Ashnikko

Biography

Ashton Nicole Casey (born February 19, 1996), known professionally as Ashnikko ( ash-NEE-koh), 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×DEMIDEVIL15 January 2021 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Daisy2:272Toxic2:433Deal With It3:114Slumber Party2:585Drunk With My Friends2:086Little Boy2:537Cry2:078L8r Boi2:249Good While It Lasted3:0310Clitoris! The Musical1:37 (2021), spawned the singles "Daisy×Daisy9 July 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Daisy2:26" and "Slumber Party×Slumber Party21 June 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Slumber Party2:59" (featuring Princess Nokia). Their debut studio album, Weedkiller×WEEDKILLER25 August 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1World Eater2:292You Make Me Sick!2:183Worms2:294Super Soaker2:275Don’t Look at It2:106Cheerleader2:137Moonlight Magic2:328Miss Nectarine2:189Chokehold Cherry Python2:3910WEEDKILLER2:0611Want It All2:4012Possession of a Weapon2:3513Dying Star4:18 (2023), was followed by their second studio album, Smoochies×Smoochies17 October 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Smoochie Girl3:022Liquid2:433Trinkets1:574Chichinya2:185Skin Cleared2:456Microplastics2:147Full Frontal2:258She’s So Pretty1:529Wet Like2:4110I Want My Boyfriends to Kiss2:2511Sticky Fingers2:1312Lip Smacker2:3213Itty Bitty2:4214Baby Teeth2:3315It Girl3:22 (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 was born on February 19, 1996, in Oak Ridge, North Carolina, and raised in the city of Greensboro. Their parents exposed them to diverse musical stylings, such as country music and Slipknot. They recall becoming interested in music, specifically rap music, when they listened to Arular by M.I.A. at the age of 10, but did not listen to male musicians until they were 16 years old.
As a teenager, their family moved to Estonia for their father's studies, spending a year there before relocating again to Riga, Latvia. At one point, they were the only American in Latvia to attend a Latvian public high school. At the age of 18, Casey moved to London by themself.

2016–2019: Career beginnings and Hi It's Me

Ashnikko's first song, "Krokodil×KROKODIL31 July 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1KROKODIL2:15", was produced by Raf Riley and published to SoundCloud in July 2016. they released their first EP, Sass Pancakes×Sass Pancakes12 May 2017 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Sass Pancakes2:212Bubblegum3:133Fuck Me in Shibuya3:394Thrust2:50, under Digital Picnic Records in 2017. The EP was produced by Raf Riley and features appearances from Avelino. Ashnikko's second EP, Unlikeable×Unlikeable23 November 2018 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Blow2:492Nice Girl2:393Invitation2:394No Brainer2:46, was released in November 2018. The EP spawned the singles "Blow", "Nice Girl×Nice Girl31 August 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Nice Girl2:40", "Invitation" featuring Kodie Shane, and "No Brainer×No Brainer23 November 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1No Brainer2:46".
Ashnikko released their third EP, Hi It's Me, in July 2019. The EP was preceded by the promotional single "Special×Special26 April 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Special2:44" 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. "Stupid" was also certified gold in the United States in August 2020, as well as in Canada. 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×Halloweenie II: Pumpkin Spice25 October 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Halloweenie II: Pumpkin Spice2:18" 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.

2020–2021: Breakthrough and Demidevil

Ashnikko co-wrote the song "Boss Bitch" with American rapper Doja Cat, which was included on the Birds of Prey soundtrack, Birds of Prey: The Album. 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×Tantrum6 March 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Tantrum2:20". Later that month, they performed "Tantrum" live as part of The Fader's 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. Following this, "Daisy×Daisy9 July 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Daisy2:26" was released in July 2020, 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×Halloweenie III: Seven Days23 October 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Halloweenie III: Seven Days2:31", was released in October 2020. They were nominated for Best Push Act at the 2020 MTV Europe Music Awards.
"Cry" and "Daisy" both appear on Ashnikko's debut mixtape, Demidevil×DEMIDEVIL15 January 2021 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Daisy2:272Toxic2:433Deal With It3:114Slumber Party2:585Drunk With My Friends2:086Little Boy2:537Cry2:078L8r Boi2:249Good While It Lasted3:0310Clitoris! The Musical1:37, which was released on January 15, 2021. "Deal with It" featuring Kelis and "Slumber Party×Slumber Party21 June 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Slumber Party2:59" featuring Princess Nokia served as the third and fourth singles from the mixtape, respectively. In support of the mixtape, Ashnikko announced The Demidevil Tour, which was set to take place in October 2021, with shows in North America, the UK, and Ireland.
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!×You Make Me Sick!9 February 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1You Make Me Sick!2:18", on February 8, 2023. On March 1, they announced the release of their debut album, Weedkiller×WEEDKILLER25 August 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1World Eater2:292You Make Me Sick!2:183Worms2:294Super Soaker2:275Don’t Look at It2:106Cheerleader2:137Moonlight Magic2:328Miss Nectarine2:189Chokehold Cherry Python2:3910WEEDKILLER2:0611Want It All2:4012Possession of a Weapon2:3513Dying Star4:18, 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×Worms3 March 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Worms2:28", which was released a day later on March 2. On May 24 the third single titled "Possession of a Weapon×Possession of a Weapon24 May 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Possession of a Weapon2:35" was released. The most recent single from the album is "Cheerleader×Cheerleader28 July 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Cheerleader2:132Possession of a Weapon2:353WEEDKILLER2:064Worms2:295You Make Me Sick!2:18", 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×Paint the Town Blue5 September 2024 · Single · SoundtrackSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Paint the Town Blue1:56" from Riot Games' series Arcane.

2025-present: Smoochies and the second world tour

In August 2025, Ashnikko announced their second album, Smoochies×Smoochies17 October 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Smoochie Girl3:022Liquid2:433Trinkets1:574Chichinya2:185Skin Cleared2:456Microplastics2:147Full Frontal2:258She’s So Pretty1:529Wet Like2:4110I Want My Boyfriends to Kiss2:2511Sticky Fingers2:1312Lip Smacker2:3213Itty Bitty2:4214Baby Teeth2:3315It Girl3:22, which released on October 17, 2025. The first single, "Itty Bitty×Itty Bitty21 March 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Itty Bitty2:40" was released before the album announcement, on March 21, 2025. A music video for the second single, "Trinkets×Trinkets13 August 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Trinkets1:57", was released along with the album announcement on August 12, 2025. The next single, "Sticky Fingers×Sticky Fingers29 August 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sticky Fingers2:13", was released on August 29, followed by "Smoochie Girl×Smoochie Girl19 September 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Smoochie Girl3:012Sticky Fingers2:133Trinkets1:57" on September 19, and "Wet Like×Wet Like3 October 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Wet Like2:412Smoochie Girl3:013Sticky Fingers2:134Trinkets1:57" (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.
Ashnikko is known for their Tokyo-inspired street fashion. they are also known for their unique, bright blue hair, which is naturally brown. In the video for "Nice Girl×Nice Girl31 August 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Nice Girl2:40" and some of their early vlogs, their hair is pastel green. Their hair in the "Daisy×Daisy9 July 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Daisy2:26" 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".

Personal life

Ashnikko stated on Twitter in June 2019 that they identified as bisexual, 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×Daisy9 July 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Daisy2:26", 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×Itty Bitty21 March 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Itty Bitty2:40" 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. They have been vocal about a range of social justice issues, having spoken out about the commercialisation of feminism in November 2019, while advocating for victims of police brutality through social media.

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)