After more than half a decade building her career, Mexican-Salvadoran artist Niko Rubio is set to release her debut album, Late Night Swim, on October 30. The Los Angeles native merges the alternative edge of her upbringing with her Latina heritage, expanding her sound on the new record with a broader palette of global influences.
“I feel ready to finally release my first album,” Rubio tells Rolling Stone. “It’s been about six years since my first release and I’ve explored so much of myself over that time. I finally feel like I know who I am right now.”
Rubio has established herself as both a performer and a sought-after songwriter, penning tracks for artists including Gwen Stefani, Suki Waterhouse, and The Warning. She has previewed Late Night Swim with the singles “kitty” and the viral hit “tokyo,” the latter earning public co-signs from Waterhouse, Joe Jonas, Reneé Rapp, Vince Staples, and Barry Can’t Swim across social media.
Rubio has confirmed that the next single, “dream,” arrives on September 25. For the album, she reunited with longtime collaborator Lester Mendez—known for his work with Shakira, Santana, and Austin Ward—while enlisting a creative team that includes Wyatt Bernard (executive producer of Slayyyter’s Worst Girl in America), Austin Corona, Rodiah, Zacari, Olivia Bond, and Lennon Kloser. Beyond her Los Angeles roots, the LP draws sonic inspiration from London and Jamaica. “The inspiration for Late Night Swim was heartbreak, dealing with a breakup, and also self-discovery through loss,” Rubio explains.
“I want people to feel a sense of escapism and nostalgia and hopefully find a release for hidden emotions through listening to my album,” she adds. “The more vulnerable I can be, the easier it is for me to get through those feelings honestly. This album is set at a late-night pool party where you see the love of your life with someone else. The decisions you make after that are always questionable. It’s honest and vulnerable.”
