WAILUA — It’s a big day for Nialanii, a 21-year-old singer and seamstress set to release a new song and swimsuit at 8 o’clock this morning.
Nialanii, whose real name is Nialani Green, began sewing to support her music career in 2020, after the pandemic prompted her to return home to Kaua‘i from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Now, nearly two years later, she’s ready to take listeners to “Paradise” – the latest R&B single funded by her business NIASWIM.
“‘Paradise’ is more stripped-down, slow and sultry,” Nialanii said. “It’s about a guy finally finding the person he thinks he needs, only to find out that person isn’t looking for love.”
The piano-driven track, featuring an arrangement written by Nialanii and performed by a Washington, DC-based musician, is her fifth single. She recorded it on Dec. 1 in Las Vegas with Dawsøn, a sound engineer who worked on superstar rapper Kanye West’s most-recent, Grammy-nominated album, “Donda.”
“We went straight to the recording studio from the airport and knocked the song out,” Nialanii said. “I feel like that was the highlight of my year.”
The Kaua‘i born-and-raised artist — whose musical output includes the songs “Come Over,” “Holiday,” “Turn to Me” and “IDK MAN” — is frequently compared to the singer Sade by listeners.
Nialanii also cites Michael Jackson as one of her biggest influences.
“I love how all of his songs, whether they’re up-tempo or more slowed-down and chill, they’re still super funky,” she said.
Streaming platforms carrying “Paradise” can be found online at https://musics.link/nialani.
But Nialanii is not content to express herself in only one medium. She’s also poured creativity into NIASWIM’s latest creation: a bikini with thick-cut and long side-tie straps, available in black or lavender.
The business of beachwear was an easy fit for Nialanii, whose mother, Barbara Green, is a longtime seamstress and clothing designer behind the Kaua‘i-based company Definitely Baba.
Nialanii began sewing swimsuits for herself and friends long before the foundation of NIASWIM.
“Growing up on Kaua‘i … where everyone splurges on all these different highly-priced swimsuits, I figured, ‘Hey, why don’t I just make my own?’” she recalled.
Nialanii now gets consistent orders through NIASWIM’s website and Instagram account, where a new post can generate dozens of sales in a matter of hours.
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Scott Yunker, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or syunker@thegardenisland.com.
