Your Name: Nikolauss (Andrei Anechitei)
Your location(country,city): Romania
Dimitri: Can you mention your biggest music career achievements in 2017?
Nikolauss: Beside releasing more tracks and improving my sound, biggest achievement would be the ASOT plays for Obscurus (Ava White) and my remix of GoRiel (Giuseppe Ottaviani & Sied Van Riel), also the premier of the remix on Solarstone Live from Amsterdam celebration of Pure Trance 100!
Dimitri: Can you mention your biggest personal life achievements in 2017 that make you extremely proud?
Nikolauss: Since music is a huge part of my life, I put as personal achievements also the music ones. But beside that, working together with the Extrema Global Music team on the label and getting my first gigs were some of the best things that happened. Also, I traveled more this year. And enjoyed life even more. Huge thank to my girlfriend for beeing there for me in every moment no matter how bad or good it was. I wouldn't be Nikolauss without her. I wouldn't be Andrei without her. Dream team!
1) Best Track from other artists:
2) Your top 3 2017 personal productions
3) Best Artist (Dj & producer):
Without doubt Giuseppe Ottaviani. This man is amazing with everything he does. I got the chance to meet him this year and it amazing of what can you learn from him with even an only 30 minutes talk. Also, Sean Tyas is one of my biggest inspirations. Aaaaand, this discussion could not be complete without mentioning Manuel Le Saux and Astuni. I've learned so much from them this past year.
4) Best Remix from other artist:
The one that comes throuh my mind right now is Craig Conelly ft. Jessica Lawrence - How Can I (John O' Callaghan Remix).
5) Best Remix that you have produced?
6) Best Remixer:
Allen Watts is doing great in this department. I also like Manuel Le Saux & Astuni Re-lifts, and the work of Paul Denton.
7) Best New Talent (Dj or producer):
I have to mention the amazing Romanian producers we have: Exolight (one year in the scene and he is doing a great job),
Starpicker (great tunes released with Go on Air and still a lot to come), Sundancer (amazing Dj and great friend),
Asteroid (it was great working with him on Earthbound and he is on the track for greatness),
Nick V, The WLT, Unbeat and many more. Not new, but also to mention: Suncatcher, KeyPlayer and Bogdan Vix. Go Romanian trance force, go!
Starpicker (great tunes released with Go on Air and still a lot to come), Sundancer (amazing Dj and great friend),
Asteroid (it was great working with him on Earthbound and he is on the track for greatness),
Nick V, The WLT, Unbeat and many more. Not new, but also to mention: Suncatcher, KeyPlayer and Bogdan Vix. Go Romanian trance force, go!
8) Best Electronic Music Album:
9) Best Electronic Music Compilation:
10) Best artwork/cover of an Album or Compilation:
11) Best Lyrics in an Electronic Music track (it can be your production or from other artists)
12) Best Vocalist/Singer featured on Electronic Music track:
13) Best Electronic Music Label:
14) Best Online Social media for communication with your fans:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. More or less in this order.
15) Best music composition software:
Ableton Live 9
16) Best Club Event or Open Air Festival:
17) Best personal Dj Gig:
First big and official gig: Trance Horizons in Chisinau. Played alongside Alexander Popov and Dj Feel.
18) Best Dj set of the year from other fellow Dj:
The best set I experienced was Manuel Le Saux ending set at Luminosity Beach Festival 2017. Even tough it rained like crazy, it is one of the highlights of this summer.
Best set seen online: Giuseppe Ottaviani Live 2.0 @ Dreamstate Mexico. He also played my remix for GoRiel and seeing the crowd go insane on it was amazing. (+ any other Live 2.0 sets from Giuseppe).
19) Best country that you have played in 2017 and where did you met the best festival/event crowd:
Moldova @Trance Horizons in Chisinau. Even tough it was a small crowd, it was great.
(events I didn't play, but only attended): Luminosity Beach Festival.
20) Best Radio show or Artist Vlog?:
21) Best Radio station:
Ah.fm.
22) Best Online Record shop that you purchase your music:
Beatport.
23) Best music related website that you visit frequently:
trancers.ro . Keep it going, amazing girlfriend!
24) Best Smart phone or smart phone application:
Google Pixel / stock Android. All social media apps.
25) Best Dj equipment (software or hardware):
CDJ-2000NXS2.
26) Best piece of advice you got in relation to your career in 2017:
Don't get involved with poorly organized people. Be aware of fake people.
27) Best hobby or activity that you spent a lot of time in 2017:
Music. Girlfriend. Travels. Family.
28) Best holiday destination for 2017 either to relax or to perform in a club or festival:
Amsterdam. Rome. Milan. Manchester.
29) Best Movie of the year that may inspire you to compose a track:
It didnțt inspire me to compose a track, but it inspired me to name one: Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. (see Obscurus)
30) Best online/PC/video game of the year that you have played this year?
FIFA.
31) The saddest electronic music news you heard this year and still makes u cry:
Very sad news for the Romanian Trance Community: we lost this year Snatt Dragos. Amazing human beeing. Amazing friend. Amazing artist.
Dimitri: Finally, please tell our readers your plans with your future releases, tracks, albums, collaborations, Dj gigs.
Nikolauss: Hmmmm. A lot of new tracks with a different spice on them. A different and improved style for my tracks. Some collaborations coming and also a big gig in the books. Sadly, I cannot tell you too much about any of these. :)
Thanks to Sied van Riel for organising this interview.
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