Hello Nick, it’s a pleasure to have you join our interview series. Your influence in pushing the boundaries of electronic music is remarkable. We’ve crafted these questions to make the interview an enjoyable experience for you. Let’s delve into your musical journey:
How did your musical journey begin and how did this journey lead you into the realms of DJing and music production during your time in Mykonos?
I was playing instruments for as long as i can remember. I was lucky to have parents that encouraged and supported experimenting with musical instruments. I played Guitar, drums, piano, violin and trumpet…some better than others. In eigth grade i ended up surrounded by friends that all had some sort of make shift turntables and a mixer and we would all play hip hop records. I got my first technics 1200 from a garage sale and used a direct drive cheap one as my secondary one. I got my first mixer that Christmas and that’s where it all started, by mixing hip hop records in my bedroom.
Who are the key artists that have significantly impacted and influenced your diverse music style? Are there specific genres that resonate deeply with you?
This is a tough question because i feel like i have been influenced through the years by different genres and different times. I grew up in the grunge era and was really into Nirvana and that whole scene. I listened to a lot of hip hop also back then like Pharcyde, Wu Tang, The Roots, Tribe called quest, Mobb deep to name few. I got into piano heavily again a few years ago and really like Nils Frahm.
I like to listen to songs when i can hear intention of the artist emotion and hear how they translate that into music.
I listen to a lot of new artists now and try and keep my ears open to new sounds and what and how they are experimenting with music. There are so many talented artists out there making music and I find it inspiring to see how they are expressing themselves.
Could you share some insights into your approach to music production? What equipment or software do you prefer to create your own distinctive sound?
Like many producers when i started taking production seriously i thought i needed all the hardware synths, analog outboard gear all that stuff. I found myself totally forgoing the creative process and getting lost in twisting knobs. I think for the way i create it’s counter productive for me. I’m now totally in the box using only my laptop.
I show up to a studio and have everything i need in my computer. Which means i can work from anywhere anytime and i like that. I use Ableton Live which i still learn something new everytime i open it. There are endless possibilities to create in there. I’m mainly using samples and loops to generate ideas and how they start and finish are usually miles apart.
Have there been any special moments or experiences that have provided emotional or creative inspiration for your music?
I find myself making music for settings and locations. I started doing that a few years back when i had my summer residency at Moni in Mykonos. I would be creating music during the week with the vision of the crowd inside there and what works. I would then test them out that Sunday…you can then see what works and what falls on its face. I get inspired by seeing the reactions to music i make.
Can you tell us about some of your memorable experiences from your time performing on stage as a DJ? What stands out as your most memorable performance to date?
The Robot Heart bus at Burning man this year was an amazing experience. That was a goal of mine from the beginning and felt really good to be up there playing. I played Onda Linda in Careyes this year also including a sunrise set there. That was my first time and i was so impressed by the organization of the festival and setting of Careyes. I really like playing sunrise as you can pull out the emotional records and watch people’s physical connections with each other.
Who among the local DJs and producers in Mykonos do you admire for their contributions to the scene?
Kaz James was definitely someone that i think has helped carve out the Mykonos sound. His Sunday night at Scorpios really got me hooked on this genre of house. I remember when i finally went for my first time to Mykonos i booked 2 weeks and i ended up staying for 2 months. We eventually ended up making a few records together and taught me a lot about the process.
Joe (Maglia) one of the owners of Moni would be another one. Moni is in Mykonos town and one of my favorite places to play to this day. Joe is such a versatile DJ and great producer and i feel like he has curated something really special for Mykonos and the music scene there. He has the right vision and knows how to curate not only a crowd but the dance floor. He gave me my first shot at playing in Mykonos at Moni and have had a residency there ever since.
What are the standout tracks or projects in your impressive body of work that hold a special place in your creative journey?
Shook Pt. 3 has obviously put me on the map to a wider audience now. I spent most of last winter making music and probably made 50 tracks. It seems the ones that you least expect sometimes get picked up. I made Shook Pt. 3 and sent it to Seth Troxler along with a few others edits i had made. That track made a lot of noise and i think people have discovered how many remix’s and edits i have and how many people are playing them.
How would you describe your music? What elements contribute to your distinct sound and how do you express it?
A friend of mine called it “Big Room Minimal” which i thought was a pretty good way to sum it up. I use a lot of Minimal influences in my drums . I love the groove of minimal house tracks and when you can find the right balance they work really well with a user friendly sample.
Would you mind sharing some challenges you’ve faced and the successes you’ve achieved in your illustrious music career?
For a while i would finish songs and then take them to a mixing/mastering engineer to help me finish. That was both time consuming and expensive when you’re first starting out. Often times you wait a week or two then you want to change something again. Then you’re paying these guys again to tweak something. During Covid i spent a long time trying to figure out mixing and mastering. Now i can make a track that day and have it mixed and ready to play that same night.
I feel like success i have felt has been more the recognition from some of my idols in the house music scene. Seeing my music being played out by them tells me im on the right path.
What exciting projects or future goals are you currently pursuing? What can your fans and listeners anticipate from your upcoming work?
My goals are basically to just keep expanding my listening base and seeing what direction that takes me.
My next release is called “take my heart” and it’s taken a while to finish…but it gets a really big response from the crowd. It will be coming out in February.
I’m working with a few artist on remix’s now and will be slowly putting those out also.
Interview by: Aslı B.
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