Nifra Shows Some Love for the Trance Family With Her Exclusive Dreamstate NY 2016 Mix

At the age of 13, Nifra , née Nikoleta Frajkorovå, discovered dance music in her native Slovakia at a time when trance was relegated to the back rooms at underground parties. Like most fans of the genre, she was drawn in by the intense emotion expressed in trance. However, her love affair with the music is a bit darker, as she has always veered toward the harder-edged style of the genre—or what she likes to call “trance music with balls.”

At 18, she was already opening up nights for house and techno DJs, building her skills on the decks and waiting for the day when she could really break out and play the music she loved so much. In 2006, with the worldwide dance music explosion looming, trance finally started to make its way to Slovakia. Eventually, Markus Schulz , one of her biggest inspirations, discovered Nifra in 2008, and she quickly joined the ranks of the Coldharbour family. Since then, her dark, moody sounds have blessed the bass bins of festivals and clubs worldwide, and she’s collaborated with her former idol-turned-friend Markus Schulz on their track “ The Creation .”

Nifra returns to the States to rock the crowds at the inaugural Dreamstate New York , where she joins the international trance family as the first female artist to perform on the Dreamstate stage. Ahead of her Dreamstate debut, Nifra dropped an exclusive mix that’s full of her big and bold sounds and proves why she’s taking over as the queen of trance.

We chatted with Nifra about the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll, women in the dance industry, and her rank as the presumed queen of trance.

You started off as a raver. How is the scene in Slovakia different from what you’ve seen in the rest of the world?
At that time, traveling to different countries for events wasn’t really common, so I only knew the local scene, but it was very underground. It reminds me a lot of what’s happening in the USA right now. Music-wise, it’s of course different, but the crazy outfits at festivals and clubs—that’s exactly what I experienced at that time.

You’re a hockey fan. How did you get into that, and who’s your favorite team?
Yeah, that’s true. It is the biggest sport in Slovakia, and I was a teenager during those years when our national team was doing really well in the World Championship. They even won gold, so you had to be a fan, even if you were not into it. I actually don’t have a favorite team, because I don’t have time to watch it anymore. But every year, I try to watch as many games as possible during the World Championship, and of course I support our Slovak team.

Many have called you “the queen of trance.” How does it feel to carry such a grand title?
I don’t even know where it comes from, but I’m of course flattered. Makes me incredibly happy to see people loving my work, and when I started, I wouldn’t have even dreamt about what was going to follow. I’m living the dream!

On the other hand, you’ve also received some comments from people who claim you don’t create your own music. That’s obviously not true. Do you think you would get that kind of criticism if you were male?
Of course not. The perception of women in the music scene is sometimes really, really low. In my case, it has been an ongoing fight to prove myself as a genuine female artist. Even though I have no help in the studio whatsoever, some people will still claim my songs are produced by someone else because of the simple fact that I’m a woman. I can’t change my gender, but I can keep on making great music and make people happy—if they could just open their mind a little bit.

You seem to be getting a lot of support for the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll. Do you feel like these contests are a true representation of DJ Culture?
Definitely not, but DJ Mag is still quite important in some parts of the world. I think it used to be different a couple of years back, but I would in no way consider it as the true top 100 of the most popular DJs, as there is so much more involved. Sometimes it looks to me like a presidential campaign. I’m very grateful for those who [voted for me], as being in someone’s top five most favorite DJs is the coolest thing ever.

You’ve already spent a lot of time in the States. What are you looking forward to doing outside of DJing in New York?
I’ve already said a couple of times that I consider the USA my third home. I spent a lot of time there the past two years, and each and every time, I’m so excited to go back there. I don’t think I will have much time before Dreamstate, but I just love to wander around and breathe the NY atmosphere, meet some people, and do some shopping as always.

Nifra Dreamstate NY 2016 Mix Track List
Markus Schulz “A Better You”
Markus Schulz ft. Ethan Thompson “Love Me Like You Never Did” (Nifra Remix)
Marco V “Simulated” (Radion 6 Remix)
Alexander Popov “Distant Power”
Yoel Lewis “Goldengate”
Rex Mundi “Skybe”
Calvin Harris & Disciples “How Deep Is Your Love” (Nifra Remix)
Anske “Epika”
Marcus White “Backdrop”
Markus Schulz & Nifra “The Creation”
Dan Dobson “Bali”
Nifra “Rebel”
Team Argentina “Alpha Omega”
Hardwell & Armin van Buuren “Off the Hook” (Fisherman & Hawkins Remix)
Exis “The Count”

Catch Nifra at Dreamstate NY 2016 Friday, August 26, at the Brooklyn Hangar in Brooklyn, NY. Tickets are available now . For more information, visit the official event page .

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