NIKS - IG Take Over
NIKS has always drawn inspiration from her surroundings. She was raised in South-East London, relocated to Bath and she calls Berlin her second home. It is the culmination of these spaces, not each in isolation, that has shaped who she is as an artist. Born into a musical household, NIKS received a sonic education from her father who was a guitarist in a band and her brother who was an avid music collector in the heyday of London’s garage movement. She continued cultivating this expertise beyond the home, studying piano and contemporary training as a dancer for 14 years.
Informed by the myriad of influences from her formative years, her sound has remained firmly rooted in the underground. A NIKS set will traverse the spectrums of dance music, consistently nodding to the genre’s origins throughout. The modern and percussive meets the deep and rhythmic, always connecting the dots between cult UK music from labels like Hessle Audio and staples from electronic music’s forefathers including Trevor Rockcliffe and Mr G. This magic formula is documented in her lauded Resident Advisor mix where she journeys gracefully through three decades of underground music. NIKS is a self-taught producer and her production style mirrors these references: global rhythmic sonics from the diaspora and beyond.
In 2022, NIKS was nominated as one of Mixmag’s ‘Breakthrough DJs of the Year’ — a timely accolade to conclude her biggest year yet. Within those preceding 12 months, she made her debuts at Panorama Bar and Glastonbury Festival, also appearing at The Warehouse Project’s Concourse and more. NIKS was made one of Rinse FM’s new residents alongside a cohort of the UK’s major players and made regular appearances on NTS Radio throughout the year.
Amidst a year of social upheaval, 2020 saw NIKS co-found Black Bandcamp (now Black Artist Database or B.A.D.) and through this platform, she harnessed the power of amplifying others. Snowballing from spreadsheet to fully-fledged media platform, through B.A.D. NIKS organises events, educational workshops and mix series’ in a bid to uplift the culture that nurtured her. 2022 also marked the year that NIKS co-founded Black Electronic Music Association (BEMA) and through this platform, reinstated the dance and electronic music category at the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards.
Behind the scenes, NIKS has been working on the next stage of B.A.D.’s evolution. The label will be launching to accompany the existing platform, releasing music that aligns with its mission. NIKS will be managing the label as well as acting as A&R – working to showcase high-energy, celebratory Black music. NIKS’ own forthcoming single will form the label’s first release.