Between global jaunts everywhere from London to Lagos to collaborations with Deep Dish & Carl Cox (among countless others), Nicole Moudaber has firmly put her stamp on dance floors across the globe. As she returns home to Miami for URGE Miami, Moudaber sat down with me for an exclusive chat. Not only did we dish on what she plans to bring to URGE Miami Beach Pride (tickets and info at https://urgemiami.com), but we dished about her dream collaboration and what it is like being one of the leading women in the DJ booth today.
You are heading to URGE Miami Beach Pride and giving Miami a dose of your global dance floor greatness! What does it feel like to be bringing your iconic sound to URGE?
You know it is my first time playing a Pride party; mind you, all my life I practically grew up in all of the gay clubs and parties! To be able to play for the first time in Miami, my hometown, it is pretty monumental. I was so happy when they invited me to play.
How did that invitation come about?
The promoters were at my birthday party at Space in Miami and they heard my set and they loved it and they wanted me to play it! I do know some of the promoters, so there is a lot of history and familiarity there, so I am really looking forward to that.
Speaking of Space, it truly is a venue like absolutely no other, don’t you think?
I have been going to Space for over 15 years now. What do I like about it? I think when the sun comes up and its open and it’s 24 hours! People are in the mood so you can be very creative as an artist and take it to every place that you want as an artist. People respond to that and in that sense, it’s great. I love it.
A recent viral trend is talking to people who frequent Space and seeing what the record is for staying there in one outing…
I did 12 hours with Danny Tenaglia!
Who are some of the people, like the legendary Danny Tenaglia, that you looked up to and thought that a place behind the decks was somewhere you wanted to be?
Oh babe, the list is fierce! As far as house, definitely Danny (Tenaglia), Louie Vega is well up there for me. Tedd Patterson, Honey Dijon, obviously all of the house people that I love. My background used to be Tribal/US House that is how I got stamped with the music. Victor Calderone obviously, Victor is my brother.
What do you think it is about Miami that keeps events like URGE remaining as one of the top events in the world?
I think first of all the weather. Second is the crowd, mostly Latinos. They love life! They are “muy caliente” and the vibe is very light compared to other states or European countries. This is why I love being here and I try to be here as much as possible. It’s just because of the vibe! It’s very vibrant, people love life, they don’t take it too seriously, people just want to enjoy themselves, look great, and be surrounded by like minded people. That is what life is all about. It is very inspiring; I just love it. It makes you feel sexy!
That also leads to the connection between the boys on the dance floor and the tremendously accomplished women in the DJ booths. From Tracy Young to Morabito to Alexis Tucci and of course yourself, the women of the dance floor have tapped into what the boys want to hear!
Yes! I used to do it back then with all of the big dogs and I kind of twisted them up baby! I also noticed that a lot of the gays like the way I am, I mean I am gay as well. They really like the fierceness in my attitude and I am looking forward to that at URGE. In the past, I used to think that the only male spaces in the gay scene didn’t use to like women that much. I think it has changed at the moment.
Who is someone that you would absolutely love to work with that you haven’t had the chance to do so yet?
I would say Louie Vega. I was with him yesterday, we went to dinner with Carl Cox and some friends. I did a remix for him when he did a collab with Honey Dijon, but I would love to do a couple of tracks with Louie Vega. I was born in Nigeria so I have that African vibe in me and he has that Puerto Rican vibe. I think that joining these two worlds with house, I think that we would come up with something unique. I am going to approach him…(laughs)! He has the drums in his blood like I do and I think that it would be amazing!
Follow Nicole Moudaber on Instagram @nicolemoudaber
Follow URGE Miami on Instagram @urgemiami
