Belgian-born DJ and producer Nikka Lorak is a woman of many talents. Her experiences as a fashion photographer and filmmaker feed into her music, creating something bigger than just a tune. Her cinematic soundscapes are almost visual, her eye for the interplay between light and dark, along with her ability to build subtle intensity, transfer beautifully from film to music. Press play on “Life of a Genius” and you’ll begin to appreciate this almost instantly.
“Life of a Genius” pulsates like a pitch-black, rainy night in one of London’s grittier neighborhoods. Acid tweaks and a deep, throbbing bassline play out against a backdrop of sirens and claps, setting an anxious yet exhilarating mood that reflects the energy of the city. This soundscape is not just music; it’s an experience that lures you into its underbelly.
Nikka Lorak has become intimately familiar with the nightlife of London, having established herself as a resident DJ at both Fabric and Ministry of Sound. Close your eyes as the vocal protagonist, Rick Roman, begins to croon,
‘Tell me if you mean it? / It’s the life of a Genius /
No exercise for an exorcism / I’m working out my demons…’
“Life of a Genius” is crafted for the late-night dancefloor, blending genres such as techno, electro, and trance with a UK Garage vocal—a combination unlike any other. This track captures the bleeding heart of a city and distills the internal dichotomy within the artist’s own soul, creating something rhythmic yet profound.
Nikka has joined the ranks of acclaimed artists like Patrice Bäumel, Blake Light, and Thomas Gandey by releasing her work on Species Records, part of the Neo-Digital Music Group. This label is known for curating some of the most innovative melodic house and techno in the industry.
Nikka Lorak shares her thoughts on the track, revealing,
“’Life of a Genius’ is a reflection on the deepest and not-so-pretty corners of my soul. It is the sound of a soul at war with itself. Dark thoughts, dangerous decisions, broken rules. Nothing about it was meant to feel safe. There’s something almost criminal about the track. It lives in the shadows, somewhere between rage, obsession, and survival. For me, making it felt like an exorcism.”
“This record let all of it out—the aggression, the darkness, the hunger, the instinct to survive. It came from the parts of me I normally keep locked away.”
Listen to the track here.
