the song's meaning, she adds, 'It's about a boy who—once again—I shouldn't have been fing with anymore. It's me getting super raw about feeling broken from the men I've loved and being okay with that. It's my internal dialogue: 'f, I need to stop doing this'. It's a heartache song with an admission of guilt.'
'Kitty' also follows last month's breakout single, 'tokyo,' which marks Rubio's biggest streaming debut to date. Produced by Austin Ward (UMI, Erick The Architect) alongside frequent collaborator Lester Mendez (Shakira, Jewel, Nelly Furtado, Enrique Iglesias) and co-written with Olivia Bond, 'tokyo' highlights Rubio's evolving sound, effortlessly blending trip-hop, reggae, pop, and soul elements built on the foundation of her earlier EPs. The song is paired with an official music video directed by Bond, currently available on YouTube. The song quickly became a runaway success, amassing over 2.6M streams in less than three weeks. The track drew high praise from fans and outlets alike, including Stardust Magazine, which declared, 'Strange, magnetic, and remarkably difficult to shake, 'tokyo' cements Rubio as a name to watch while giving 2026 one of its best songs so far.'
Recent months have also seen releases such as 'Fade Into You (Live From Honeysuckle Records),' a sultry live rendition of the Mazzy Star classic. The deeply personal version – which Rubio performed nightly on her debut headline tour earlier this spring – marked her first new music since this spring's release of her critically acclaimed EP, Sunday Girl. The six-song project instantly affirmed the Los Angeles, CA-based artist as one of 2026's most exciting new stars thanks to hits including 'Pink Starburst,' 'Five Star' and the irresistible title track, 'Sunday Girl,' the latter of which was met with praise from outlets including HOLA! and Rolling Stone (which touted it among its 'Songs You Need To Know' playlist).
Rubio, who recently graced the front page of the New York Times' Style section and was hailed as 'SoCal's First Exciting New Pop Star Since Gwen Stefani,' celebrated the arrival of Sunday Girl with her first-ever headline run, The Sunday Girl Tour, which saw sold-out stops at iconic venues, including New York City's Mercury Lounge and Los Angeles, CA's The Echo. During her Los Angeles hometown show, she was joined onstage by singer-songwriter Cuco for a live take on their collaborative fan favorite, 'Sirena,' as well as by Incubus co-founder/guitarist Mike Einziger, who accompanied her for a once-in-a-lifetime rendition of Incubus' iconic indie classic, 'Drive.' Additionally, Rubio took the stage at Los Angeles' historic Hollywood Bowl to join her friend Zuri Marley for a 'Reggae Night XXIV' performance of their hit collaboration, 'Ring Ring.'
About Niko Rubio
Niko Rubio makes music for those moments when words aren't enough. Her songs are perfect for the ride home from the afterparty, the last smoke before bedtime, or the immediate aftermath of a relationship. She taps into the sound of getting high off heartbreak and exhaling raw truth, layering icy trip-hop confessions and psychedelic musings atop sultry reggae rhythms. Sonically, the Mexican-Salvadorian Angelena draws a direct line from the underground parties of downtown Los Angeles to beach days on the Redondo coast (and back again). The Los Angeles-born singer-songwriter has quietly asserted herself as a true original. Since her emergence in 2021, she has carefully curated a singular vision, re-imagining her Latin and Southern California roots through an authentically alternative prism. She dropped a series of EPs, setting the stage for a breakthrough with 2026's Sunday Girl. In the latter's wake, The New York Times lauded her as 'SoCal's First Exciting New Pop Star Since Gwen Stefani,' while WONDERLAND applauded the songstress as 'a relatable, self-aware new voice blending alt-pop, her Latin roots and candid storytelling.' She notably sold out the majority of her first-ever headline tour, which culminated with surprise guest spots from Cuco and Mike Einziger of Incubus at the hometown show. Prior, she had honed her presence as a powerhouse performer on the road with Omar Apollo, Role Model, Caroline Polachek, The Marías, and The Tulips as well as on the stages of Lollapalooza, Summerfest, Corona Capital, and beyond. Having amassed over 30 million streams and earned widespread acclaim from outlets like Rolling Stone, PAPER, OnesToWatch, and HOLA!, she invites listeners to dive into a world like no other with her latest singles, 'tokyo' and 'kitty,' with even more on the horizon.
