Since the age of 15, Yulia Niko has dedicated her life to music, moving to New York in her early twenties to study production after spending her adolescence DJing and collecting records. Fast forward to now and, after gathering her formal education in the art, Yulia has developed an enigmatic flair for DJing and production. Having established herself in the underground scene and gracing decks across the US and Europe, Niko has cultivated a synergistic brand wherein inspirations from classic Detroit and Chicago producers are soldered together. The result, an uncanny meld of deep house, techno and progressive genres which, together, define her distinct, minimalist style.
As Yulia stands poised to enter the next stage of her artistry, she unveils an intimately crafted and deeply personal collection of ten tracks, each imbued with hypnotic, mesmerising grooves and lush soundscapes.
Listen to the album…
Read the interview…
Hey Yulia! You’ve just dropped your latest project, “TWINSOUL”. What are your immediate feelings about the project?
Hello Wonderland Magazine, and nice to meet you! Thank you so much for having me and supporting my album.
Honestly, I feel super happy it’s almost over. LOL. It was a long journey over the past two years. I never expected that; to produce an album is one thing, but to work on everything else that goes into it is another. So basically, I’ve been busy as ever since day one, when I decided “I am going to make an album.” So far, I’ve heard only nice feedback, so the main goal has been achieved. And as soon as I achieved that goal, my immediate thought was “I feel so proud” about all the hard work my team and my label, Armada Music, put into this.
Can you run us through your creative process for the project?
Most of the ideas of the songs on the album were in my head for a long time. Some I thought I would never finish, because I couldn’t understand where and how I could release them. I think albums are when you show maximum creativity and you have the freedom to do whatever you want, because as a techno/house DJ I always have some borders I can’t cross in terms of my releases.
Sadly, in those days of COVID lockdown, I lost my father, and it changed me overnight. I needed something to help me stay strong and pass through all of it, so I found myself in a studio and started working on something special. It became my “album”, and it helped me heal. Music is my everything, and the idea of dedicating it to my father inspired me. He would be so proud.
What narratives and themes are you aiming to convey with the album?
I always follow the intention to bring something “positive, happy, uplifting and timeless” to the world of music. Same thing goes for each song of the album; I believe everyone will find a tune perfect for their morning playlist. I’m sure those who will find this tune will dig into the lyrics or story behind the track and see this intention.
I really care to connect with all my fans, physically or spiritually; I do all I can to foster this. And this album is something I made to make this connection even stronger. On this note, I’ll share lyrics from my track “EXITO” featuring Sil Romero, and maybe it will open the eyes of someone new…
El exito es un camino no un destino
El exito es un camino no un destino
El ego tiene miedo
Quiere controlar porque tiene miedo
(Success is a path not a destination
Success is a path not a destination
The ego is afraid
He wants to control because he is afraid)
You grew your sound in New York and are now based in Berlin. Do you feel like your music embodies both musical scenes?
New York for me was more of a school of life, because I went there for production school.
New York is a great city but I’m sure we can agree that, in terms of music, Berlin is a capital. A lot of artists live in Berlin, and there a lot of labels, shops and the local clubs; the scene is spectacular. My first single was released on Get Physical Music (a Berlin label) and my sound has definitely changed so much since I moved to Germany. I guess my main style and identity was born in Berlin, and funny enough, sometimes I play with other DJs, and they tell me that I sound “like real German”. I really love to hear that feedback!
Which artists from both cities do you take inspiration from?
Right now, I am a huge fan of Henrik Schwarz, Berlin’s Jazzy-Techno legend. You can hear this in songs from the album like “EXITO” and “SATISFACTION”, which have jazzy parts, and that was a dream come true. He has his own Quartet, and records and mixes it with techno beats. Maybe that could be my future too! I have many different ideas on how to develop it.
When I lived in New York, I was into old school house music and I have a friend who told me crazy stories about events with “Junior Vasquez” and the legendary Sound Factory. I’ve dug into a lot of stuff from Junior – anything I can find online. Those times are extremely exciting to me, and I wish I could travel to the past for at least one night. Back to Berlin, I love Berghain’s “Panorama Bar” – I love the vibe there, it’s very close to what I’m looking for and I’ve been there many times to get inspired.
You’re about to embark on a huge TWINSOUL album tour across Europe and North America. Which tracks from the new album are you most looking forward to playing live?
The album itself was made for radio rotation, something simply more accessible for people who are not house/techno fans. I just was at a hairdresser who had a playlist on while he worked, and first it was Eminem, then some Italian song then boom, “Come Too Far” featuring Paul Brenning from the album. I felt so nice when I heard that!
Besides that, the track “EXITO” is my favourite intro track for my sets. “Fire in My Soul” and “You Knew” are such trippy tunes, hypnotic, spiritual, that can engulf the dance floor and take your mind into space! “Higher” and “Who Made You” are melodic house/techno bangers. Also, during my tour, I will play upcoming remixes on the album from very respected and genius musicians! There is a lot of exclusive and original material to share with the audience.
You’re playing alongside a list of stellar acts at festivals too. Are there any acts and events that you’re really excited about?
Usually, I look forward to every show! You really never know which show is going to be the best one of your life. So, I try not to expect anything, and just try to be surprised. Because, you know, when you expect so much of something and it ends up not being great, you get even stronger. That’s why I plan to just enjoy the food while traveling… haha, kidding. Being serious, I’m super excited to be back at Berlin’s Ritter Butzke on 13th of April, because the last time was just insane, “best show ever” energy and you can see it in the full set on YouTube. It’s also my first time in Canada, and I’m super curious and have no idea what to expect. I have two shows at Tomorrowland Winter, which I’ve been beyond excited for since they announced it. Same with Lightning in a Bottle in California – I saw videos and decorations there and it looked like another trippy planet. Extrema Festival in Belgium will be my second time, but this time I am on a bigger stage as support for Dixon and Ame. I am certainly ready for this year, and this summer seems already like one to remember. Hope to see one of you on the dance floor.