What’s On teams up with our pals Hype to preview Nicole Moudaber in Dubai. The female DJ plays Provocateur at Four Seasons Resort on May 8.

You know that feeling when you’re in the zone on the dancefloor? The last thing you want is someone trying to have a chat when your head’s in the bass bin, right? Well, techno queen Nicole Moudaber sums that up perfectly on her wicked forthcoming track Don’t Talk To Me When I’m Dancing.

Part of an EP collaboration with Skunk Anansie’s Skin, it’s not due out until July, but we’re hoping that Nicole will drop it when she plays Provocateur this weekend. And we wouldn’t mind hearing Someone Like You either, another belter from the EP destined for big things on the techno scene.

With summer gigs lined up once again for Carl Cox’s Music Is Revolution residency at Space Ibiza, and for Circo Loco at the island’s infamous DC10 club, the Moudaber freight train shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.

Nigerian-born Nicole grew up between London, Lebanon and New York and was first turned on to dance music after hearing Danny Tenaglia and Junior Vasquez. In 1996 she launched Trashy Renaissance in war-scarred Beirut but the authorities soon put an end to it.

Returning to London, Nicole began promoting her own nights at the capital’s famed Turnmills club “never once thinking I should put myself on the decks”. After a break from music, Nicole decided she couldn’t live without it and locked herself in the studio for a couple of years to learn the trade properly.

Six years on, the person that emerged slays crowds worldwide and is a respected producer, label boss and radio show host. Check out Joel Mull’s recently released Buzzers EP on Nicole’s Mood Records and tune in to her In The Mood radio show for a blast of the tough techno sounds for which she is famed. Better still, check her out in person.

Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, Friday, May 8, 10pm to 3am, free. Taxi: Four Seasons Resort. Tel: (055) 2118222. provocateurdubai.com

For Hype magazine articles 

NICOLE’S OTHER BIG HITS
A quick guide to the producer’s landmark releases…

Nicole Moudaber vs  Mel & Kim
Get Fresh (Nocturnal Groove, 2008)
This is where it all started for the now internationally recognised star, with an edit of UK pop stars Mel & Kim. Nicole transformed the track into a spine-tingling house builder that set the precedent for her captivating main room style.

Nicole Moudaber & Victor Calderone
The Journey Begins (Drumcode, 2012)
This aptly named two tracker marked the start of a fruitful relationship with Adam Beyer’s Drumcode that continues to this day. It also signalled a switch in Nicole’s sonic focus from minimal and tech to a more rolling techno groove.

Nicole Moudaber
In The Mood (Mood Records, 2013)
This funked up, hip house leaning and ghetto-fried EP saw Nicole step out for the first time on her own new label, Mood Records. Since then the imprint has gone on to champion the likes of Carlo Lio and Macromism to the wider world.

Nicole Moudaber
One Day Later (Intec, 2014)
Kicking off the year with a return to Carl Cox’s Intec label, Nicole offered up maybe her toughest, darkest music yet here. The title track is a ten-minute techno sermon that culminates in a stormy and all-consuming peak.

Nicole Moudaber at Nasimi Beach, Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Thursday, 2pm to 3am, Dhs100 after 7pm. Taxi: Atlantis, The Palm