Hamburg-based artist Nick Niclassen has spoken to Magnetic Magazine about his remix of Fejká’s “Azur,” his approach to building an artist identity, and his role in growing Krüsch, an event concept that has quickly gained traction in the German club scene.
The “Azur” remix was released alongside contributions from Max Cooper and Chris Luno. Niclassen has followed Fejká’s work for years, citing the track “Hiraeth” as music he returned to during difficult periods. When Fejká made the stems available through a remix contest, Niclassen downloaded them partly out of curiosity about how the production was constructed, and partly because he has found that remix competitions, with their built-in deadlines, are one of the more reliable ways he finishes music.
The version that won did not arrive in one pass. Niclassen initially built a chord progression around the first section of vocalist Johansson’s vocal, but could not get it to a place that moved him. He deleted it entirely and started again from a different section of the vocal, which became the breakdown. Once the new chord progression came together, the remix developed quickly. He listened back to that version at least fifty times the following day and still felt it was working — something he described as a good sign.
On the broader question of artistic direction, Niclassen has been candid about the pressure he previously felt to make music that was mainstream enough to succeed commercially. He told Magnetic Magazine that he has shifted his focus toward music that carries personal meaning and reflects his own story, rather than trying to strike a balance between uniqueness and mass appeal. He noted that the only thing he can truly control is making the best music he is capable of, and whether it connects with a wider audience is outside his hands.
Niclassen is not currently performing his own music live. He said he is focused on building a larger catalog before developing a full live set, and wants to ensure he brings it to the right audience in the right setting when the time comes.
Alongside his solo work, Niclassen is one of the people behind Krüsch, an event series that sold 600 tickets on its first run and 850 for its second date at Fabrik in Hamburg four months later. He said the growth has reinforced that external factors can significantly affect ticket sales and are often beyond the organizers’ control. Despite the increase in attendance, the team has deliberately chosen venues and settings designed to keep the events feeling intimate, with a consistent focus on a warm atmosphere and attention to detail.
When asked which area — his solo project or Krüsch — needs the most attention over the coming year, Niclassen said both complement each other. His primary focus, he explained, is on creating music that reconnects him with why he started making music in the first place.
Source: Magnetic Magazine
