Internal Affairs with: Nicooly
Internal Affairs is where we step inside the musical mindset of our core talents and potentially other artists outside of our circle.
It’s not just how they feel, the music they create or what they play, it’s also the reasons behind.
The purpose is not to promote, but rather provide perspective and different angles.
Each edition pairs conversation with curation:
a short reflection on where the artist stands right now, followed by five tracks that represent their current internal rotation.
Nicooly - Between worlds
Currently a father and residing in Sofia, Nikolay has his world reshaped once again. Expectedly his time living in Berlin has influenced Nicooly the same way it does for many artists. it became both a laboratory and a filter for aesthetics. Deeper listening habits, ear for the different and studio discipline all of it slowly refining his approach to tension, pacing and emotional control. All of which he moved to his studio in Sofia.
Alongside his ongoing collaboration with Dylanh in TWO DRAMA QUEENZ and his focus today is crystal clear. Less noise and a lot more intention.
We asked him where he stands musically right now and to share five tracks that reflect that space.
Q: Where are you musically right now?
Nicooly:
I’m currently in a period of cleansing. I play less, but with more purpose. Over the past year, I’ve stepped back from the inertia and focused on building my own space — a studio where I worked on the acoustics myself and completed my first full project of this kind. It forced me to listen more carefully and be honest with myself.
My selection right now sits between two extremes. Some of these tracks are pure bombs — songs I’ve played countless times around midnight, when the energy is on the edge and the dynamics keep everything alive. They’ve stood the test of time and stayed with me for years because they work — not just on the dancefloor, but inside me too.
These five tracks reflect this state. Some carry energy and dynamics, while others allow for immersion and space. To me, they show different sides of where I am musically right now — and that’s why I want to share them.
The Rotation: Five tracks currently in Nicooly’s internal orbit:
Track 1 — „Show Me Right“ (DJ Ali & T. Fuller)
I chose this track as the first in my story of five tracks. It has been in my head since the days of Comics Club in Varna, around 2006–2007 — one of the first places where I truly learned to listen to electronic music.
For me, this isn’t just a track — it’s a memory from my teenage years, nights when the sound and energy were everything. I’ve played it countless times around midnight, when the energy was on the edge and the whole club was pulsing. This track carries weight and sets the starting point for my selection.
It brings me back to those moments and captures the feeling of discovery and connection that music first gave me.
Track 2 — The Mob Is On The Streets (Sniper Mode)
This is one of my favorite records. Honestly, I’ve played it quite a lot already, and I’ve decided to leave it in the deep archive for another time. But before that, I wanted to mark it in this series!
The Mob Is On The Streets is just pleasant late‑hour electro — you feel like you could say a lot about it, yet there’s nothing more to add. Pure bomb! I’ve played it repeatedly during closing sets.
Track 3 — Go Naked (Dan Berkson)
Another favorite record from my collection, one that has stood the test of time. I’ve played it spontaneously, without a plan — in my view, it fits almost anywhere.
Very sweet tech groove — I love it!
I’ve also heard it play at key venues in Berlin, like Club der Visionaere, Hoppetosse, and RSO.
Track 4 — SameSame - Oscillator [PRZ8EIGHT]
If the first three tracks tell a story about my past, this one is a choice from the present. Although it’s always hard to pick something new — I collect a lot of new music and there are many quality producers — I decided to include Oscillator.
The full SameSame record is intriguing and worth a listen, with production that stands out.
Oscillator is an uncompromising four-to-the-floor midnight bomb — the kind of energy I’ve been chasing in sets lately.
Track 5 — [A3] (Trickpony — 24/7 Heaven)
Last but not least — for the moments when you need to breathe, step back, and think. This release from Trickpony takes you there.
24/7 Heaven is a masterclass in downtempo and trip-hop, six tracks that balance atmosphere and depth. I picked the A3 side to represent the record — a track that slows you down and pulls you in.
The perfect soundtrack for quiet, introspective moments, closing this selection on a reflective note.
Q: If These Five Were a Set?
Nicooly:
These five tracks could work as a set, but I see them more as a sequence — a story of what I’ve listened to in the past and what I’m listening to now. It starts with more sentimental, nostalgic moments, moves through dynamic bombs, and closes with introspective, downtempo tracks. It’s less about impact and more about narrative and mood.
Q: What makes a track timeless for you?
Nicooly:
A timeless track is all about emotion. Trends come and go, but a real feeling stays. If a song can make you feel something years later the same way it did the first time — that’s what makes it timeless.
This was Internal Affairs 01. A snapshot of where Nicooly stands, shaped by memory, pressure and restraint.
From early influences to present intention, this selection traces a line between past and now and what continues to evolve in between.
Stay tuned for more.
Much love!
