CRAFTING SONIC JOURNEYS: THE MUSICAL STORYTELLING OF DORIS NICHOLAS
interview JOIAH LUMINOSA
Doris Nicholas, a Dutch-born DJ now based in Berlin, has spent most of his life immersed in music, crafting sets that take listeners on an enchanting journey through different eras and sounds. With a unique ability to blend styles, his performances move fluidly between hypnotic, percussion-driven house, techno, and eclectic rarities. His passion for music was sparked early on by his family’s record collection and later nurtured by the influential club Doornroosje in Nijmegen. Over the years, Doris has developed a reputation for delivering sets that are both deeply rhythmic and emotionally charged, never shying away from unexpected twists.
As the co-founder and label head of 'The Tribe Tales,' and a former resident of Toi Toi, Doris has made a lasting mark on the global dance music scene. His energetic stage presence and fearless mixing style reflect his deep experience, and his commitment to nurturing emerging talent ensures the next generation of DJs will continue pushing the boundaries of musical storytelling. Check out his two-hour set here.
Your sound is often described as a journey through diverse eras and styles. How do you navigate the process of preparing before a show?
My preparation always depends on various factors: the venue, the crowd, the city, the country, the timeslot, and many other factors. I see myself as an artist and DJ with a broad spectrum, as I like to play many different styles. I like to play more house or deep house-oriented sets as much as I like to play hypnotic stripped-down techno, but for every gig, it is good to narrow it down and decide how you want to approach your set.
I aim always to tell a story. That doesn’t necessarily have to be in a specific style, but rather a sentiment, certain elements, or an atmosphere. I think my style and approach have something cinematic, it needs to fit a certain feeling or scenery, so I first like to categorize my music into certain themes and tools, and then I take it from there.
For the Numero mix, for example, I wanted to capture a rather personal ritualistic feeling. For me that is also the therapeutic essence of techno in a way; a unifying, ritualistic form of communication and expression that is as ancient as it is futuristic. The result is a 2-hour cut of hypnotic, voodoo-ish, sci-fi - tribalism, a sound that is very dear to me and I hope y’all enjoy it as much as I did recording it.
Growing up in the Netherlands, you had exposure to a rich musical background from family and friends. What are some early records that still influence your style today?
Being born and raised in Nijmegen, I was privileged to grow up in a rather small city with a very vibrant, consistent music and nightlife community. Next to my dad being a bass player and vivid music collector, my parents’ group of friends consists mostly of music fanatics, DJs, and record dealers, who actually went to the same venues and parties in the ‘90s, as where I started to go 15 years later (Doornroosje, De Plak).
At home, the radio or a CD would always be playing, be it punk, wave, funk, soul, African or Latin music. I remember listening in the car with my dad as a kid to some mix CDs and albums of the Detroit guys like Juan Atkins & Jeff Mills, which are still highly influential to what I play today.
One of those mixes for example would be [Juan Atkins – Wax Trax! MasterMix - Volume 1]; a DJ compilation that I would put on my first MP3 player and iPod later on in my teenage years. Some of the tracks in this mix I still regularly play.
The same goes for Jeff Mills, who for me and many others paved the way as a role model for what the art of DJing is about. Albums like [Jeff Mills - At First Sight] or [Jeff Mills - The Other Day] have been highly influential in nurturing my sound since the early days, as you perhaps can also hear in the mix.
full outfit SOPHIE ROUMANS
“The culture we represent, and the frequencies we play, determine new bondings and connections and create spaces where the oddest outcast can be the biggest stars. We should never forget the importance of that empowering nature in what we do. It is a place for the unification of countermovement of the recent past, the now, and the future.” - Doris Nicholas
Berlin has such a vibrant and diverse music scene. How has living there influenced your approach to DJing and producing?
Berlin is a city that has been breathing house & techno culture since the early ‘90s and has had this magnetic force on artists from all around the world already for decades. The city still is very progressive and I really like that almost anarchistic vibe that you can still feel in for example Kreuzberg. The community of artists is huge and extremely diverse, which makes it beautiful, and inspirational, yet challenging at the same time. In a city with so much talent, the bar is pushed continuously.
I learned a lot in this city as a person, because even more in a diverse and rich creative city nothing comes for granted. Funny enough I would not say that it really influenced my style or approach to DJing or producing that much. Of course, my sound and craft have matured and perfected since I moved here, as you are continually exposed to amazing music, which is also easily accessible to collect with all the amazing record shops and many like-minded souls. But I would rather say that I feel more at home in this city with the music I play and like to listen to, than that it fundamentally changed my approach.
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You’ve been involved in the dance music community for nearly a decade now. What changes have you noticed, and how do you see the role of DJs evolving in the current scene?
Especially in an age where the art of DJing and even promoting is highly commodified. We need to keep on addressing the urgency or necessity to, aside from trends, sustain our culture so it can last as long. Even more in a rapidly changing and globalizing planet, people from all around the world are searching for identity and peers in urban surroundings, wherefore the rhythm and shadow of the night is an amazing place to find this togetherness.
I also think that in an era where we are constantly being isolated, screened, and indoctrinated by media and smartphones, people are consciously or subconsciously longing for tribal and communal interaction even more. The culture we represent, and the frequencies we play, determine new bondings and connections and create spaces where the oddest outcast can be the biggest stars. We should never forget the importance of that empowering nature in what we do. It is a place for the unification of countermovement of the recent past, the now, and the future.
DJs or promoters that are not operating from those fundamental values, either don't get it or are already eaten by the commodified beast. Because I would say that as long as you keep on operating from in between the parameters of those values, there is no right or wrong. Everybody should contribute and give back to the culture and the community in a way that suits them best.
On an artistic level, I would say it is important to value authenticity in shaping an own unique sound and voice, especially in a landscape where it is easy to jump on a train of the current trend. Also from the bookers and promoter's perspective, there is a certain responsibility towards this. Do you want to get on a hype train, or do you rather want to be ahead of the curve? These are important questions to ask yourself as those choices have a big influence on the musical landscape and legacy you leave behind.
We need to keep educating ourselves and each other. Because in the roaring state of the current world, the political aspect of what we do is of crucial importance, and the statements or choices we make and the things we stand for are extremely relevant.
Can you tell us more about ‘The Tribe Tales’ and what inspired you to start the label? What kind of stories are you hoping to tell through it?
The label was a natural follow-up after our event and mix series called THE TRIBE, which we started with a group of friends in our hometown Nijmegen in 2016, and later on brought to Amsterdam. The urge to start a label next to it had always been there, but in 2022 we finally made it happen.
The stories we try to tell through the label are those of our community and friends, who hold a tremendous amount of talent. It has been a blessing to encounter and befriend so many talented artists who share the same philosophy and knack for deep, sexy, percussion-heavy house and techno. The community is of course always evolving and transforming, but most of our residents and closest affiliates go way back. CAIM for example, who did our first release, also played on our first-ever event. He delivered a release that blindly represents the sound we stand for; a result of a long friendship and unconditional support from both sides. It is amazing to see that CAIM after years of hard working and sticking to developing his sound and skills, now finally is also getting international recognition for his art.
The same counts for the ESHU collective, who have inspired us since the early days, and later on got super involved in the things we do with THE TRIBE. That exchange of energy and inspiration has been going on for some years now, and will most likely never stop. With the label we want to keep on exploring these types of connections with our friends, giving them and ourselves a platform to excel.
What are some non-musical influences that inspire your work? Could be art, literature, or even everyday experiences.
I get a lot of inspiration from movies and series. This can come spontaneously from a soundtrack or the sound design of a random series that I’m watching, but can also come from the scenery and photography of a sci-fi movie like Dune or The Matrix.
Besides, I get a lot of inspiration out of the connection with people that are close to me. Which can be friends, lovers, or family. It is fascinating because with everyone you are close to, you also form a unique sonic connection when you exchange music, and when a song or track truly resonates, it becomes fuel for beautiful memories and feelings, which in turn often lead to new ideas or inspiration. Alternatively, this can also come from a connection through other artforms. For instance, I am a huge fan of the visual art and photography of my friend Shuto, who also did the pictures for this interview. His work and our collaboration also inspire me in what I play, which results in an interdisciplinary connection that is very valuable to me.
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What are some of your favorite clubs or parties in Berlin?
Berghain
Still one of the most special places and one the biggest institutions in contemporary underground club culture. For me arguably the best place to experience house (Panorama Bar), or techno (Berghain) both in one building on a good Klubnacht. I can leave inspired for weeks after a good Klubnacht and chery many beautiful memories here.
Watergate Downstairs (New Kids On Acid, Multisex)
A sound system tuned to perfection, and one of the most iconic views of Berlin a dancefloor could wish for. I have had many amazing times here with Ricardo & Zip during New Kids On Acid, or with the inflammable crowd of Multisex. It is pretty heartbreaking that they are forced to close at the end of the year.
Fandango at Plotzensee
When I moved to Berlin, Plotzensee was mostly my home as it was the place I started working during my first summer here. Located at a lake in Wedding there is no better place to go if you fancy a dance and a swim. It is great to see that the promoters of Fandango made it completely their own. The crowd and energy at their events is one of a kind, and are extremely well curated with musical surprises every time.
What about your favorite places where you buy records?
Audio In - Berlin
Small, second-hand record shop with an amazing collection, who also take great care of the condition of their records. You can first hit the 3 and 5 EUR bins for the cheap finds, and if that does not result in anything, there are still plenty of bins with all the underground labels full of records that have been on your want list for ages.
Killacutz - Amsterdam
Second-hand shop in the very city center of Amsterdam. I used to go here a lot when I was still living in Amsterdam. They have an amazing selection of electronic music, and Richard & Co is always happy to help you navigate to the right catches.
Waaghals - Nijmegen
No place closer to home than the Waaghals, located around the corner of the house I grew up in, this was also the place where I bought my first records. A place by music geeks for music geeks, where you can find literally anything ranging from pop, punk, soul, hip-hop, and world music to the most obscure electronics. Still one of those places where you can find that 100 EUR record for 5% of the price if you are willing to put in the effort.
Name the last 3 vinyls you bought and tell me a bit about them.
Echoplex & Damon Wild - Niteworks Part 2
Very moody, elegant tribal-techno record, which I wanted to include in the mix but sadly arrived too late. I love the productions of both Echoplex & Damon Wild, but this collaboration holds some truly exquisite techno from the early 2000’s.
Recently I have been digging a lot of these faster paced tribals. a new sonic territory that I am currently discovering. There is a lot of interesting stuff happening in the faster 140-150 BPM waters at the moment. I have been listening a lot to for example this more psychedelic tribal rhythms, or producers that are discovering grounds in between techno and drum & bass.
Dutch classic! I bought it for the Orlando Voorn remix which is a stone-cold anthem and was already on my wantlist for a while. G-funk coated house from Amsterdam! I bought it from my friend Daan Donk who has a record shop on wheels called; Tale of Bus, definitely worth a visit if you find the bus near you.
Any plans for the near future?
For now, I like to live in the moment as much as possible, as I have been feeling very inspired and productive lately. A state of mind and energy I try to channel to recording mixes, producing music, or working on collaborations with friends. Rather than making tons of plans and releasing the dopamine by saying I am going to do something, I prefer to first make or create output, and then start planning from there.
But of course, there are also exciting things on the horizon. The year 2025 will be the benchmark that some own productions will see the light for the first time. Next to that, we have planned a second release for The Tribe Tales record label from someone that I admire a lot! So definitely keep an eye out for that!
talent DORIS NICHOLAS
photography SHUTO KITAGAWA
styling & makeup ANNA RIVIERA
studio ALEX PICHA & LUNA ELIZA
clothes SOPHIE ROUMANS
special thanks to JOAQUIN FANGMANN, EDOARDO LOVATI, FRANCO FALSINI, KOBBY