It's said that nice guys finish last. But in a game that values marathon sets by closing DJs, Nicholas Nice should take that epigram as a compliment."One gig that still stands out for me was playing for seven hours in The Guv," says the Toronto DJ and producer. "It was the first time I really understood the meaning of DJing?controlling a floor for that long and being able to connect with the audience."
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Connection is perhaps what matters most to Nick. Not just in the club, but within the creative and technical ends of music too. Take the eminent link between electronica's aural and visual spectrums, for example. As a talented graphic designer, the relationship has long fascinated him."Rhythms and beats are all visual patterns to me. They aid in getting my concepts and arrangements down. But I think if you're creative it can apply to all art forms-it really depends what you sink your teeth into. I meet DJs and producers all the time that are designers, chefs, film directors and vice versa."
Nick's role as the Creative Lead at Sound Mind-a boutique Toronto management agency which showcases leading international artists in a wide portfolio of North American bookings-has afforded him the opportunity to walk that very line between melody and art. Currently he curates Sound Mind's 4/4 event platform, lifestyle brand and quality garment collection. "Four-to-the-floor is our way of speaking directly to our audience, expressing the idea of ever-evolving awareness and repetition.""The core remains constant," he says. "But the art always breathes new life. This is also hinted at with our tag line modern consciousness. We feel that Toronto's unique, growing underground culture is ready to be nourished and expressed."4/4 is Sound Mind's avenue to identify with contemporary techno culture. "You will notice similarities across the concepts we convey," Nick outlines. "From the music produced by our promising roster, to the artists and labels we present, to the clothing we stitch… we're aiming to keep the mood of negative space, minimalism and being two steps ahead of the pack." As such, the 4/4 vision merges New York street style, black fashion and 'Berlin-esque' modernism with Toronto's own local, alternative flare.
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In an industry so oversaturated, Nick and Sound Mind strive to create a memorable experience. That takes patience, hard work, and dedication. "We believe that you have to create something entirely new to be different. That said, music will always remain our ultimate focus."Nick's advanced live set-up exemplifies that concept. By utilizing multiple Traktor decks and a Novation Launch Pad, he's custom-mapped with hot cues, loops, samples, and dual X1's for FX. Taking it a step further, the ongoing incorporation of Ableton into Nick's program allows him to produce live percussive elements on the go. He believes that this instrumentation has progressed his of mixing.He'll leave you to be the judge of that though. Nick's debut Northmix for THUMP is a brooding compilation that remains true to his sound as an artist, pushing the boundaries in terms of imagination, track selection, and big strides into deeper sounds. Most importantly for Nick, it also encompasses the 4/4 motto: to evolve and reflect the music that Sound Mind creates, loves, and listens to.
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