Euphonique in 2020
Photography : Edward Bishop Photohgraphy
Last time we stopped by and chatted to Nikki aka Euphonique at Subwoofah Records it was back in 2015! So we think it's about time for a big catch up! Let's hear about how this lady is shaking it up right now!
Thanks for your time Nikki, great to see you smashing it atm. Can't believe it was 2015, feels not so long ago! How has 2020 been for you so far?
2020 has been different! I’ve been trying to work on music whenever I can, prepping for the releases I’ve got incoming and trying to do more real life stuff and a little less social media stuff. Think a few people are thinking like that this year. But I’ve already played quite a few gigs across the country – kind of dived straight in with a couple in Glasgow and Bristol from January. And lots more to come! Can’t wait for festival season again.
So last year you did your first Glastonbury, tell us about that one!?
It was unreal. Only way to describe it. Honestly will never forget the view from both the stages I played, and just enjoying the festival with everyone. Can’t thank The Common and Unfairground crews enough for shouting me for that. Definitely the highlight of my journey so far.
You have had quite a few big gigs over the last couple of years! Tell us about the big ones then pick one smaller intimate one...
Glasto, defo was the best, but I’ve been playing a lot for Hospitality lately – Hospital in the Park was a biggie! Boomtown with the Born on Road crew and Illusive festival are some of the highlights. A “smaller” intimate ones were Ruffneck Ting and Born on Road nights at The Attic in Bristol – it’s a smaller venue but the vibes are just as big as the festivals! Bristol is defo my home away from home. Also the DnB Arena BBQ in London - loved it.
Hows Manchester treating you and hows Subwoofah doing?
Things have been quiet on the gig front in Manny – I’ve done a couple but not like I used to – people used to always say as you do more in music you get less bookings in your hometown and apparently it’s true!! But big up to all the Manny crews – so much going on here always. Subwoofah is going good, we’ve signed a few new artists – Grimesy and Spkr Louis – and released the Epicentre remix EP which did well in the charts, and we have a night coming up with Below The Belt 3rd April at Deaf Institute in Manny which is set to be a big one! So it’s doing – just not at the rate it was before with everything else I have going on!
Tell us about Mixmag's "One To Watch"
Again, another surreal one! I’ve been reading the magazine for years so be approached for an interview for a feature was just crazy. Dave, the journalist, did the interview – he is ace - and we just had a really good chat on the phone and a giggle, then I didn’t hear anything for a while until I got sent a photo by one of the A&R guys at Hospital Records saying ‘Big up!’… I went out and bought a couple of copies. My mum and best mate did the same! Proper supporters they are.
UKF did a big feature on you too right?
Yeh so the UKF article came a little earlier in the early year – just before festival season to coincide with my first release on Born on Road. There was a lot of focus on the production side of things in this one – so I was able to get my geek on!
So which tracks got on Kenny Allstar's show and the Rene Lavice R1 show?
Kenny dropped 23 Style ft Mad Rush off my Born On Road EP, and Rene played 23 Style and Smokeable off the same EP and my track with Killamanjaro out on Uncommon Records !
How do you feel about the jungle scene right now?
It’s strong! The legends are still rocking and keeping jungle very much alive, but mixing it up with the DNB that’s coming through. Loads of new artists coming through are merging amens with new sounds and vibes in different way. It’s exciting!
What’s do you use to produce and fave plug in?
Ableton 10. I’ve used a lot of DAWs and it’s my one. I really like a lot of what you get in the box with Ableton - Operator is a sick little synth, you can do a lot with it - and even more when you split the layers and process them all. I really like massive but recently I’ve been cheating on it with serum (sorry massive). I’m all about the basics though - decent EQing, drum processing - the Ableton drum buss is a biggy - layering... the basics make all the difference to a decent tune, often what I have to remind my students or any newbies that submit tracks to the label. I do really like the ozone plugins... and thinking about investing in waves having heard the sexy reverbs they have... I love Kontakt for things like keys too... oh there are loads.
If you could collab with one person, who would it be and why?
Dream collab? Oooo.... I always wanted to collab with Agro but that’s happening... and Aries, Hybrid and Bou, but also happened. I’m guna go big and say Bladerunner or Serum! Absolute legends and their tunes are something else!
I also wana get more collabs going on with the women in the scene, been working on some with Dazee, and me and Lady V keep saying we will do it but we’re just mega busy! I reckon getting one in the works with you needs to happen too! Flava D is making some decent DnB lately too!
Tell us about your next upcoming releases?
I have a few incoming over the next couple of months! Mid March is my Ruffneck Ting EP ‘Glow’ - it’s a real blend of oldskool and new skool flavours - and lots of festival influence! The title track especially was about that moment at a festival when the sun goes down, the night before it all really kicks off! It’s sung by Helen K who I’ve linked up with at quite a few festys now - and we have some keys from Motiv. Baddest Gal is reclaiming the lyrics about women using their bodies, Knee Deep is inspired by SO many of my fave oldskool tracks and then there is a wavey ravey collab with the Ruffneck queen Dazee - one of a few we’ve been working on - she is a legend and been ace to work with her, we proper blended our styles. Always loved the Ruffneck output and buzzing to be involved!
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After that I have a bit if heavier EP on Murky Digital called ‘No Escape’. There are tracks with MC Frost, Mad Rush and a collab with Guzi on there, plus a remix from Saxxon - there is some serious anger in these tunes haha.
Also got a remix I’ve done for K Jah featuring Cheshire Cat incoming... and working towards my next Born On Road EP!
What's the plans for the next 5 years, and then all time goals?
Sh&^, 5 year plan?! Urm... make more f((&%$g music! Travel as far and wide as I can playing music and continue to work on my personal life and try to find some sort of balance!! But I have some goals I need to vision, some labels I want to release with and some places I want to place. I need to write that s**t down and make it happen haha!
If I see you out drinking, what you having at the bar?
Gin & Tonic slice of lime! Or water and ice if its before my set or I’m on a sober one!
Where can we catch you playing over this summer?
So far I can announce Hospitality on The Beach in Croatia - sooooo excited! I’m on the main stage, the spy dubplate stage and the sold out born on road boat party! So it’s going to be amazing. I have a few other festivals in but the only one that’s been announced so far is One Tribe, I’m getting about though, keep an eye on my page!
If we were to interview one person, new or ambassador, who do you give props to and why?
Ray Keith - he is an absolute king, he proper cares about the scene and the people in it, new and old. He has given me some great advice in the past and really takes the time to nurture new people but never forgets the people that were in it with him from the get go.
Lastly thanks for your time, great to catch up with you as always! Any shouts and thanks?
As always shout out to my people - Born on Road fam, Ruffneck fam, Deep In The Jungle fam and Murky fam ... the few beauties who are closest to me and forever supportive! And every single raver that’s supports what I do. And you missy, for being a god damn soldier all this time!
Big up lady keep smashing it and all the best for 2020 and beyond!
Interview by Missrepresent March 2020
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