Melbourne-based Nik Kastel is the latest in a long and impressive line of exciting techno exports from down under. The DJ, producer and live act has taken his high-intensity sound from the underground clubs of Melbourne to HÖR Berlin, our own Terminal V and many more hotspots festivals across Europe.

With releases on Exetra, Reload and DSR Digital and millions of plays already behind him, Nik has built a sound that has proven itself in the club and is always as precise as it is relentless. For this mix, he’s gone deep into his own world, bringing together a stack of unreleased cuts, IDs and collaborations with the likes of BENZEN, 4SAKEN, SEMTEX and ASLØ. It's a proper snapshot of where his sound is heading next and a great accompaniment to the interview in which he allows us into his creative process, talks about the special feels of his hometown and more besides.

Interview

For those of us who haven't been, tell us what the Melbourne scene is like, what parties are cool, what the crowds are like, what sounds dominate right now?

Melbourne has always had a really strong underground culture, and I think that’s a big reason why the scene here is so special. The crowds are very educated and know what they like, but at the same time they’re open to new sounds and artists. There’s a really strong hard techno presence at the moment, but you’re also seeing a lot more acid, schranz, industrial and faster sounds coming through. There are some seriously good promoters and collectives pushing the scene forward, and the quality of production at parties keeps getting bigger. For me, the best parties are the ones where the crowd genuinely comes for the music. You can feel the difference when people are there because they’re passionate about the sound rather than just being out for the sake of it.

What are some of the most important influences or teachings or milestones or tips you have been given along the way to help get you where you are now?

One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that nobody is going to build your career for you. You have to be willing to put in the hours when nobody is watching. I spent years learning production, DJing, networking, creating content and figuring out what actually worked for me. There were definitely periods where it felt like nothing was happening, but looking back, those were probably some of the most important periods because they forced me to improve. The biggest piece of advice I’ve taken on board is to focus on your own lane. It’s easy to look at what another artist is doing and think you need to replicate it, but the moment you stop trying to be someone else and start building your own identity, things begin to move. A major milestone for me was realising that I could turn this passion into a full-time career. Playing internationally, releasing music on labels I respected and seeing bigger and bigger crowds were all huge moments, but quitting my job and committing completely to music was probably the biggest one.

You have played all over the world, released on loads of great labels; what's the motivation now, and what goals do you set yourself? How do you keep pushing, having made your breakthrough?

The more you achieve, the more you realise how much further you can go. Playing a big show doesn’t make me want to slow down, it makes me want to play an even bigger one, make a better record and reach a new crowd. My goals have definitely changed over time. Earlier on, it was about getting the first release, getting the first international booking and proving that I could do it. Now it’s about building something that lasts. I want to keep developing my sound, play bigger festivals, tour more internationally and release music that people genuinely remember. I also want to keep pushing myself creatively rather than just repeating what already works. For me, the motivation is pretty simple: I love this.

Is there one thing that unifies your tracks and sets, one characteristic you think your music always has, whether intentional or not?

Energy. That’s probably the biggest constant. Whether I’m producing or playing, I want there to be tension and movement. I like music that feels physical, something that makes you want to move rather than just something that sounds good through headphones. I’m naturally drawn towards punchier, aggressive and psychedelic sounds, but I still want there to be groove in there. Even when the tracks are heavy, I want them to have something that keeps pulling you forward. I think that’s probably the thread that runs through everything I do.

Tell us about your mix, the aim you had with it, and what you wanted it to say.

With the mix, as always I want it to feel like a journey rather than just a collection of tracks. I wanted to showcase this defined sound of mine while still keeping the groove and dynamics. There’s a lot of energy throughout it, but I wanted the transitions and track selection to create a natural progression. I wanted listeners to understand where I’m at musically right now. It’s heavy, fast and quite relentless, but there are still moments where you can breathe before things build back up again. Ultimately, I wanted it to sound like one of my sets: raw, energetic, and full of acid.

What gear did you use, is that important to you in any way, whether in the booth or studio?

I’m pretty hands-on with my gear, especially in the studio. I work mainly in Ableton and use a combination of hardware and software depending on what I’m trying to achieve. The gear definitely matters, but I don’t think the equipment makes the track. I’ve made some of my favourite music with a very simple setup. It’s more about understanding the tools you have and knowing how to achieve the sound you hear in your head. In the booth, I’m much more focused on the feeling of the room and the crowd. The equipment needs to feel reliable, but once I’m playing, I’m thinking much more about what the dancefloor needs than what gear I’m standing behind.

What else are you working on for the rest of the year?

There’s a lot happening. I’m focused heavily on new music, spending a lot of studio time developing my sound and working on new releases. I have some exciting projects in the pipeline, and I’m keen to keep pushing into some darker and more experimental territory. There’s also a lot more touring and shows coming up, so I’m looking forward to taking the music to new places and meeting new crowds. My main focus is just continuing to build. Bigger shows, better music, more international opportunities and constantly finding ways to push the project forward. I’m definitely not at the point where I’m comfortable sitting back and looking at what I’ve already done.

Tracklist

Nik Kastel - This Is Dangerous Goods (Unreleased)
Sam Kitt - Eternal
Alex Farell - Down Low (Unreleased)
Nik Kastel x BENZEN - ID (Unreleased)
Nik Kastel - Organized Chaos
Alex Farell - Rockin The Party (Unreleased)
Nik Kastel - Dance All Night
Nik Kastel - Decimate (Unreleased)
GALLØ - Escape Reality (Unreleased)
Nik Kastel - No One
T78 - Plur
Nik Kastel x 4SAKEN - Elevate
ASLØ - Get The F_ck Up (Unreleased)
4SAKEN - Showrun (Unreleased)
Nik Kastel x SEMTEX - ID (Unreleased)
Nik Kastel - Acid Raindrops
Nik Kastel - G.T.F.U
ASLØ - FUTC (Unreleased)
Nik Kastel - On My Knees (Remix)