Nikifor: I’m not chasing trends, I’m building chapters

A music production graduate from Dubspot, New York, Nikifor is undoubtedly, one of the leading names in the club scene of North Macedonia. He spent years as the resident DJ at the iconic Paradise Club in Mykonos, performing beside global greats like Avicii, John Digweed and Dimitri From Paris. His international path continued through Ibiza and Dubai, sharing stages with the likes of Carl Cox, Solomun, Black Coffee, Tale of Us, Roger Sanchez, Hernan Cattaneo, Marco Carola, Eric Prydz, Paul Van Dyk, Deep Dish, Sasha and others.

Embarked on the production side of music 13 years ago, Nikifor hit a high in 2021., with ''Togetherness'', a summer house hit for Nouveau Niveau Records. Shaping nightlife across Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia, Nikifor currently stands among the most prominent electronic music artists in the Balkans...

MM: Your career began in 1998. After 27 years behind the decks, what continues to fuel your passion, and how have you managed to keep the fire alive without ever getting bored?

N: Getting bored? Never... This industry evolves faster than any other, with new technology every few weeks and over 100k new releases dropping daily. If anything, the real challenge is finding the time to listen to everything. So no, ''bored'' has never been part of my musical vocabulary. Of course, there were moments of exhaustion, that’s a sign you need to reset, step back or start a new project. I joined Antenna 5 Radio in 1998, had my first gig just months later and I’ve never worked anything else since. Presenting new music to people, creating moments, that was my passion then, and it still is today.

MM: Take us inside the journey of a respected DJ like yourself. How have these 27 years shaped you, both musically and from a business perspective?

N: It does sound heavy when you say ''27 years'', so let’s talk in chapters: I started ripping cassettes at 8 and 9 years old. I had access to Antenna 5 Radio in Skoplje. I became so popular among friends and neighbors that my father eventually received a call from the radio owners saying that what I was doing was very illegal. At 12, I spent an entire summer, full 3 months at Antenna 5 Radio, learning 24/7 from the best DJs. For me, it was better than Disneyland...

My first night job came at AXA bar, but it lasted only a few days. The owner wanted music that didn’t align with my choice. I packed my CDs and walked out. The very next day, I started opening for DJs at Colosseum Club, where I stayed for 15 years. Back then, DJing was considered a hobby. Every cent I earned went straight back into records and equipment. I learned the craft by studying the world’s best just in front of my eyes. Sasha, Digweed, Carl Cox, Deep Dish, Tiësto, Plastikman, Prydz, Armin. I was a chubby teenager, and somehow they all found me charming enough to gift me their records. My teenage routine was simple: school in the morning, radio in the afternoon, sports in the evening, Colosseum on weekends. Business was never the motivation. I come from a family rich with love, not pressure. But music scenes change. Colosseum closed. I kept the radio show alive and played wherever the music could still be understood...

Then came Mykonos, initially for a one-week visit. I played with Tom Novy and earned a three-year residency at Paradise Club. Suddenly, everything made sense again. Bob Sinclar, Avicii, Digweed, everyone passed through Paradise. My only job was to survive winters back home, finish university on time, and be free by June 1st. More income meant deeper investment. Since 2010, I attended the Miami Winter Music Conference every year - pure networking heaven, plus sunburns in March. But while my friends settled into 8-to-4 jobs, I wanted more. I wanted to do what no one from my country had done before - travel internationally as a main or guest act. Without releases, it was hard. Small letters on flyers, bad time slots. Still, I kept going. At 30, I gave myself an ultimatum: either make it, or change paths. Instead of WMC in 2013, I enrolled at Dubspot in New York. Three months. All or nothing. Talent and experience opened doors. I was offered a DJ teaching role and invited to take Mix & Master classes for free. Exhausted but fulfilled, I returned home to renew my visa… and life shifted again. A job offer came from Win Music Freedom Platform. I hesitated, but reality won. What was supposed to be six months became eleven unforgettable years with WMF and Stanica 26. I finished my Mix Master journey - not in New York, but in Athens.

Different city. Same destiny...

MM: As a key figure in shaping nightlife across North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo, you’ve played countless parties and shared the stage with many great DJ names. What are some unforgettable highlights that still stand out in your memory?

N: Easy and short:

Macedonia – Closing for Carl Cox, Green Beach Festival, Ohrid

Since 1998 at Stanica 26, the 20-year anniversary in 2018.

Opening for Tale of Us, Ame, Dennis Cruz, and many more

Kosovo – Opening for Solomun, Zone Club, Prishtina

Albania – Closing for Black Coffee, Discobox, Tirana

MM: Looking back, what did you love most about the music scene in the past, and what excites you about it today?

N: People used to out for the experience, new music, new sound systems, new DJs and a shared energy till sunrise. Then you’d go home, sleep, work and wait for Friday to do it again. Today, folks text each other while standing two meters apart. Smartwatches warn them about ''loud environments''. On the other side, we see more clubs and communities around the world that openly mock the use of smartphones. Promotors introducing ''no-phone'' policies. Presence is slowly coming back. What excites me now is the AI generation. We’ve already seen an AI-generated artist hit Billboard #1. Warner has signed with SUNO, and Sony and Universal will follow, I suppose. After 13 years of active production, I’m cautious, but curious. Thankfully, Beatport still feels mostly human, for now. :)

MM: Graduating in music production from Dubspot in New York is a major milestone. How do you approach crafting your music and what defines your creative process?

N: Most of my productions start on the dancefloor. I record my sets, and Rekordbox keeps the tracklists. Mondays are DJs’ Sundays - so on Tuesday, I open the playlist and analyze. Where did I miss a track? Where did the crowd disconnect? Then Ableton opens. Drums. Bass. Vocals. Minimal mastering. Weekend testing. If it works, I send it to some colleagues. If five or more of us get strong crowd reactions, I refine it, apply feedback and send it for mastering. Then, hopefully, it gets released. Lately, I’ve learned to be more radio-friendly. No airplay means no streams. No streams mean empty dance floors.

MM: ''Togetherness'' was the track that launched you everywhere, then came ''Love The Life'' with Mr. Mike. Tell us more about these two bangers...

''Togetherness'' remains my biggest success. The moment the guitar lead drops, the crowd explodes - and when the vocals arrive, everyone sings. Those moments are the real reason I still do this. I still get goosebumps watching the videos and reminding myself: yes, that was me... Mr. Mike, the house music legend behind ''Pump It Up'' and ''Put Your Hands Up In The Air'', picked it up at Unum Festival 2021., embraced it and a friendship was born... The Black & White Brothers - ''Put Your Hands Up In The Air'' was the first record I ever bought, so making ''Love The Life'' was meant to be. A clear message to the youth, delivered through his legendary voice: No telephones on the dancefloor. Enough is enough.

MM: What’s currently cooking in your production kitchen?

N: Late December means happiness, vocals, and golden classics. I’m two weeks away from my residency at Paradiso Mountain Club in St. Moritz, so the studio is full of Italian classics - ''L’Italiano'', ''Sarà Perché Ti Amo'', ''Altomare'', plus global anthems like ABBA and Enya. Many edits will never see official releases - but YouTube doesn’t block them in my sets. Here’s one with Marko Edge (at 38:00). On January 26, I am releasing a club weapon on the Italian label TILL: AM, titled ''Maccabi'', my take on the current Israeli sound...

MM: Besides DJing, you also manage DJ Jorgos Mitropetros. How has stepping into a managerial role influenced your career and perspective on the industry?

N: To be precise, I teach and advise. Jorgos already works with German and Swiss managers. My role is guidance. He’s at a vulnerable DJ age and I make sure he stays focused and grounded. He's been by my side for four years and I’m very proud of him. Barcelona, Moscow, Ibiza, already done. With residencies at C26 Skopje, Mistral Beach Split, King’s and Paradiso St. Moritz, his growth is inevitable.

MM: With such a busy schedule, guide us through your summer and winter residencies. How do these seasons shape your rhythm and connection with the crowd?

N: Winter in St. Moritz - until early April. Homecoming is Easter weekend. VelikDance is now an annual movement across Macedonia. This year, the legendary Alexandra Prince will join us, alongside Darryll Smith. We’ll perform ''With You'' and I’m sure Just RB will leave the studio and join us. Macedonians are eager to sing ''So Many Times'' with her...

Saturdays belong to Rebel Club in Ohrid. In Bitola and Skopje, the negotiations are still ongoing. May means beaches: Nazar Beach Albania (season #6), Mistral Beach Split, Flava Club Moscow & Sochi, plus festivals... Then for national day we do a mountain event on Pelister National Park, last year was awesome, and this is something I see grow a lot this year. You are all invited. October is for family and Ibiza closings. And this November, I truly hope Skoplje opens a new super club.

MM: Finally, give us a trailer of what we can expect from Nikifor in the next few years?!

More intention.
Fewer compromises.
Stronger music.
Selective residencies.
Collaborations that matter.
I’m not chasing trends - I’m building chapters.
As long as the dancefloor believes, the story continues.