Niko Tsakalakos is a composer-lyricist whose work bridges rock, pop, and musical theatre, blending the emotional immediacy of popular song with the storytelling power of the stage. Raised in a Greek-American family and shaped by years in New Jersey and Athens, his work explores identity, belonging, and connection. He began writing songs and playing drums with his brothers before moving to Los Angeles, where he performed with indie-rock band Saint Friday.

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His musicals include Fall Springs, an eco-horror musical comedy featured in the 2017 NAMT Festival of New Musicals before its 2019 world premiere at Barrington Stage Company; Fairbanks Bus 142, a folk-rock musical based on Christopher McCandless; Pool Boy, an autobiographical pop-rock musical; and Hearts Beat Loud, based on the acclaimed film and workshopped at MCC Theater. His score for Litter premiered at American Conservatory Theater.

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A Jonathan Larson Grant and Kleban Prize in Musical Theatre finalist, Tsakalakos holds an MFA from NYU Tisch, where he studied with William Finn.