- Thrilling electro and techno from the cofounder of Black Artist Database.
- To an international audience, NIKS might be best known as one of the cofounders of Black Artist Database, but she's also an incredible DJ. And public speaker. Over the past few years, through a mix of activism, thought and DJing, the London selector has created an all-encompassing approach to her artistry that centers dance music, social justice and an endless desire to uplift those around her, especially Black artists.
Through Black Artist Database, NIKS has created a resource to support Black artists from around the world. What started as a spreadsheet called Black Bandcamp has become a fully-fledged platform with editorial, mixes and, of course, the powerful directory of artists that started it all to begin with.
Outside of that, NIKS curates panels, hosts and gives talks and DJs. Her RA Podcast is inspired by a specific night she played in Manchester, but it's also a wonderful snapshot of her style, connecting the dots between Drexciya and Octave One, Nicola Cruz and Seth Troxler, Lyric Hood and James Bangura, and an electrifying section that weaves between tracks from X-Coast and X-Press 2. It's as thoughtful and intentional as everything else she does, an hour-and-a-half in the world of one of London's brightest stars.
What are you grateful for these days?
My close-knit circle of friends (my people), my cat Skye, the sun which is currently shining on me as I type this, all of the music I have discovered over the past two years and the universe.
How and where was the mix recorded, and can you tell us the idea behind the mix?
I recorded this mix at home in my new apartment on a Xone:92 mixer, two Technics turntables and two Pioneer CDJs. I recorded this mix in two takes with summer on the horizon in mind. It's a club-oriented 96 minute journey, which builds up and through percussive, racy, ravey and rhythmic sounds. I specifically teleported myself back to my 2 AM White Hotel debut gig in February when recording this mix, and hopefully recreated the exact same sensory emotions and feels. Music ranges over three decades from 1992 to 2022 with some of my favourite classic, unreleased, forthcoming and current tracks across both digital and physical vinyl formats.
What's one social or political cause you want the world to pay more attention to?
Of course being totally biased here, I'd love for the world to better support Black artists, specifically women. Focusing specifically on the way we consume and engage with Black artists to better support, pay and showcase them is a specific cause that we all need to do better on. And I'd like to specifically direct people towards Black Artist Database to discover new artists.
How has Black Artist Database evolved since you founded it as Black Bandcamp in 2020? What's in store for the future?
It's evolved rapidly, much faster than any of us had expected (to be perfectly honest). This shows just how much the platform and resource was needed and how receptive the wider industry has been to B.A.D. The team and I are working on some exciting projects in the digital space, more in real life activations and ways to continue supporting the artists on B.A.D.
You are a public speaker almost as often as a DJ. Are these complementary activities for you—and do your speaking engagements and topics influence the way you think, collect and/or play music?
Yes, both are relative to and dependent on one another—as are most things. My ideologies and beliefs heavily influence the artists and sounds that I dig for, the journey that I hope to take dancers and listeners on, and the overall dance floor experience. It's quite profound and transcendental, and I hope that people can see the correlation between the two.
What are you looking forward to in the near future?
I'm excited to get back to engaging, collectivising and dancing in real life with friends, old and new.
TracklistDrexciya - Welcome to Drexciya [Underground Resistance] (1992)
AYBEE - Notes [DMK] (2017)
Aubrey - Stressed Squares [Solid Groove] (2000)
Octave One - The Symbiont [430 West] (1998)
Nicola Cruz - Vai Sentir [On Loop] (2022)
Elpac & Mulholland - ??? [Unreleased] (2022)
Jasper James - Still Trippin' [Steel City Dance Discs] (2019)
Bailey Ibbs - Jungle Splash [Forthcoming on Borne Fruits] (2022)
Terry Hunter - Monopoly (Kenny Dope Remix) [Ill Friction] (2007)
Basement Jaxx ft. Corinna Joseph - Fly Life (Xtra Mix) [Multiply Records] (1997)
Lyric Hood - Hard 2 B N Love [M-Plant] (2022)
James Bangura - ??? [Unreleased] (2022)
Arttu ft. Roberto Q Ingram - Bass Trak (Original Mix) [Accidental Recordings] (2017)
Grain - Untitled A1 [FatCat Records] (1999)
Lyric Hood - Lose My Mind [M-Plant] (2022)
Seth Troxler & Jaden Thompson - Talking Walls (Freak-A-Pella) [Crosstown Rebels] (2022)
Alinka ft. Robert Owens - And The Beat Goes On [Forthcoming on HeSheThey] (2022)
Deep System, Morose - Holy Ghost [Humboldt County Records] (1996)
RM Project - Rock 2 Tha Beat (Greenery Mix) [Fabric Records] (2020)
X-Coast - Track 3 [Steel City Dance Discs] (2021)
X-Press 2 - Say What! (London Underground Mix) [Fabric Records] (2020)
X-Coast - Track 4 [Steel City Dance Discs] (2021)
DJ Crisps - Keep It Up [Time Is Now Records] (2022)
G Flame, Mr. G - Push G's Nasty Dub (Original Mix) [Phoenix G] (1999)
Nachtbraker - Inbellen [Forthcoming on Peach Discs] (2022)
Kao-Tic - Harmony (Rhythim Is Rhythim) [Transmat] (1996)
Callum Asa - ??? [Unreleased] (2022)