Nicole Moudaber is a fierce force of nature. Her hair and open spirit have become her trademarks, and her journey from fan to promoter to award winning producer and dj has taken her around the world. London is her home, but her connection to Ibiza runs deep, maybe to do with the fact that it was founded by the Phoenicians (nowadays the Lebanese), the same origin of her parents. She studied at the renowned Point Blank school, has never lost the percussive rhythms of her childhood in Nigeria, and recently launched a merch collection proclaiming, “Music is My Boyfriend/Girlfriend” (whatever floats your boat). This summer she will play b2b with one of her personal heroes, Pete Tong, for the 10th anniversary of the International Music Summit (IMS) in Ibiza. She will also play parties from Detroit to Munich, including curating stages under her MOOD brand. Check out the interview with Moudaber below and find her on the dancefloor HERE.
How are you? I’m good, a bit jet lagged. I just came back from playing the EDC festival in Tokyo and I played the after party at Womb, and that was very special. I’m fascinated by the Japanese, they’re so polite and you can feel they’re a bit noble, which I like. The first time I was in Japan was 24 hours for Ultra Japan, and this time it was 48.
How did you discover dance music? I grew up in Nigeria in my adolescent age, and I grew up on afro beats, on rhythmic music. The drums and the rhythms are still in my head. As far as electronic music, it was when I was in London, during my university years, that I discovered clubbing and raves. And in New York, that whole U.S. tribal sound that was going on back then. I really related to it because it was percussive and very rhythmic. It’s all about the drums.
I was a promoter for many years and I stopped promoting when I bought a house in Ibiza. It was a big refurbishment project so I had to leave London to oversee everything. When the project was done my passion for the music was still very strong. I never thought about djing, I just wanted to make the music I felt on the dancefloor. And I went into the studio, and didn’t think it was going to get anywhere, I did it for the passion. I got noticed and Carl Cox played me on his radio show and the rest is history. I worked really hard to get where I am today.
Still making music is the most important to me. It’s an amazing feeling. It’s also quite private. People aren’t looking at you.
How do you stay so connected to your fan base? Everybody has half an hour. While I’m waiting for my flight, before I go to bed. I wouldn’t be here without them. And some of them are so amusing and so loving. A lot of them have become my friends I don’t think about it as something I have to balance. I wish I applied this to my gymming hour.
Is there a track you think has stood the test of time? Alcatraz- Give Me Luv. I actually remixed that track, it’s such a classic and it won an award after so many years of being out, and I even won an award for this. It was in the charts for four consecutive months at number one, it’s such a classic tune. It was a big hit on the dancefloor when house music was kicking off, every dj played it to death by then.
Why is Ibiza so special to you? My connection with Ibiza is quite deep. The first time I went there was in the year 2000, and instantly I fell in love with it. Forget about the clubbing and all the touristic image that Ibiza has. It’s such an energetic place. Es Vedrà is the most magnetic place on the planet after the North Pole and the Bermuda Triangle. Flights are not allowed to fly over it when landing in Ibiza.
I opened a lot of books to learn about the history. It was discovered by the Phoenicians, which are nowadays the Lebanese, which is where my parents originate from, and so maybe it’s part of my DNA. I lived there for eleven years, and I only sold my house three years ago. It’s something I can’t explain, it’s very powerful.
Any advice for female producers and djs? The thing is, whether you’re a man or a woman, the work is still the same. You can’t separate the passion, the dedication. It’s equally the same for both genders. I didn’t encounter more problems than anybody else in this business. It’s tough, competitive and you need to be good. At the end of the day, music is taste.
The advice for both genders is follow the passion and don’t give up. It’s not an overnight thing.
The fact that women are more and more on the scene now is for the simple fact that they chose to do it. It’s a choice whether you want to get on a flight for twelve hours to play an hour and a half.
What makes a good party? Good music, it’s as simple as that. I think also the person playing that music can transmit a certain energy and vibe. When I play I get lost in my music. I feel transcendental, and maybe this translates to the crowd, and they feel it.
What are you inspired by? People, culture, emotions, everything about life. My state of mind. They all come to play. There isn’t just one thing, it’s a combination of different feelings. And sometimes you don’t feel inspired, and if you push it, it doesn’t work. And I’ve learned that, not to push.
What are you working on now? Next week I’m remixing the second single from the new Depeche Mode album. It’s really hypnotic and deep. It’s very challenging, I’m thinking about this a lot.
Do you see any challenges facing the dance scene? I see a lot of fakeness around I think. I’m not generalizing whatsoever. But I think some people take it (dance) so lightly and it might diminish its worth. I wish the kids could see it in a more in depth manner, and learn about the scene and the culture, instead of just being labeled a dj.
But it’s blowing up exponentially worldwide and that’s a beautiful thing. And hopefully it will be better than that EDM shit. I guess you can’t blame the kids because you can’t go to clubs, so you aren’t exposed to this music until your 21. Then you discover the light. Dance is an acquired taste. It’s like art. You’ve got decorative art you can buy from Tesco, and then you’ve got your original in depth experience.
Lots of radio stations have dance shows on the weekends. I used to listen religiously to Pete Tong. My radio show is aired weekly. And it’s not that underground anymore when there are festivals with fifty thousand people in a tent listening to techno.
Why do you love London? London is the most cosmopolitan and international city in the world. People are respected and human rights are very important. It’s also the world’s financial hub. How could you not love living in London? The culture, the fashion, the music. We started this shit years ago.
What makes your In The MOOD series different to other events? There’s no comparison, they’re each unique in their own way. I’m going back to my promoter years where I enjoy to program the nights and the stages. It’s a celebration of friends and peers whose work you admire. We’re all there just to create memorable experiences for the people that come to see us.
What would you do if you didn’t do music? I’d probably be a racer. I have a racing license, which I’ve had since 2015 and I’ve been doing track days. Basically I rent the track and the car and the whole team and do laps. I’m driving the Audi R8 LMS GT3.