Nifra looks back at her first-ever set in Dubai which wasn’t just another international gig—it was a convergence of rave culture, Web3, and female power. Invited by RaveDAO to headline their one-year anniversary at Terra Solis by Tomorrowland, the DJ stepped into a surreal, open-air world framed by desert dunes and cutting-edge stage design. In this EDMNOMAD exclusive interview, she reveals: “RaveDAO at Terra Solis was such a fun event! Nothing but good vibes, great energy and insane stage design.”
The setting stunned even a seasoned festival performer. “When we were driving to the venue, there were camels on the side of the road, I have never seen something like that before going to a show.” That unexpected welcome etched the moment in her memory. “That was definitely a sign we are in the desert. There is no place where we can’t rave.”
The night’s symbolism didn’t go unnoticed. “When I saw it was an all-female line-up I got really excited as I have a huge respect for both Lilly and Pretty Pink.” But Nifra was also quick to address the industry’s gender imbalance. “There are so many amazing female artists absolutely rocking it right now so I hope we are going to see more lineups like this, without it being something ‘unusual.’”
She made her stance clear: “No one really gasps at ‘all male lineups’ because we are so used to it and it has been the norm for really long time.”
Mainstage Madness and the Art of Losing Control
Nifra’s new single “Madness”, released via Revealed Recordings, captures what she aims to create live: a powerful sense of release. “‘Madness’ is what I want the crowd to experience during my shows, in the most positive sense of course.” That euphoric chaos is deeply intentional. “The connection with my fans is so important to me and what I strive to create on the dance floor is musical ‘Madness’.”
She doesn’t perform for herself—she performs with the crowd. “I’m not a DJ who looks in the booth but looks at the crowd and communicate through music.” As is true with her Dubai debut, for Nifra, the decks are a form of therapy. “Even for me, playing is therapeutic and so I always hope that the people in the crowd forget about their worries for just a moment and go home with smile on their faces and recharged.”
Her evolution is also technical and her newest live concept, 360 Madness, throws the DJ into the center of the action. “The energy is indescribable when you have the crowd around you.” Even with a busy tour schedule, she still surprises herself. “I think the fact how good you can function on two to three hours of sleep… Whenever I’m in doubt I can always rely on this”.
Nifra Beyond Dubai and the Emotional Rewiring of a Global Tour Life
For Nifra who’s played stadiums and rooftop venues across Europe, Dubai still struck a nerve. “Visiting Dubai was on top of my list for the longest time.” Her arrival was dreamlike. “I arrived in the night and so when I woke up in the morning and looked out from my balcony I was stunned by the view.” The feeling was bigger than the show. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I feel so fortunate to be able to see all these unbelievable places around the world. It’s a true privilege and I never take it for granted.”
But that gratitude comes with pressure. “Yes, I’m always very hard on myself, especially because of the fact that I’m a woman, and women are judged 10 times more than men.” She doesn’t sugarcoat it. “Especially in the music industry. So you can’t just do 100%, you have to do 150%.”
It’s that internal tension—between gratitude and perfectionism—that shapes the emotion behind her sound in 2025. “My sound has been going through a big change since the end of 2023.” That shift wasn’t accidental. “It all started to happen when I actually went out of my comfort zone and tried to combine my signature trance sound with techno and the mainstage influences, adding 10-20 bpm.” She doesn’t see genre as a cage. “The feedback has been incredible and I continue to work on it, getting inspired by a lot of different genres because the sky is the limit.”
Real Life, Better Balance: Between Nifra and Nikoleta
While fans see Nifra onstage, few glimpse Nikoleta at home. “Nifra is really big part of who I’m and when I’m home in my little city in the Netherlands, I’m mostly mom to the most adorable four year old boy.” Her dual life is nonstop. “So as you can imagine life is pretty crazy right now and there is not much time left for Nikoleta.”
But she knows how to reclaim time. “If I have just a little bit of time for myself, I turn into a geek and play some video games, read some books.” And she still listens to the music that shaped her. “I love to listen to dance music that I grew up with.” Letting go of control, even a little, has been her hardest lesson. “As a real control freak, this has been probably the hardest thing to do.” But she’s learning. “I had to let go of, or I’m at least working on letting my team work on things without me being constantly involved and trust others that they will deliver.” It’s not new. “I always been this way since I was a kid so it’s kind of in my nature.”
Nifra on Why Dubai Isn’t Done With Her Yet
Even after the show, her connection to the city lingers. “Oh you don’t need to ask me twice. Would absolutely love to return to play in Dubai again.” And when she does, expect more than just a repeat set. “The way I build my set is really depending on the setting, but if you see Nifra on the lineup, you know you are going to get a proper dose of energy.”
As for chasing virality, she’s not interested. “I keep an eye on TikTok but I don’t really focus on ‘what could go viral’.” Her videos have gone viral before, but never by design. “I’ve had a few viral videos without trying, it’s really unpredictable so that’s not where my focus is.” Her production goals stay grounded. “My tracks are mainstage oriented. I’m mainly focusing on making good content and use the platform but TikTok is never on my mind when producing a track.”
From camel-lined roads to 360 madness, Nifra and her Dubai chapter with RaveDAO was both personal and planetary—a one-night reset that left her, and the audience, forever changed.
Follow Nifra on Instagram and more Dubai updates here.
The post Nifra Recaps Her RaveDAO Dubai Debut, “You Know You’re Getting a Proper Dose of Energy” appeared first on EDMNOMAD.
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