After quietly building momentum with over a million Spotify streams and international studio sessions under her belt, Nicola Høie steps into a new chapter with “Painkiller,” released January 30th, 2026. Inspired by the emotional polish of artists like Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Justin Bieber, Høie blends contemporary pop sheen with deeply personal storytelling, but this time, she sounds more self-assured than ever. “Painkiller” feels like the moment she stops second-guessing and starts owning her voice.
At its core, the track wrestles with a tender truth: love can comfort, but it can’t cure everything. And instead of dramatizing that realization, Høie leans into subtlety. The song opens with soft, fluid guitar licks that shimmer gently against a polished, airy production. The atmosphere feels weightless, almost like light reflecting off glass.
Her vocal delivery is where the song truly lands. Singing intimately in a soft, smooth, and almost whispered tone, Høie invites the listener into a private confession. There’s vulnerability in the restraint. Then comes the line that lingers long after it’s sung. In her most delicate falsetto, she admits, “I wish I was your painkiller then I know it would never work on you.” It’s a heartbreaking paradox of wanting to heal someone you love while knowing you simply can’t.
The production remains sleek and shimmery throughout. It wraps around her like a quiet current, allowing the emotional weight to surface naturally. There’s a maturity in the way the track unfolds, balancing modern pop gloss with raw honesty.
Check out “Painkiller” on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan