A MUSIC star is preparing to launch her new album.

Niko is returning with 'Electric Union' on October 22 via ATIC Records.

Niko created ATIC Records, an independent record label based in Barrow, with producer Aim, after she left Grand Central Records in 2005.

The singer was born in Seattle but also lived in New York City after gaining a music scholarship to study jazz at the prestigious New School of Music and The Telonious Monk Institute.

She now lives in Barrow.

Succeeding her debut album Life on Earth and follow-up Hate & Love, Electric Union sees Niko pursuing a more focused dance and electro-lounge soundscape where her delicate vocal melodies marry thick beats, gritty synth bass and layers of abstract keyboards.

“I set out to make a record that made me want to dance in the club, chill in the lounge and go for a late-night cruise in the car, all at the same time. Also, I’ve always wanted to release an album on splatter vinyl so I’m happy I’ve ticked all of those boxes!” said Niko.

The Palace Discotheque paints an Italo-flecked portrait of the city after dark. In You Used to Have Her Niko laments lost love over rave breakbeats before getting all Sade on the album’s blissed-out title track.

The sole cover on the album is a lush reworking of ‘I Love TV’, a relatively obscure track Niko heard premiered on a late-night Don Letts radio session many moons ago.

As it happens, Electric Union nearly didn’t happen.

In 2019 multiple accidents from roller-derby, falling off horses and standing on her head at yoga left Niko pretty much paralysed and it became apparent that neck and spine surgery was required. Niko was told to prepare for the fact that not only might she not walk again but she might never sing again.

Thankfully the surgery was a complete success and after some well-earned rest and relaxation she got back to work.

Electric Union was produced and mixed by Aim at his own Speed Limit Studios facility where he also made the brews and chipped in a bit here and there with song writing.

Aim, known for albums Cold Water Music and Hinterland, said: "I loved working on this record. The initial production brief was to make it DJ-friendly and synth-heavy and as soon as I heard the first few songs I knew Niko was onto something. We spent the next two or three years holed up in the studio with no deadline to worry about, slowly but surely refining and chipping away until we were done.”