Contributing WriterIn a world where electronic music is constantly reinventing itself, few artists manage to merge discipline, emotion, and cinematic storytelling with the precision and power that Nikka brings to the booth. Having grown up across continents and carved her path through film, fashion, and finally music, she’s emerged as a dynamic force in the global techno and melodic scene. With a year defined by international performances, creative evolution, and a sound more refined than ever, Nikka sits down with us to discuss her journey, her artistry, and the experiences shaping her rise.
Hi Nikka! Thanks for taking the time to speak with us! How are you and how has your year been?
I’m good: focused, disciplined, and creatively sharper than ever. This year has been transitional in all the right ways: more international performances, my IMS Dubai talk, my India tour, and new music that finally reflects the exact sound I’ve been chasing.
Tell us about your journey into electronic music and DJing. How did your childhood in Belgium sculpt who you are now?
I grew up between countries: born to expat parents in Egypt, then raised in Belgium. That combination shaped everything. Egypt taught me scale, drama, and emotion; Belgium taught me structure, discipline, and a certain darkness in music. My journey into electronic music wasn’t a linear “I always wanted to DJ” story. I came from film directing and fashion photography first. But electronic music was always the backbone, the place where emotion and structure could coexist. Eventually, I stopped observing the scene and stepped into it fully.
How would you describe your sound?
Melodic, dynamic, bass-driven, and cinematic. I build tension and release like a film director, but I deliver it with the punch of peak-time techno. There’s drama, but never boredom. Emotion, but always intention.
Do you miss Belgium? How does your Ibiza / Mykonos / Middle East split compare to your birth home?
Belgium will always feel like the place that built my foundation. But I’m not nostalgic. Ibiza gave me freedom, Mykonos gave me confidence, and the Middle East gave me ambition. Each place activates a different part of me. Belgium feels like the beginning of the story : not the destination.
Tell us about the forthcoming release “Desire” on Animarium. What inspired it and what are you trying to convey?
“Desire” was inspired by true life toxic experience I had gone through and that left many scars. I narrate a dark story of passion, abuse, longing and pain. Emotions I have lived through. That is perhaps why this track is so close to my heart and feels so genuine to me.
What tools do you use to craft such sounds? Any favourite toys or items of gear you use for production?
I’m not married to one piece of gear , I care more about texture than tools. But I love layering analog-style leads with deep, gritty basslines, and I use a mix of software synths for precision. Anything that gives me tension, movement, and atmospheric depth stays in my workflow.
What advice would you give to young people looking to get into DJing?
Learn your taste before you learn the equipment. Anyone can mix, not everyone can curate. Build identity first, technique second. And don’t chase approval; chase authenticity. The scene respects honesty more than trends.
Tell us about your other jobs such as fashion photography. How did you get into that?
I started in fashion and film long before DJing. Photography taught me how to build a moment; film taught me how to build a story. Those skills followed me into music. My sets still feel like scenes: controlled lighting, pacing, energy, and emotion. It’s all connected.
And tell us about your recent India Tour. How was that? What were the standout moments?
India was intense in the best way. Goa, especially, was unforgettable. I headlined a sold-out night at Raeeth where people raved without phones : fully present, fully connected. Indian crowds have emotional intelligence; they don’t listen with their ears, they listen with their whole body. The energy was raw, wild but surprisingly orchestrated. It pushed me creatively.
You also recently spoke at IMS Dubai! How was that for you?
IMS Dubai was a milestone. Speaking about visual culture as a former film director felt like coming full circle. I love Dubai’s duality : commercial on the surface, and an underground oasis underneath. Being invited to contribute to that conversation felt meaningful.
What do you like to do to relax?
Silence, travel, and walking. I like spending time with my creative co-producer Gabriel Saf bouncing ideas around or working or a track. Gabriel’s background is in high profiled IT, he’s a mathematician that adds structure to my creative chaos.
What music do you listen to outside the electronic spectrum?
Classical, soundtracks, and anything with strong tension arcs. I care more about emotion than genre. Also I love drum n bass, The Prodigy is still my idol.
What was the last record that blew you away?
A rework of an old Middle Eastern melody I heard in Dubai – raw, haunting, and modernized without losing its soul. The best tracks are always the ones that understand contrast.
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