Ashnikko

Ashton Nicole Casey (born February 19, 1996), known professionally as Ashnikko , is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Their 2019 single, "Stupid" (featuring Baby Tate), gained viral popularity on the video-sharing platform TikTok and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Ashnikko's debut mixtape, Demidevil, spawned the singles "Daisy" and "Slumber Party" (featuring Princess Nokia). Their debut studio album, Weedkiller (2023), was followed by their second studio album, Smoochies (2025), both of which narrowly entered the Billboard 200.

In addition to their solo work, Ashnikko has co-written songs for other artists, including "Boss Bitch" (2020) for Doja Cat and songs for Brooke Candy, Tomorrow X Together, and Hyoyeon of Girls' Generation.

Early life Ashton Nicole Casey They recall becoming interested in music, specifically rap music, when they listened to Arular by M.I.A. at the age of 10, At one point, they were the only American in Latvia to attend a Latvian public high school.

Career 2016–2019: Career beginnings and Hi It's Me Ashnikko's first song, "Krokodil", was produced by Raf Riley and published to SoundCloud in July 2016. they released their first EP, Sass Pancakes, under Digital Picnic Records in 2017. The EP was produced by Raf Riley and features appearances from Avelino. Ashnikko's second EP, Unlikeable, was released in November 2018. The EP spawned the singles "Blow", "Nice Girl", "Invitation" featuring Kodie Shane, and "No Brainer". The EP was preceded by the promotional single "Special" and was launched alongside the EP's title track and lead single, "Hi It's Me". The second official single, "Stupid", featuring Yung Baby Tate, gained viral popularity on the video-sharing platform TikTok. The song reached number one on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop chart, and the Spotify Viral 50 chart. Another song from the EP, "Working Bitch", also found popularity on TikTok. Ashnikko embarked on a North American tour supporting American rapper Danny Brown in October 2019. they released the promotional single "Halloweenie II: Pumpkin Spice" in October 2019. They co-wrote eight songs, two of which they are featured on, on Brooke Candy's debut album, Sexorcism, which was released in October 2019. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashnikko was scheduled to accompany Doja Cat on her Hot Pink Tour throughout the United States in March 2020 before it was canceled. In March 2020, they released the standalone single "Tantrum". Later that month, they performed "Tantrum" live as part of The Faders Digital Fader Fort event. "Cry", featuring Canadian musician Grimes, was then released in June 2020, alongside an animated music video. The song's music video was nominated for "Best Pop Video - UK" at the 2020 UK Music Video Awards. and a music video for the song was released in collaboration with Beats by Dre and TikTok a month later. "Daisy" became Ashnikko's breakthrough hit, charting internationally in countries including Australia, Belgium and the United Kingdom. It reached a peak of number 24 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their first charting and first top 40 hit in the UK. Ashnikko's third Halloween song, "Halloweenie III: Seven Days", was released in October 2020. They were nominated for Best Push Act at the 2020 MTV Europe Music Awards.

Ashnikko co-wrote the song "Frost" released on May 31, 2021, which figures in Korean boy band Tomorrow X Together – TXT's album The Chaos Chapter: Freeze and its repackage album The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape released on August 17, 2021. They sent the hyper-pop, trap-based song over to TXT in English. The song was then translated to Korean. In September 2021, they were featured on Lady Gaga's remix album, Dawn of Chromatica, where they produced a remix of the track, "Plastic Doll".

2022–2024: Hiatus, Weedkiller and world tour After a year hiatus since the release of the two-side singles "Panic Attacks In Paradise" and "Maggots" on September 29, 2021, Ashnikko released their first single, "You Make Me Sick!", on February 8, 2023. On March 1, they announced the release of their debut album, Weedkiller, for August 25, 2023; the Weedkiller World Tour across Asia, Oceania, North America and Europe started on March 24, 2023, in Japan and ended on December 11, 2023, in Ireland; and the second single from the album, "Worms", which was released a day later on March 2. On May 24 the third single titled "Possession of a Weapon" was released. The most recent single from the album is "Cheerleader", which was issued on July 28.

Ashnikko performed at the Coachella Arts and Music Festival on the second day of performances during the festival's two-week run on April 22, 2023, in Coachella, California.

Ashnikko also performed at the 2024 League of Legends Worlds Finals Opening Ceremony. They performed the song, "Paint The Town Blue" from Riot Games' series Arcane.

2025-present: Smoochies and the second world tour In August 2025, Ashnikko announced their second album, Smoochies, which released on October 17, 2025. A music video for the second single, "Trinkets", was released along with the album announcement on August 12, 2025. The next single, "Sticky Fingers", was released on August 29, followed by "Smoochie Girl" on September 19, and "Wet Like" (featuring Cobrah) on October 3.

Ashnikko announced on August 14, 2025, that they are touring the Smoochies album in the UK and Ireland, and on September 15, that they are further touring in Northern Europe, the US, Australia, and New Zealand from January 26, 2026 until September 29, 2026.

Artistry Ashnikko is primarily alt-pop, and electropop. They described their style of music as "angry, punk, hip hop, sad-girl-feminist, bubblegum, poo-poo music", and has clarified that their music is not intended to be comedic or parody-based. they are also known for their unique, bright blue hair, which is naturally brown. In the video for "Nice Girl" and some of their early vlogs, their hair is pastel green. Their hair in the "Daisy" music video is yellow, pink, and red.

Ashnikko has cited their musical influences as M.I.A., Gwen Stefani, Lil' Kim, Björk, Paramore, Avril Lavigne, Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliott, Dolly Parton, Janis Joplin, King Woman and Joan Jett, and has stated that their favorite song is "Bossy" by Kelis. they have also listed Doja Cat, Grimes, Tierra Whack, Rico Nasty, Hayley Williams, Princess Nokia, Kim Petras, and Charli XCX as their "peers" and artists they "really respect". but later clarified in a 2020 interview that they identified as pansexual. In May 2021, Ashnikko came out as genderfluid on Twitter, saying that "i just didn't feel ready to tell the internet yet but i guess now's a good time since everyone's doing a dissection into my sexuality and gender identity".

In July 2020, while discussing the meaning behind the lyrics of their single "Daisy", they said that while their family practices Christianity, they do not.

In December 2021, Ashnikko began dating fellow singer Arlo Parks. They split in 2024, with Ashnikko referencing the breakup in their debut performance of their upcoming song "Itty Bitty" while opening for Billie Eilish in December 2024.

Advocacy Ashnikko has described themself as a feminist and has attributed discovering intersectional feminism through microblogging website Tumblr as a teenager as a turning point for them.

Discography

Weedkiller (2023) Smoochies (2025)

Tours Headlining The Demidevil Tour (2021) Weedkiller Tour (2023–2024) Smoochies Tour (2026)

Opening act Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (2024–2025)

Awards and nominations