NIKA is a singer-songwriter and composer who blends elements of jazz, pop, folk, and alternative music in her work. A graduate of the Janáček Conservatory in composition, she made her debut in the spring of 2022 with the album Flesh & Soul, which garnered attention for its rawness and emotional depth. Her lyrics explore personal relationships, the artificiality of the modern world, illusions of perfection, as well as themes of manipulation, pretense, and psychological or physical violence. For her debut album Flesh & Soul, she was awarded the Moravian-Silesian Jantar Art Prize in the popular music category and won the Junior category in the JazzFruit competition. She performed songs from the album at prestigious festivals such as Colours of Ostrava, Smetanova Litomyšl, Prague Sounds, and the showcase festival Czech Music Crossroads, as well as at the Paris-Prague Jazz Club in Paris. After a successful debut, NIKA is back with her second album, Elsewhere (2025), showcasing a matured artistic vision and bold musical experimentation. In a unique fusion of jazz, pop, funk, folk, and alternative music, she invites listeners into a deeply personal world where introspective reflections intertwine with sharp societal critique.

Three years in the making, Elsewhere features eleven tracks, each telling a distinct story, capturing an emotionally charged moment, or grappling with an internal dilemma that resonates in today’s uncertain times. NIKA remains unapologetically authentic, shedding light on themes that often lurk beneath the surface—alienation, inner struggles, self-worth, and the search for reconciliation after the storm. Shifting between melancholy and anger, disappointment and hope, the album unfolds like a cathartic journey.

Music has been a part of her life since childhood—she started playing the piano at the age of four and composed her first pieces by six. Her artistic influences range from rock and jazz fusion to classical music. On stage, she is accompanied by drummer Jonáš Bjolek, pianist Pavel Duda, and bassist Nicolas Gatto.

From the Media:

Until recently, almost no one was aware of the existence of a singer and songwriter named Nika. No wonder—she was still studying at the Ostrava Conservatory. Her debut album Flesh & Soul ranks among the most striking authorial and interpretative debuts of the decade. Nika writes music which, through its evocative expressiveness, far exceeds the usual domestic standard. Her pure and magical voice has the power to enchant, provoke thought, and offer insight into her perception and experience of the world. (Jantar Award)

Rising music star Nika, the Czech Kate Bush, captivated Colours yesterday with her confident performance, perfectly crafted compositions, and the well-rehearsed band backing her. (Reflex)

Defining the genre of Ostrava-based singer-songwriter Veronika Boráková, known as Nika, is no easy task. However, a blend of modern pop with strong jazz elements, infused with a touch of classic singer-songwriter style and a pinch of classical music, might suffice to paint a picture. Nika’s greatest asset is her gorgeous, velvety voice, flawless English, and authenticity. (Headliner)

Despite the intimate and chamber-like nature of her music and lyrics, Nika entered the Czech music scene like an extraordinarily pure and graceful stream of crystal-clear water. She has no ambition to imitate anyone, nor does she need to convince anyone—her talent feels so natural and completely effortless. It’s hard to say what stands out most in her debut: the outstanding compositional aspect of her lyrically mesmerizing songs, the excellent lyrics blending tenderness with unease and vigilance, or her fascinating voice, which instantly places her among the most significant contemporary singers—one to be taken seriously. (Czech Radio Vltava)

This is worth attention both for its purity and precision. The maturity is surprising, and even the English sounds flawless. (Fullmoonzine.cz)

The debut album of young Ostrava singer Nika is one of the biggest sensations in Czech music. A sensation that is in no way calculated, superficial, or hesitant. Flesh & Soul knows exactly what it wants to achieve. Its strength lies in its hypnotic expression, rich in colors and scents, and Nika’s spellbinding vocals, which immediately place her among the leading contemporary Czech singers and songwriters. A debut of this caliber is a rare occurrence. (Ostravan.cz)

Her voice is like silk, and she writes music like an imprint of a geyser of emotions—one that compels you to open your heart. Nika has released an exceptionally honest, multi-layered, and intricate album. Her debut is remarkably mature and suggests that her name will soon be widely recognized, not just on a regional scale. (Patriot Magazine)

The dreamy and introspective atmosphere of her English-language songs, but above all her beautiful voice, originality, and freshness, made Nika’s performance the perfect appetizer before the main course—Bratři Orffové. (Kopřivnice newspaper)

Flesh & Soul is a dense, atmospheric work whose tones emerge from the speakers like blossoming images. At times intimate and dark, yet still capable of evoking profoundly pleasant sensations. Moods shift fluidly and seamlessly, and the album’s tracks are arranged to create a truly refined and cohesive impression. Each song practically visualizes itself before your eyes, rising to the horizons of imaginary, fantastical worlds or sorrowful corners filled with intimate fragility. (HRKR.cz)

Though the musicians involved are young and relatively inexperienced, this is not apparent in the sound at all—they accompany Veronika Boráková’s sensational vocals with great finesse. Nika’s voice, already impactful on its own, is often layered within the tracks, further enhancing their melancholic warmth. She lacks neither unconventional compositions nor the desire to do things in her own original way. The album floats somewhere between modern classical music, ambient, minimalism, jazz, soul, and pop. One of the most intriguing discoveries of the year. (Tracklist.cz)

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: NIKA – FLESH & SOUL Nika is Veronika Boráková, Flesh & Soul is her debut. Key elements: voice, piano, and arrangements to enhance predominantly melancholic moods. (Vinyla.cz)

I was intrigued by her festival profile online, and seeing her live not only confirmed my expectations but completely won me over. Though she appeared slightly reserved and ethereal on stage, the music she presents with her three-piece band is almost unprecedented in the Czech scene. Alternative pop is at home in the Czech Republic, but it is often overly intricate, with bands fixating on embellishing the melodic line rather than the song as a whole. Nika is the complete opposite: she makes relatively simple melodies feel alternative primarily through the genres she weaves into them. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s jazz (and its various subgenres like acid jazz), trip-hop, new age, world music, or contemporary classical music. In Ostrava, with her sophisticated pop sung in English, she was a revelation—one that made passersby stop in their tracks and stay, even as the main stage was about to host Ewa Farna. If you ever come across this student of classical composition, be sure to see her live. (Musicserver.cz)

The promising future of Ostrava’s music scene bears the name Nika, and her debut performance at Colours of Ostrava was symbolic—mixed with rain and sunshine, as unpredictable and elusive as her music, which has so far avoided all clichés. Let’s not shy away from speaking about the birth of a true star while we are constantly bombarded with fake pseudo-stars. It’s impossible not to fall in love with Nika’s voice. Her naturalness, free from mannerisms and posturing, is paired with deeply profound music, spectacular singing, and stunning lyrics. Such a talent has not appeared on the Czech music for a long time. (Ostravan.cz)

Talented singer Nika, a new discovery from Ostrava. (Novinky.cz)

NIKA (Veronika Boráková) is already a fully formed professional. Vocally confident, she enriches her technically brilliant singing with the use of a sampler and harmonizer. Nika’s songs are also refreshingly direct in their lyrics. For example, the realization expressed in one of her most striking tracks, I Deserve To Be Calm—that achieving inner peace requires going through pain—may be a common theme, explored countless times. But that’s precisely why it resonates deeply. The same goes for themes of deception in Masquerade or the even heavier Abuser (if I caught the title correctly). And it undoubtedly speaks not only to her peers—this essentially traditional yet captivating jazz-infused pop transcends generations. But the most undeniable strength of her performance was the clear fact that this is simply how Nika feels about music—making her utterly authentic. (Cultural Magazine Uni, Tomáš S. Polívka)