CASE STUDY OF UPN STUDENTS AS NIKI PATIENTS: MUSIC AS AN IDENTITY MIRROR, ESCAPE ROOM, AND EXPRESSION CONTAINER IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Abstrak

In the digital era, music has transformed into more than just entertainment. It has become a mirror of identity, a space for emotional escape, and a means of self- expression, especially for the younger generation. This research examines the role of the music of NIKI, a globally popular Indonesian singer, in the lives of students at Universitas Pembangunan Nasional (UPN) "Veteran" Jakarta. Using a qualitative approach and in-depth interview method, this study explores how NIKI's songs are used by students as a medium to understand themselves, deal with academic and personal pressures, and express feelings on social media. Results show that NIKI's poetic and thematic lyrics form a strong emotional attachment for some students, creating the phenomenon of "NIKI patients" as a form of collective affective relations in the digital space. Although not all use music as a primary coping tool, NIKI music still plays an important role in students' emotional dynamics and digital communication. This study highlights the potential of music as a medium of emotional communication and its contribution to identity formation among the digital generation.