Who`s the DJ tonight?

DJ Nikka is one of Goa's best Mixmaster. City Plus spoke to her about her life, music and more while she was on her visit to the city of pearls -Hyderabad. Her wicked smooth turntable techniques are much in demand, thanks to the Psy-Trance she plays as well as her wild collaborations with other DJ's. In her native city of Moscow, Nikka has not only worked as a DJ, but also as a broadcast journalist. It was only later that she realized her real love for music and decided to follow her dreams - not an easy decision though.
Nikka, started spinning some 10 years back… Since then there has been no looking back for her. She has been playing ever since, constantly refining her skills and style to the tune of wide recognition in the DJ fraternity of Goa. DJ routines and creative on-stage antics have made her a favourite of crowds wherever she plays.
Technically Nikka actually operates more on the scale of a Trance player, mixing sampled beats, blending them with live instrumentation to create swinging Psy and Progressive Trance effect. It is her fondness for incorporating Trance, swing, and a bit of hip-hop elements into her music which have caused her to be labeled as one of the progenitors of the Trance scene.
This is what she has to say about Progressive Trance, something which she played for the crowd in Hyderabad, "The music is easier and free spirited, meant for fun and easy listening. It sure is foot taping and leaves the listeners in a groove. For, places like clubs it is the thing. Psy-Trance is suited for open spaces". 
Nikka first came to India in 2007, and just fell in love with it. She came back in 2008, bringing her music consoles along and started getting the people onto the dance floor. Every season she plays for six months in Goa and mesmerizes the crowd. "For any DJ in India, Goa is the place to be in . Full on parties, full on music Goa is the poison. People invite me to play in various states of India and I love to go. But I must say, no place energizes me more that Goa does". 
A nature lover; Nikka has seen the best that India can offer. She has travelled to New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Raipur, Bangaluru, Varanasi, Rishikesh, and has spend 7 months in the mountains of Himalayas. Indeed the very thought of it is enough to leave anyone spellbound. "I love to see the natural beauty, what is life without nature? This life only comes once and I want to live it to the fullest", says the ace DJ. 
Speaking about Hyderabad, she says "I like Hyderabad, the people, the place. When I see them on the floor, I can tell they are completely into the music. It has been my fourth visit to the city and every time it surprises me more".
And she loves the Hyderabadi Dum-ki-Biryani and Achari Gosht, even though she has a hard time pronouncing it.
She is now happy with her work and loves to make people happy with the music she plays. She remains at heart a wanderer and a gypsy. According to her "Music is my first love, men can come and go. Only my music stays back with me".
Nikka plans to stay back in India for some more time before she packs her bags and moves on to explore more that the world has to offer. We wish her all the very best and hope that she comes back soon to entrance us.

--Danish Manzoor