NLI unveils the official visualiser for her latest track “Riot”, released November 6, 2025 on ADHESIVE. The project combines tense, symbolic visuals with the track’s relentless sonic pressure, exploring themes of power, objectification, and resistance in the music industry.
Watch the official visualiser for “Riot” below.
Created during a challenging period in her career, NLI wrote “Riot” amid experiences of harassment, sexism, and the misuse of power, witnessing similar struggles among other female artists. The track’s structure is built around sustained tension, intentionally withholding resolution — what NLI calls “musical blueballs.” This musical strategy allows listeners to feel the anxiety, frustration, and precariousness that women face in a male-dominated industry.
The visualiser, directed and shot by Joshua R. Baldassarre, extends the track’s intensity into a stark narrative. NLI and Cooper sit at opposite ends of a long table, each with a plate of raw steaks. Cooper eats freely, symbolizing male privilege, while NLI refuses her portion. Her red bodysuit mirrors the blood on the meat, visually representing objectification and consumption. As she resists, Cooper’s character grows increasingly aggressive, echoing real-world power dynamics that female artists encounter in professional and personal spaces.
The tension escalates until the final scene, where NLI asserts control. She crushes her steak, blood dripping from her hand, while Cooper begins to bleed from his mouth. This symbolic act of resistance transforms the power dynamic, illustrating that measured opposition can be decisive.
Through “Riot,” NLI turns personal and systemic struggles into a conceptual audio-visual statement. Both the track and visualiser confront the industry’s inequities while showcasing her artistic precision and vision. The project positions NLI as an artist who not only navigates the underground electronic scene but also actively reframes it, translating challenging experiences into powerful creative expression.
CREDITS
Video and Cinematography by Joshua R. Baldassarre @shotbyjora
Track: Riot by NLI (Released Nov 6 2025 on ADHESIVE)
Cast: NLI, Cooper @berserker_cooper_
Press photography: Maya McDougall @maya.mcdoug
Nail Styling: Marilia Marilou @marilia_nst
