NIKMIND opens up about inspirations, sound and latest EP ‘Not My Era’: Interview

Taking over the dance scene with each of his endeavors, NIKMIND is the epitome of an artist who has mastered his craft to perfection. Leaving no doubt to the imagination, the Colombia-born DJ/Producer has been leaving his mark within our community, while his signature techno sound continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Performing alongside industry elites and releasing music on renowned labels, NIKMIND is on his way to global dominance, and we’re all here for it. With that said, we couldn’t be happier to be joined by the man of the moment as he discusses his main inspirations and influences, maintaining versatility, the experience gained from fellow acts, the feeling of receiving accolades, the thought process behind his latest EP, ‘Not My Era,’ and what the future holds.

Hello and thank you for joining us! Could you provide us with an insight on the main inspirations/influences that led to your chosen career pathway in music? 

Hello Guys, , so happy to be here. My biggest influences go back long before the history of House. My biggest influences come from the Rock of the 80s, as well as reggae and variants of rap that had incredible lyrical content addressing societal issues. That was my first inspiration – witnessing the power of music over society and its impact on behavior. Around 2017, I realized that music had shifted its communicative medium, and that the new Rock ‘n’ Roll was House and Techno. I attended school to study engineering, music theory, and musical philosophy, and decided to start planting musical seeds to be a part of the change.

With versatility a key aspect in creating your unique sound, we would like to know how your style of play came to be?

I believe this unique sound is continually evolving, with a focus on versatility. I have a profound appreciation for sounds that provoke thought. Progressive house and melodic techno share this characteristic. I began experimenting with these genres during the initial years of my musical journey, and I have reached a point where I feel confident in producing them, allowing ideas to flow freely. This versatility also translates into my DJ sets, as I can offer the audience the best of the underground.

Performing alongside the likes of Boris Brejcha, Maceo Plex and Cristoph when just naming a few, we would like to know the experience you have gained from the elite within the dance scene?

I have very fond memories of those dancing nights! One thing that significantly influenced my later performances was understanding the audience to establish a mutual agreement for dancing. This aligns with the versatility of the music chosen to astonish the audience. Boris’s words were impactful: ‘Have fun while ensuring professionalism doesn’t overshadow the magic of the music.

Receiving the award for best DJ of the year at STORYLAND Music Festival in 2018, could you provide us with your thoughts on how rewarding such accolades can be as your career evolves?

It is quite gratifying to receive these recognitions because they indicate that you are doing a good job. It doesn’t necessarily mean that your intention is to seek recognition, but it serves as a validation of the effort – mental, time, and financial – that you put into your work. Additionally, it humbles you and motivates you to strive for even higher standards of excellence. As your measure of perfection evolves, it becomes necessary to work even more efficiently to surpass all the goals you set for yourself.

With your latest EP, ‘Not My Era,’ taking over the charts, we would like to know the main thought process behind each featured track, as well as the message that this body of work portrays?

There was a lot of work that took more than 6 months to finalize because we were looking for something fresh within what the industry was presenting. ‘Future Present’ was the cornerstone of the EP because the depth of bass and bass drum working together gave me the vision for the later tracks. Coincidentally, the name ‘Not My Era’ comes from the idea that at certain times in our lives, we may have wished to exist in other moments of human history. So, it was a dedication to those visions of the present future within our imagination.

Releasing music under the most well-renowned of labels, could you provide us with an overview on how impactful this has been on your career thus far?

It has been fantastic to work with other teams that contribute ideas to improve any project in development. These record labels have proven invaluable for achieving the results we’ve sought. Moreover, it has taught me a lot about the legal and operational aspects of the music industry, which artists often overlook and leave solely to the manager. However, it’s important for the artist to be knowledgeable about this information as well. This enables us to better organize the project and have a clearer vision of all that can be achieved when working within a great team.

With 2024 in full flow, we would like to know what the future holds for NIKMIND, always in terms of new music and live performances?

Music-wise, we have our sights set on several record labels, and we’re working hard to achieve that goal. Among the ones we’re seriously considering are: Miss Monique’s record label, ‘Siona Records’; Joris Voorn’s imprint, ‘Spectrum’; and Oliver Huntemann’s label, called ‘Senso Sounds’. I love their style, versatility, and approach. It won’t be easy, but we’re determined to make it happen. So, wish me luck! At the same time, we are working on a concept called ‘Mind Sessions,’ which revolves around the NIKMIND brand. Since the translation of my name would be ‘the mind of Nik,’ it reflects what happens in Nik’s mind. It will be a monthly musical concept where I create a mix to be shared on SoundCloud and Apple Podcasts during the last week of each month. I will play music that caught my attention that month, test out productions I am working on, and also try new tracks that come through my DJ promo on Track Stack.” And this will lead us to live performances. We are making a great effort to play in the main clubs in the big cities of the United States, which is our primary focus right now.

Make sure to follow NIKMIND via Instagram, Spotify and SoundCloud for latest activities and releases.