We’ve got a very interesting interview for you today, with a very interesting act. Meet Nikka Lorak.
Belgian DJ, producer, and visual creator Nikka Lorak has spent years blurring the lines between art, cinema, and peak-time dancefloors. Armed with a background in film directing and fashion photography, Lorak approaches electronic music with a distinct narrative vision, translating depth, tension, and energy into high-impact techno crafted for stadium-sized stages and intimate club basements alike.
Marking a major milestone in her career, Lorak has launched her independent imprint, Cruel Kind—a home specifically built for the next generation of “electronic rockstars” who push beyond genre boundaries. Dedicated to peak-time techno infused with cinematic notes and driving grooves, the label champions bold, authentic talent.
The label’s debut single, ‘Control’, serves as its definitive statement of intent, capturing the raw spirit of rave culture with a sharp, modern edge. And so we sat down with Nikka to discuss everything regarding the launch of the label, and how her past experience on tangential industries helped her shape both her sound and her vision for the imprint. Read below to find out.
The Interview
Congratulations on launching Cruel Kind with your new single ‘Control’! What was the ultimate catalyst that made you decide now was the moment to build your own label?
Thank you. For me, Cruel Kind was the natural next step rather than simply another business decision. I reached a point where I had a very clear idea of the world I wanted to create musically, not only in terms of sound, but also identity, attitude and visuals. I wanted a home for music that feels powerful, cinematic and unapologetic — a home for electronic music rockstars.
The idea behind Cruel Kind is really about creating a platform for artists who do not fit comfortably into a box. I wanted the freedom to develop that vision without compromising it. ‘Control’ felt like the perfect first statement because it represents exactly what I want Cruel Kind to stand for: energy, tension and emotion, music that moves stadiums.
Could you give us a little insight into one part of the production of ‘Control’ that you liked the most? Could be a nerdy detail or could be a personal story linked to a section of the track, for instance.
One of the things I love most about ‘Control’ is the way the track constantly builds pressure without giving everything away immediately. I am very interested in creating that feeling of anticipation, almost like a scene in a film where you know something is about to happen, but you do not know exactly when.
For me, the contrast between the driving low end, the more intense drop and the vocal gives the track its character. I wanted the groove to be physically powerful in a club, but at the same time have a cinematic narrative. I think that balance between aggression and atmosphere is something that will become a signature of Cruel Kind.
You say Cruel Kind is an imprint “built for electronic rockstars”. How do you spot one, what do you see in an artist that instantly makes you nod?
I look for presence before perfection. An electronic rockstar does not necessarily have the biggest numbers or the most technically perfect production. There has to be something that makes me stop and think, “Who is this?”
I look for identity, attitude and a point of view. I want artists who sound like themselves rather than like whatever is currently working on Beatport or Spotify. Think Skrillex or Fred again.. They need to have something slightly dangerous about them, something that feels bigger than just making another good techno track.
If I can hear a track and immediately imagine the artist standing on a huge stage, controlling a crowd, that is when I pay attention. For me, that is the beginning of a rockstar.
Cruel Kind A&R is looking for energy, structural development (forget endless loops) and high contract of elements.
Before diving full-time into electronic music, you built a career in film and fashion. How does that cinematic background influence your sound and the aesthetic identity of the label?
It influences almost everything I do. I do not really separate music, visuals and storytelling in my mind. I grew up professionally thinking in images, scenes, characters, lighting and atmosphere, so naturally I approach music in a similar way.
When I am working on a track, I am often imagining a scene rather than just a sound. I think about what the audience should see and feel at a particular moment. That is probably why my music tends to have a strong cinematic quality and why visuals are such an important part of Cruel Kind.
I want the label to feel like a universe rather than simply a catalogue of releases. The music is the soundtrack, but the artists, artwork, visuals and live performances all belong to the same world.
You’re just coming down from playing multiple dates across Ibiza, while getting ready to tour India. How do you adapt your energy and set programming when transitioning between crowds? Do different cultures crave different vibes?
Absolutely. Every crowd has its own personality, and I think a good DJ has to be able to read that rather than simply arrive with a fixed formula.
I do not necessarily change who I am musically, but I change the way I tell the story. In some places I can build the tension for longer. In others, the crowd responds immediately to harder, more physical energy. I pay attention to how quickly people react, what happens when I introduce a darker section, when they want vocals and when they want pure rhythm.
Ibiza is incredibly international, so you are already playing to a mixture of cultures and musical backgrounds. India has its own incredible energy and relationship with electronic music, and I am very excited to experience that firsthand. The key for me is to stay authentic while being responsive. The crowd should influence the journey, but never dictate who you are as an artist.
What would your life be like if you weren’t making music? Do you reckon you would’ve gone down the visual/cinematic path?
Definitely. I think I would still be somewhere in the visual world. Film, fashion, creative direction, photography, something where I could combine storytelling with aesthetics.
Music actually feels like the place where all those previous experiences finally meet. I can take everything I learned from film and fashion and put it into a three-minute track, a live show, a campaign or an entire label identity.
So even if I had not become a musician, I do not think I would have escaped the cinematic world. I probably would have just found another way into it.
What can you tell us about the next projects lined up in your agenda? How do the next releases and gigs look in the world of Nikka Lorak?
The next chapter is going to be very busy. I am continuing to develop Cruel Kind and build the label’s identity through new music and artists, while also pushing my own sound further into the Peak Time Techno territory I am most passionate about.
There are more releases and collaborations coming, and I am particularly interested in developing music that feels made for big systems and big stages, tracks with real emotional and physical impact rather than music that simply works as background for a DJ set.
–
Thank you Nikka for this wonderful interview. You can buy and stream ‘Control’ at https://ffm.to/cruelkind001. Stay tuned to EDMTunes for more.
