Since forming in Los Angeles in 2020, Niis have made their name through rage, attitude and the raw energy of punk. After two EPs and their debut album, Niis World (2025), Mimi Doe (vocals), Ryan McGuffin (guitar), Isabella de Vroede (bass) and Jonathan Salvo (drums) are back with Play Niis, their first release on Rise Records. Produced by Austin Coupe and Michael Shuman, its six songs see the band exploring more melodic territory without losing the power of their early days.
Written through break-ups, upheaval and uncertainty, Play Niis finds new ways to channel a rage that’s still there, even if it no longer has to be screamed. Distorted guitars and a hard-hitting rhythm section now sit alongside catchy melodies and big choruses, with Mimi’s vocals shifting between sweetness and bursts of fury.
The result blends punk rock, grunge, ’90s alternative rock and contemporary indie punk. Abrasive guitars and Veruca Salt-style melodies collide with the venom of Scowl and Mannequin Pussy. Niis move easily from grungy riffs to jittery rhythms and choruses with real pop hooks, but their hardcore roots are never far away, breaking through in screams and blasts of guitar.
That tension between sweetness and aggression carries over into the lyrics, which are as rebellious as ever. Mimi stands up to emotional manipulation on “Bad Aim” and uses irony on “Big Fish Baby” to take aim at consumerism, conformity and the obsession with making it. Still, relationships remain at the heart of the EP, moving from pain and frustration to accepting each other’s flaws and the thrill of falling in love.
“A lot of the songs on this record are about fitting into societal monotony. We forget to put ourselves first by doing things that bring us joy and make us feel something, or anything. And that’s something I really wanted to capture with the lyrics.” (Mimi Doe).
Beneath its playful, cheeky indie punk, “Earthquakes” hides the scars of a break-up and how hard it is to love again afterwards. Far more visceral, “No Flowers” pairs jagged guitars with raw, desperate vocals to capture a relationship worn down by poor communication. Its cry of “I just wanna feel alive” goes beyond heartbreak to the apathy and emptiness of everyday routine.
With Play Niis, the band make it clear that evolving isn’t the same as softening. Branching out suits them: the songs keep their punk edge while gaining melody and emotional depth. A solid, varied EP that proves vulnerability can be another form of rage.
Listen to Play Niis in full here.
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