Nicole Moudaber

Chemistry on the dancefloor

Nicole, finally we tie you down to the DMC world! So let’s begin. You are obviously a person in love with music. Where did this special path begin, who did you grow up listening to? Your journey began in Nigeria…

“Indeed. I was surrounded with music, in Nigeria music is life. My love for percussion and drums stems from my childhood, music blaring at the house, on the streets wherever you went there was music.  I was listening to all kinds from funk, soul to afro beat…”

What did you want to be when you grew up?

“I remember I used to write on my bedroom wall “Je veux etre une actrice” (I want to be an actress) – of course that was out of the question in our household. I was conditioned to have a ‘proper job’ – a banker, architect or lawyer and in fact graduated in Combined Social Sciences in London, got my degree and I was ready to work at the UN or the House Of Commons.”

What happened?

“I had a revelation one night on a dancefloor in NYC.”

How easy have you found making your mark and standing your own ground in what until a few years ago, has been a male dominated music industry world?

“It’s not really of question of easy or hard. The journey was and still is incredible and this is what I’m enjoying most. It’s a learning and challenging period for me and this is what drives me the most. To perfect my art as I go along. I was blessed to have people like Carl Cox on my side, Danny Tenaglia, John Digweed to name a few who all believed in me and gave me a chance to show what I have got. A male dominated world ? Not for long I assure you. More women want to do this, whereas in the past they probably weren’t interested. Anyone can do this if they want to. So let’s talk about music instead of gender…”

You are based in Ibiza these days during the summer. We feel at DMC that Ibiza went a little commercial this year. The busiest year yet again with some fabulous nights, but somehow the chart DJs sort of overshadowed things. What are your thoughts on that as promoter/producer and DJ…?

“From a promoter’s point of view, the reason why we put on big shows and events is to generate revenue, the bigger the artist the bigger the scale of production costs and promotion. We had an influx of A-List US urban artists this summer and an array of US DJs too, mainly at Amnesia for the MTV parties, ‘Come Together’ at Space, Pacha and the Ushuaia Beach Club. However, the cool parties were still happening around the island with parties like ‘Carl Cox The Revolution Continues’ at Space hosting A-List DJs from around the world and keeping the integrity of house and techno, as well as Cocoon at Amnesia, Circo Loco at DC10 and various beach parties with an array of amazing cool underground DJs. Ibiza can do both, there’s enough people on the island for them to find their groove in any style of music. You can’t find this anywhere in the world. From a producer/DJ point of view, we are in a candy shop and we love to hear everyone, this is our inspiration.”

Like us all, you must need somewhere to escape the white isle. We love the fun factor at Tiburon in Formentera…where can we find you lounging in a hammock…?

“On my boat. I take it out whenever the sea is calm. Drive to Formentera, have lunch at Juan Y Andreas then lounge on it. Sun, sea, oil, dip.  And that’s a loop all afternoon until I head back when the sun goes down…”

When people have mentioned your name this year the phrase…‘her time has finally come’. At DMC we have seen your hard and pioneering work over the years – why do you think people are maybe, are only now giving you the props you deserve?

“Because I’m more of a public figure now, people hear my music and read about me. Previous to that I worked behind the scenes, promoting parties, building a villa in Ibiza, the agent for Victor Calderone, living and breathing music along the way. I only started producing music three years ago, I have no idea what took me so long to do it, it’s my only need in life and I’ve come to realize it now.”

You are the toast of New York at the moment, playing headline sets at the city’s most high profile venues including Pacha and Cielo in the last month, with multiple return dates already booked for the year ahead. NYC sure loves you Nicole. What do you love about the city and why is New York so vibrant musically again?

“NYC opened my eyes for the first time to house music. It was on the floor of Sound Factory when I first saw the light. It was a magical moment and a turning point in my life. I felt the music piercing through me in such a way that it got me hooked ever since. It must’ve been the artist coming out in me that I never knew existed. When I play in New York I feel the love and the energy I felt that very first moment. There are plans to play NYC regularly in 2012 and I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Back in the early 90s you were throwing parties in the Lebanon at a time when the country was coming out of the turmoil of war. What was that like – how did all this begin for you and how much support did you get from the establishment and public?

“I threw the first one called Trashy Renaissance at the end of 1996 in the middle of the city of Beirut. I chose a location in the centre which had a cathedral and a mosque – in ruins of course. I installed projectors and smoke machines in both which was the first party ever not only in Beirut, but in the whole of the Middle East. The idea was to overcome hatred and all join together in one big party, we had 1000 people dancing the night away. I had meetings with the generals of the army and the city councils, they were delighted with the idea as we were all working on putting the country back on the map as it was previous to the war – ‘The Paris Of The Middle East’ as they used to call Beirut. And I did put it back on the map. On the clubbing map that is.”

What parties stand out?

“Too many to mention, from the first ever Ministry of Sound party in the Middle East to booking Paul Van Dyk.”

What one song can you remember from that time?

“Faithless – ‘God Is A DJ’ – lol !!”

What is the biggest gamble you have ever taken?

“This. I never thought I could get to where I’m at right now.” 

How did London differ to Lebanon then when you got in there and started running parties?

“It wasn’t as hard as Lebanon. No one really understood dance culture there because they weren’t exposed to it at all and they didn’t know who the DJs were. I had to source radio stations with dance shows, I remember when I got them the Ministry of Sound radio shows it was the only way to get the music heard and ultimately it would help with the parties that I threw. It was a struggle. When I started promoting in London, my obsession was programming the DJs on the night – again musically I was involved in the sense that I wanted to create the perfect musical night by placing the DJs and constructing the story with them…”

How would you describe your sound you are spinning right now?

“House and techno.”

The next few weeks sees the eagerly anticipated new releases on Kling Klong and Intec Digital – what can you tell us about these future tunes…?

“Great music coming out, you just have to hear it and tell me if you like !”

What has been your own best piece of studio work?

“They’re all my babies. I feel all of them and they each mean different things to me.”

What was your Summer anthem?

“Not sure I play anthems, but I play a remix of an old anthem, I can give you that in the techno stylee –  Silicon Soul – ‘Right On’ (Fergie Remix).”

What one piece of vinyl would you never sell?

“Fela Kuti ‘Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense’.”

And what is the greatest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?

“My remix of Carl Cox ‘Chemistry’ – currently at No1 in the techno charts.”

Not many people know this, but Nicole Moudaber is really good at…

“Water skiing and motorbikes, I do them very well.” 

What is your guilty pleasure song nobody knows?

“’Remember The Time’ by Michael Jackson lol !!”

What are the 10 tunes you are playing right now?

“All my stuff as well as…

Mendo’s ‘Inocencia’

Ron Costa’s ‘La Cage Invisible’

Egbert’s ‘Open’

Gary Beck’s ‘Diva’

The DJ Wild remix of The Junkies’ ‘Thug Life’

Phil Week’s remix of Somore’s ‘What You Want’

Anja Schneider’s ‘Mole’

David Labeij ‘Maypril’

Ida Engberg’s ‘Blue Yonder’

Rich Jones ‘Below’.

You smashed Space with Coxy and your party at Ushuaia in Ibiza this summer with Danny Tenaglia’s was very special. What were the highlights of these parties?\

“Incredible people and incredible energy. It’s beyond words Dan…”

You have a special bond with Danny, that’s obvious for everyone to see. What do you love about him?

“His art. And also he’s very funny. We laugh the whole time, he’s got clever, dark and funny humour When he gets on that keyboard and mic, when we’re in the studio – it’s a whole different world he gets into and that energy is so strong in that room, pouring with art, melodies, beats, funk, techno sounds, we bounce off each other – that connection is amazing when you’re working with someone. We are in the process of finishing off a track together called ‘You’re Freaking Me Out’.

What old classic keeps popping back into your sets?

“Lil Mo Ying Yang ‘Reach’.”

It’s your birthday. What three DJs do you ask to play – where do you host it – and what singer, dead or alive do you ask to sing you happy birthday?

“Carl Cox, Danny Tenaglia and Anja Schneider. I will invite them to my villa in Ibiza and hope Dalida was alive to sing me Happy Birthday.”

What one young DJ / producer / artist should we look out for in 2012?

“Alli Borem, he’s on Desolat (Loco Dice’s Label) – and has also remixed my next single on Kling Klong called I’m A Gansta.”

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?

“I’d stop smoking.”

We come back to yours after a club. You play us your favourite 10 ‘Back To Mine’ tunes.

“In no particular order –

Telepopmusik ‘Love Can Damage Your Health’ feat Angela Mcluskey (Abicah Soul & Dennis Ferrer)

Luna City Express ‘REM’ feat. Diamondancer (Papa Ino Rework)

Kane ‘Loves Saves The Day’ feat Kathy Diamond (Deniz Kurtel Remix)

Viudez & Rainer ‘Nueva Cedar’

Anja Schneider ‘Something Left’ feat Cari Golden

Atnarko, Sam Mollison ‘Thinking Of You’

Mathias Kaden ‘Ikenga’ DJ Koze’s Kosi-San Remix)

Gutio ‘Every Cow Has A Bird’

Kiko Navarro ‘Soñando Contigo’

Space Dimension Controller ‘Kaleidoscopic Ecstasy’

And finally, what has 2012 in store for us all?

“New York residencies.  More releases, productions and remixes for various labels. I can’t wait to get back in the studio after being on the road for a while now. I’m so inspired at the moment, evolving as I go along, I hope you enjoy it with me along the way. Thanks for having me, it was a pleasure connecting with you…ciaooooo xx”