Lebanese/British event promoter, record label founder, radio personality, and DJ/producer, Nicole Moudaber is at the forefront of her own movement. The sought after DJ and Producer presides over an empire that includes MOOD; her highly influential record label and global party brand, as well as a hugely popular radio show, a back catalogue of incendiary techno releases and a range of philanthropic endeavors. Nicole’s unfiltered public image and sincerity has created a strong bond between her and her fanbase.
Winner of several accolades, including Best Radio Show and Best Minimal/Techno Track, Nicole is never one to stand still. The global reach of MOOD has led to Nicole curating MoodZONE festival stages at the world’s biggest events: Electric Daisy Carnival (New York, Las Vegas & Orlando), California’s Escape, and BPM Festival (Mexico & Portugal) joined by friends such as Carl Cox, Sasha, Danny Tenaglia, Chris Liebing, Paco Osuna, Pan-Pot and Dubfire.
Her philanthropic endeavours include setting up ELEVEN, an enterprise which aims to support to victims and funds volunteers to help prevent the brutal and barbaric practice of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). She has also invested time and energy into the Lower East Side Girls Club in New York and Solving Kids Cancer. On top of that, Nicole is an ambassador for the Association For Electronic Music (AFEM), using her position to campaign for positive change in the electronic music industry.
We caught up with Nicole to for a lengthy discussion covering the progression through her career and what has led to her current involvement in Pete Tong’s DJ Academy.
Being born in Nigeria, growing up in Beirut, Lebanon and studying in London, your exposure to music from different cultures and spaces from a young age is particularly unique. Can you speak on this journey and the musical influences you’ve carried with you through your career?
Since my birth in Lagos, Nigeria a few moons ago now, my journey to-date has been an extraordinary fusion of twists and turns, ups and downs, but made mostly of rich life experiences and I feel sure it is a culmination of all this that has led me to where I am today. I believe that my formative years growing up in Nigeria had a lot to do with developing my passion for beats – hearing drums on a constant basis, I loved it! I would always want to beat on my own drum. I even had a drum set once (pots & pans) although my family wasn’t too hot on the idea and wasn’t encouraged to follow my dream of becoming a drummer in a rock and roll band. Damn it!
Growing up I developed an eclectic taste in music, from disco, to rock, to contemporary artists, such Marlene Farmer and Madonna, Grace Jones – I still adore all these great artists. Then came dance music and I soon realised my passion for a deep driving bass sound. I couldn’t get enough of it. I was a huge fan of Carl Cox – who later became my mentor and a great friend. I was also a fan of Sasha and Digweed, Paco Osuna, Victor Calderone, Danny Tenaglia, Jeff Mills, Deep Dish, Armand Van Helden, to name just a few. All these artists ignited my soul, and I still find it quite unbelievable to this day that I have had some amazing opportunities along the way to record/produce with these icons, to release their records on my labels, to DJ alongside them. I am always very grateful for the support they extended to me in the embryonic stages of my career as a producer/DJ.
From very early on, I knew I wanted to create my own events and together with a former partner/promoter in Beirut organising parties, booking International DJs, dancers, staging the production, promoting the events with a local radio station, working with the media, dealing with the authorities which could be challenging at times, and it was hard work but we loved it. The timing was right, people were ready for it, and I believe we delivered some good fun parties. The feedback after each event was very encouraging and enough to stage bigger and better events. Dance parties, certainly outdoor ones, were revolutionary for that time in Lebanon but it inspired us to build on the name, and from there the label Southeast Records was born – a collaboration I formed with a friend from the Middle East but like me, travelled for University and parties! He was equally passionate about dance music – we shared a similar vision as to the style of music in which we wanted to sign, and it was this brand that we eventually brought to the UK.
We released a few good records on Southeast – Pete Tong and Judge Jules soon became supporters of the label: it was exciting to hear one of our releases being played on BBC Radio One or being played out by DJs. Promoting parties in Beirut and later under the guise of SOUNDWORX, a monthly night at London’s Turnmills for 6 consecutive years provided me with the ability to learn fast about how the UK dance industry worked. I began to cement relationships with DJs, producers, booking agents, venue owners, and so on. For example, booking Victor Calderone for a SOUNDWORX party lead to me becoming his agent for Europe and so my network of promoters around the world expanded tenfold.
By the late 1990’s the dance scene was booming worldwide but it retained its underground edge, there was so much more at that time to discover, and I was loving the exploration. However, there was still a deep-driving passion inside me to want to make my own music. I wanted to produce my own records – this dream sort of came before wanting to DJ. I was determined to crack it before realising that I had delivered a track worthy of sending to Carl Cox – that took a lot of guts!
Do you remember your first experience hearing dance music/techno? Can you tell us the story?
My move with my family from Lagos to Beirut, lead me to eventually leaving there for London to attend University. I began travelling a lot, firmly cementing myself on some of some of the best dance floors I could find, mainly in New York, London, Amsterdam and Paris. One of my favourite clubs in London was the legendary Turnmills – Sunday mornings was Trade – that was quite something with its incredible energy that it exuded, it was insanely good. From the music to the crowd, it was always consistent, it was totally hedonistic, and I loved every minute of it. Then there was Twilo with Tenaglia in New York, Les Bains Douches in Paris, Gatecrasher in Leeds, those were fantastic and very exciting times of discovery for me. It was a world I wanted to totally immerse myself in. The louder and dirtier the bass, the more I became mad for it.
You’ve had a long and successful career within dance music as a producer, event promoter, radio host and DJ. Can you speak a bit about the beginning of your journey, in Lebanon as a promoter and how you found yourself exploring production and djing?
I find it so damn exhilarating on every level. From when my first record label Southeast was born – a collaboration I formed with a friend also from the Middle East and like me, travelled to London for University, he was equally passionate about music – we were in perfect sync with our vision and the style of music we wanted to sign to the label, and it was that brand that we eventually brought to the UK. I was still living in Beirut at the time but as the label progressed, I realised that I needed to base myself in London.
My label partner and I would listen religiously every Friday night to Tong’s Essential Mix show on UK’s Radio One – dating back to 1998, it was and still is a reliable source to hearing tracks from upcoming DJ/producers. Reading the dance music magazines in those days was important, too. it is always important to educate oneself about what is hot and what is not, who is upcoming, who is not. Running a label and promoting events means you have to be at the top of your game to stay current.
It’s clear you love what you do. Your dedication to not only perfecting your many crafts, but also the diverse spheres that you participate in at a high level is astounding. What is it about what you do that keeps the fiery passion alive?
Essentially it is the music and my fans that appreciate my work that keeps the fire within me lit and the incredible rewards it continues to bring to my life. Traveling the globe to many beautiful cities around the world, meeting my tribe, taking them on a journey. I always do my best to deliver a DJ set that will leave an uplifting and happy Mood. Introducing a new track for the first time that I am totally excited about – whether it is mine or not, gaging the crowd’s reaction, playing back-to-back with Carl Cox and the like, I have to pinch myself at times. Is this really happening?!
Going into the studio and laying some new beats, living with it and then releasing it. Booom! Such a good feeling. The MOOD brand is one of my great loves, too. Signing and releasing tracks on MOOD Recordings and the collaborations is exciting. Creating events under the InTheMood banner worldwide I am proud of what my team and I have achieved so far, and I have so many more ideas in the pipeline but with so much already on the go, I have to constantly remind myself to “pace yourself, guuurl”!
I also really enjoy recording my radio shows, all the great talent that InTheMood has broadcast over the years. I can hardly believe we are on show number 436 – how did that happen! The show is on 98 FM stations. Over 60 countries, reaching 15 million listeners every week. This is not just a podcast! Very proud of this achievement.
I’m also on the Executive Board for the Association For Electronic Music (AFEM) as Ambassador alongside Armin Van Buuren, Nile Rodgers, Pete Tong, Seth Troxler and Louie Vega. It’s non-profit organisation that represents the entire ecosystem of the Electronic Music. The AFEM operational team work to ensure that the organisation in a way which reflects, promotes, and preserves the best of electronic music culture and brings members together as a community to solve issues and develop commercial opportunities. How good is that!
Are there things outside of music that you draw inspiration from?
I would have to say that being a philanthropist and working with various charities is very close to my heart. The organisations I am currently involved in, are Solving Kids Cancer, the Lower East Side Girls Club in Lower East Manhattan and Female Genital Mutilation. Giving back to others not just in monetary terms but in whatever support we can offer, is what makes the world tick. Lending one’s name to any organisation that genuinely helps people less fortunate in life can only be a good thing and I intend to expand in the field in the future. One of my life-long dreams is to work with the United Nations but that requires more time and I simply do not have that available for now.
Can you tell us a bit about Pete Tong DJ Academy and your involvement in it?
I was very pleased to be invited to partner in Pete’s Academy – along with co-founder Carl Cox. I have always held “Tongy” in very high esteem, his relentless passion, talent and dedication to the industry is really impressive. I have total respect for him as a professional and he is a good person – he’s always very supportive. I have plans to introduce the Academy in Africa, stay tuned for more details!
The academy is stacked with courses from legends, who have been leaders in the industry throughout its evolution over the years. What does it mean for you to be a part of this and what impact do you hope to have on those who take the opportunity to learn from all of you?
It is such an honour to be chosen by a truly impressive and gifted group of artists to help mentor young people who share our passion and conviction to create a path for themselves in our industry. It goes back to the importance of giving back and passing on our knowledge to others. It’s really inspiring to see the students at the Academy with a drive to learn, work hard and excel. I get a kick out of tutoring the students in the art of producing records and learning to DJ. I hope that in the near future our students will soon be releasing tracks on our respective labels and DJing at our events.
What is the best advice you ever received with regards to your career in music? What bit of advice from your own experience could you give to those aspiring to be a DJ/Producer?
My advice would be to believe in yourself, to stay focused and follow your heart. Nothing great is ever achieved unless it comes from whole-heartedness. Never be afraid of challenges along the way – these are experiences from which we learn. Oh, and very importantly, make sure you’re having fun with it!
The next MOOD event will be held in London, taking place at E1 on the 8th October.
