Nina Kraviz: How the Russian DJ shaped acid techno
· re:union Radio editorial · 2 min read
From Irkutsk to a dental practice to her own label трип: an overview of Nina Kraviz's career.
Few DJs embody raw, hypnotic acid techno quite like Nina Kraviz. Her path to get there was anything but straightforward – and that's precisely what makes her story in the techno scene so special to this day.
At a glance
- Born October 16, 1987, in Irkutsk, Russia
- Studied dentistry in Moscow before the music scene discovered her
- Founded her own label трип (Trip) in 2014, followed by sub-label GALAXIID in 2017
- Named "DJ of the Year" by Mixmag in 2017
From dental practice to DJ booth
Nina Kraviz moved to Moscow to study dentistry. There, she was discovered by the local club scene and launched her own party series at Club Propaganda in 2008. It was the beginning of a career that would make her known beyond Russia's borders – musically situated between acid techno, minimal techno, and deep house.
First singles and the leap to Rekids
Between 2009 and 2011, Kraviz released early singles like "Pain in the Ass" and "Ghetto Kraviz." In 2012, her debut album followed on the British label Rekids – a milestone that introduced her to an international audience and laid the groundwork for her later independence as a label owner.
трип: her own label as creative freedom
In 2014, Kraviz founded her own label, трип (Russian for "Trip"). Three years later, GALAXIID, a sub-label, was added. By 2019, artists such as PTU, Philipp Gorbachev, and Buttechno had released through трип – a program that reflects the raw, often dark sound that Kraviz herself stands for. If you're interested in current dark techno releases, you'll find related sounds in this environment.
Recognition and controversy
In 2017, Mixmag named Nina Kraviz "DJ of the Year." In 2020, she also contributed to the music of the video game Cyberpunk 2077 and had a cameo appearance there. However, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she faced criticism for allegedly being too reserved in her distancing from Russian politics – as a result, several festival appearances were canceled. For DJs who are themselves honing transitions and sets, it's also worth looking at technical basics like harmonic mixing with the Camelot Wheel.
FAQ
What genre is Nina Kraviz at home in?
She primarily moves between acid techno, minimal techno, and deep house.
What is трип?
трип is Nina Kraviz's own record label, founded in 2014, through which artists like PTU and Buttechno, among others, have released music.
Source: Wikipedia, Nina Kraviz
