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Nikki Flores

Flores in 2020

Nikki Flores
Flores performing live with The Midnight in 2020
Background information
Birth name	Brandi Nichole Flores
Born	(1988-10-17) October 17, 1988 Fontana, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop R&B Electronic
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer
Instrument(s)	Vocals piano keyboards
Years active	2003–present
Website	nikkiflores.com

Nikki Flores (born Brandi Nichole Flores, October 17, 1988) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer based in Los Angeles, California. She has an extensive catalog of credits as a singer and songwriter.

A native of Fontana, California, Flores signed with Epic Records in 2003 and released her first single Strike in 2005. After being dropped from the label in 2009, she signed with Patriot Records in 2010, an imprint of Universal Republic. Her first single with the label, City Lights, was released in September that year.

After a full album failed to materialize on either label, Flores began a career of writing songs for other artists and making appearances as a featured vocalist. Artists she has written for include Christina Aguilera, Jordin Sparks, Nas, and JoJo. Flores has provided backing vocals for the likes of Keyshia Cole, Demi Lovato, and Cher Lloyd. In 2016, she released a six-track EP titled XII XV. She has also collaborated several times with German DJ Markus Schulz as a writer and vocalist. In 2021, she re-released her 2008 single Let It Slide after it began appearing on TikTok. As of 2023, she is working on solo music under the project name Luuna's Room.

Her first collaboration with The Midnight was the song Jason from the album Endless Summer, providing vocals and co-writing the track. Flores worked with the band again on their following release Nocturnal, co-writing and singing vocals on the song Light Years. Her next collaboration with The Midnight was the song Because The Night from their 2020 EP Horror Show, a cover of the 1978 song by Patti Smith. She also provided background vocals on the song Good in Red. While she did not appear as a guest vocalist on any songs, Flores assisted in the writing and production of The Midnight's fifth album Heroes.

Flores has performed live with The Midnight on several occasions, most recently during the 2020 concert special The Midnight Online. She sings vocals for the songs that she was featured in and also sings vocals on the song Sunset.

Contributions to songs by The Midnight

• Jason - co-writer, vocals
• Light Years - co-writer, vocals
• Good in Red - background vocals
• Because The Night - vocals
• Heartbeat - co-writer
• Brooklyn. Friday. Love. - co-writer

References

External links

• Official website
• Twitter
• Instagram‎

Click the heading above to read more!

Gloria

"Gloria"
Song by The Midnight
from the EP Days of Thunder
Released	July 15, 2014 (2014-07-15)
Length	4:49
Label	The Midnight Music
Songwriter(s)	Tim McEwan Tyler Lyle
Producer(s)	Tim McEwan
Days of Thunder track listing
Days of Thunder "The Years (prologue)" "Gloria" "WeMoveForward" "Days of Thunder" "Kick Drums & Red Wine" "Los Angeles"

Gloria is a song by The Midnight. It is the second track from their EP Days of Thunder.

The song was written by band members Tim McEwan and Tyler Lyle and produced by McEwan. It has a running time of four minutes and 49 seconds and is in the key of E-flat major. A video of Gloria being performed at home by band members was released in 2020, following its inclusion in the One Beating Heart Livestream.

Demo versions

Two early demos of Gloria were released as prizes during the Fall 2020 ARG.

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The first demo is titled Gloria Rough (08.12.12 guide). The Midnight has said that Gloria was one of the first songs they worked on together as a duo, and this is further evidenced by the title's date. This version bears much resemblance to the final one, albeit with some notable differences. The intro is slightly different, and the lyric "I've been lost in my head for weeks" in the first verse is "I've been out of my mind with grief" in this demo. The second verse is just a repeat of the first one, and there is no synth/guitar solo yet. The backing chorus heard in the last portion of the song is also missing.

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The second demo is titled Gloria (Tyler Lyle pre-Midnight demo). It is an old cell phone recording of Tyler Lyle performing an acoustic version of the song, made sometime prior to him meeting Tim McEwan. This iteration of Gloria is considerably more lively and upbeat, and some of the lyrics are different.

Lyrics

Oh, Gloria
I feel so much better
I feel so much better today
And it's not the drugs
And it's not the weather
I just feel so much better today

I've been asleep in the driver's seat
I've been lost in my head for weeks
Tryin' to find what it is I need
Too god damned tired to sleep

And then there were other times
I'm so aware that I lose my mind
And that I feel I could get enough
So high that I can't stand up

Oh, Gloria
I feel so much better
I feel so much better today
And it's not the drugs
And it's not the weather
I just feel so much better today

There are those who will never learn
Who build a fire and can't stay warm
The only secret to make it through
Is to take what's in front of you
The fear of death and the thrill of speed
And all the lights in front of me
Drive 'til the coast is clear
Faster 'til it disappears

Oh, Gloria
I feel so much better
I feel so much better today
And it's not the drugs
And it's not the weather
I just feel so much better today

Oh, Gloria
I feel so much better
I feel so much better today
And it's not the drugs
And it's not the weather
I just feel so much better today

Oh, Gloria
I feel so much better
I feel so much better today
And it's not the drugs
And it's not the weather
I just feel so much better today

I've been asleep in the driver's seat
I've been lost in my head for weeks
Tryin' to find what it is I need
Too god damned tired to sleep

Official versions and other media

Gloria

from Days of Thunder

Gloria (instrumental)

from Days of Thunder (the instrumentals)

Gloria (Live)

from Red, White and Bruised: The Midnight Live

Gloria music video

Gloria (Live From Home)

References

‎

Click the heading above to read more!

Heroes

This template is about the album. For the song, see Heroes (song).

Heroes
Album by The Midnight
Released	September 9, 2022
Genre	Synthwave Electronic Rock Americana
Length	56:47
Label	Counter Records
Producer	Tim McEwan
The Midnight chronology
The Rearview Mirror (2021) Heroes (2022) Red, White and Bruised: The Midnight Live (2023)
Singles from Heroes
"Change Your Heart or Die" Released: April 14, 2022 "Heartbeat" Released: June 8, 2022 "Avalanche" Released: July 6, 2022 "Brooklyn. Friday. Love." Released: August 3, 2022 "Heart Worth Breaking" Released: August 24, 2022

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Daily Express

Heroes is the fifth album by The Midnight. It is was released on September 9, 2022. Five singles were issued from Heroes prior to the album's release: Change Your Heart or Die, Heartbeat, Avalanche, Brooklyn. Friday. Love., and Heart Worth Breaking.

Background and composition

This wiki article is currently being worked on. More info will be added soon.

Heroes is the culmination of a trilogy that began with Kids and Monsters. The writing sessions during Kids yielded many songs and ideas that did not make the album due to time constraints, so it was decided to extend the story arc of Kids across multiple albums.

In early 2021, Tim McEwan began streaming the creation of new songs on Twitch. Several of the songs previewed during those sessions found their way to Heroes. Aside from Twitch, previews and hints of new material on the band's other social media platforms was minimal compared to previous The Midnight releases.

During the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 Tour, The Midnight began playing a new song, Change Your Heart or Die. The song was teased as being on the next record.

Official description

“The last 2 years have been so hard for so many people. ‘Heartbeat’ is a reminder that love and empathy is not a finite resource. There is love enough.” – The Midnight

8th June 2022 – The Midnight are thrilled to be announcing their new full-length studio album Heroes – due out September 9th via Counter Records. Along with the news, the band is releasing the celebratory new single “Heartbeat” – a rousing and electrifying track that helps set the tone for the album, which was written during isolation by the band’s Tim McEwan and Tyler Lyle. Heroes represents a clear sonic shift for the duo, who have expanded their lineup to include three live musicians – Lelia Broussard on bass, Royce Whittaker on guitar, and Justin Klunk on saxophone and synth – with both Broussard and Whittaker working alongside them on the new LP which was produced by McEwan and mixed by Ingmar Carlson (Tate McCrae, Disclosure, Carly Rae Jepsen).

Heroes is also the third in a trilogy of albums that started with 2018’s Kids – which reached #1 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Chart – and was followed in 2020 with Monsters. “…for me, Kids is self-knowledge, Monsters is self-love, and then Heroes is empathy,” said Lyle. “I got into depth psychology and this idea of etiology, the way a human forms,” he said about Heroes, adding that “the world doesn't get better but we do. We grow into ourselves. We grow into our voice.”

You can hear this shift in the new songs which are more visceral and warmer. For a band that started as a synth-heavy duo, they have come a long way – creating fully realized arena worthy songs. From new single “Heartbeat” with its Van Halen-inspired synth leads, echoing drums, layered vocal chants and an explosive chorus to last month’s single, the propulsive guitar-laden “Change Your Heart or Die” – Heroes ushers in The Midnight’s next era with some of their biggest and boldest songs yet.

While taking a huge sonic step forward on Heroes, the band’s music still possesses the dramatic and nostalgic streak they’ve become known for since their 2014 debut in EP Days of Thunder. The new LP also reflects the confidence they’ve gained in their songwriting thanks in part due to their expanded live lineup. The band’s vivid sound is well-suited to full rock instrumentation, and the five-piece has cemented that in front on massive sold-out crowds this past year in 1-2k-capacity venues, up from 500-capacity clubs in 2019 and looking ahead to selling out London’s 5k-person Brixton Academy and similar sized venues in 2022.

Heroes is an album of songs about togetherness and trials won by love. Listen to both “Heartbeat” and “Change Your Heart or Die” now.

Singles

Change Your Heart or Die
April 14, 2022

Heartbeat
June 8, 2022

Avalanche
July 6, 2022

Brooklyn. Friday. Love.
August 3, 2022

Heart Worth Breaking
August 24, 2022

Media

Album Trailer

Track listing

Heroes

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Golden Gate"	Tyler Lyle Tim McEwan	6:04
2.	"Brooklyn. Friday. Love."	Lyle McEwan Nikki Flores Royce Whittaker	3:52
3.	"Heartbeat"	Lyle McEwan Flores Whittaker	3:50
4.	"A Place of Her Own"	Lyle McEwan	5:33
5.	"Heroes"	Lyle McEwan Lelia Broussard Whittaker	5:13
6.	"Heart Worth Breaking"	Lyle McEwan Broussard Whittaker	5:07
7.	"Loved By You"	Lyle McEwan	3:44
8.	"Aerostar"	Lyle McEwan Whittaker	4:55
9.	"Change Your Heart or Die"	Lyle McEwan	3:31
10.	"Avalanche"	Lyle McEwan Jessie Frye	4:27
11.	"Souvenir"	Lyle McEwan Whittaker	3:34
12.	"Photograph"	Lyle McEwan	2:37
13.	"Energy Never Dies, It Just Transforms"	Lyle McEwan	4:20
Total length:			56:47

Heroes (Deluxe LP Version)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Golden Gate (Demo)"	Lyle McEwan
15.	"A Place of Her Own (Demo)"	Lyle McEwan
16.	"Change Your Heart or Die (Live)"	Lyle McEwan
17.	"Souvenir (Tyler's Version - 2019)"	Lyle
Total length:			-

Recorded in Atlanta|GA and Los Angeles|CA
Mixed by Ingmar Carlson at The Gift Shop in Los Angeles|CA
Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge in New York|NY

Charts

Chart (2022)	Peak position
US Billboard 200	134
US Billboard Album Sales	8
US Billboard Current Album Sales	8
US Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums	3
US Billboard Heatseekers Albums	2
US Billboard Independent Albums	22
US Billboard Vinyl ALbums	4
UK Albums	74

Release history and variants

Digital release history for Heroes

Date	Edition
September 9, 2022	Standard
-
October 28, 2022	Instrumentals
Includes both the original and instrumental versions.

Physical release history for Heroes

Year	Format	Color/Design
2022	Cassette	Translucent Blue
First tape variant. Has fold out J-card insert.
2022	CD	-
-
2022	LP	Translucent Blue
One of the first vinyl variants, alongside the Marbled Violet Deluxe and Spotify Fans First Clear with Splatter variants. This variant was also available to buy signed by Tim and Tyler.
2022	LP	Clear with Splatter
One of the first vinyl variants, alongside the Marbled Violet Deluxe and Translucent Blue variants. Designated as the "Spotify Fans First Edition". Top listeners of The Midnight on Spotify were emailed a link to buy this variant.
2022	LP	Marbled Violet
One of the first vinyl variants, alongside the Translucent Blue and Spotify Fans First Clear with Splatter variants. Designated as the "Deluxe Edition". Additional features of this variant include a third record with four bonus tracks, lenticular cover art, a sticker sheet, and a photo booklet. With the exception of Souvenir (Tyler's Version - 2019), the bonus tracks have not been released outside of this variant.

References

Click the heading above to read more!