{{Short description|British trance music disc jockey}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Use British English|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | image = | caption = | name = Ben Nicky | birth_name = | birth_date = | image_size = | background = | origin = [[Bristol]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]] | instrument = | genre = [[trance music|trance]]<ref name="DJM">{{cite web |first1=Gregg |last1=Kelly |title=WE DANCED TO TRANCE 'TIL SUNRISE WITH BEN NICKY & ADAM ELLIS IN GLASGOW |url=https://djmag.com/news/we-dance-trance-til-sunrise-ben-nicky-adam-ellis-glasgow |website=[[DJ Mag]] |date=13 October 2016 |access-date=7 February 2025 |archive-date=19 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819044155/https://djmag.com/news/we-dance-trance-til-sunrise-ben-nicky-adam-ellis-glasgow |url-status=live }}</ref> | occupation = [[disc jockey]] | years_active = 2007- | label = | associated_acts = | website = {{Official URL}} }}
'''Ben Nicky''' is a British disc jockey and [[electronic dance music]] record producer. Known as a [[trance music]] DJ, Nicky's music often covers other styles and genres.
==Biography== Nicky is from [[Bristol]], England, and started his DJ career in 2007.<ref name="MM"/><ref>{{cite news |title=A trance of a time |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1824188848 |work=[[Cyprus Mail]] |date=29 September 2016|id={{ProQuest|1824188848}} }}</ref> In 2011 his track with Cass Fox, "The One", was highlighted as a memorable tune by [[Mixmag]], with his work also becoming noticed by other artists including [[Paul van Dyk]], [[Tiësto]], and [[Armin van Buuren]].<ref name="TheOne2011"/> By 2012 he was a "rising star", including supporting [[BBC]] DJ [[Dave Pearce]] at club nights.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=John |title=Clubs picks of the week |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/14/clubs-picks-of-the-week |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=14 April 2012}}</ref> In 2013 he started the ''Head F**k'' label, releasing "mash up" tracks. In 2016 the [[DJ Mag]] magazine, in a review of a live gig, stated Nicky was a "future king" of trance.<ref name="DJM"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Clinton |first1=Maria |title=Dreamstate 2015 - Ben Nicky |url=https://edmidentity.com/2015/10/08/dreamstate-2015-ben-nicky/ |website=EDM Identity |access-date=6 February 2025 |date=8 October 2015 |archive-date=28 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128191954/https://edmidentity.com/2015/10/08/dreamstate-2015-ben-nicky/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
His style of music has been described as somewhat fluid, encompassing [[trance music|trance]], [[techno]], [[hardstyle]], and bounce. Nicky is also known as a "bad boy of dance", following a quote by fellow disc jockey and producer [[Armin Van Buuren]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chrystall |first1=Margaret |title=Bristol boy Ben Nicky talks about his DJ life before Ironworks date |url=https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/whats-on/dj-ben-nicky-returns-to-the-highlands-183997/ |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=Inverness Chronicle |date=4 October 2019}}</ref><ref name="MMGYU"/> Nicky has regularly played live at events and festivals, including [[Belsonic]] and [[Creamfields]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hargan |first1=Garrett |title=DJ 'sensation' Ben Nicky returns to Belsonic for one of the biggest electronic shows of the year |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/dj-sensation-ben-nicky-returns-to-belsonic-for-one-of-the-biggest-electronic-shows-of-the-year/1350432278.html |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=[[Belfast Telegraph]] |date=31 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Greer |first1=Jamie |title=Creamfields 2024 headliners, set times, stages and tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/creamfields-2024-headliners-set-times-29785078 |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=[[Liverpool Echo]] |date=21 August 2024 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924090311/https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/creamfields-2024-headliners-set-times-29785078 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2019 he made his debut on the [[BBC Radio 1]] [[Essential Mix]] show, performing for a two-hour session.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Essential Mix, Ben Nicky |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0004nmv |website=[[BBC]] |access-date=6 February 2025 |date=4 May 2019}}</ref> That same year Nicky was nominated for a [[DJ Award]] in the Trance category.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fenner |first1=Zoe |title=DJ Awards 2019 adds Afro House category, announces nominees |url=https://idmmag.com/news/dj-awards-2019-announces-nominees/ |website=IDMmag.com |access-date=8 February 2025 |date=2019}}</ref>
In 2021 Nicky bought a house in Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Dornan |first1=David |title=Moving to NI was my best decision ever, says Ben Nicky |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/moving-to-ni-was-my-best-decision-ever-says-ben-nicky/40797742.html |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=[[Belfast Telegraph]] |date=29 August 2021}}</ref>
==Discography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Ben Nicky singles |- ! Title !! Artist!! Year !! Peak<br>[[UK singles chart|UK singles]]<br>sales |- | "The One"<ref name="TheOne2011">{{cite news |title=keep an eye on |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=83758234&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=[[Mixmag]] |date=March 2012}}</ref> || Ben Nicky & Cass Fox ||2011|| |- | "Restless Hearts"<ref name="MM">{{cite web |last1=Hanagan |first1=Ellie |title=September: 10 trance releases you need to hear this month |url=https://mixmag.net/feature/september-2016-10-trance-releases-you-need-to-hear-this-month/12 |website=[[Mixmag]] |access-date=6 February 2025 |date=26 September 2016 |archive-date=10 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910095004/https://mixmag.net/feature/september-2016-10-trance-releases-you-need-to-hear-this-month/12 |url-status=live }}</ref> || [[Mark Sixma]] & Emma Hewitt - Ben Nicky Remix ||2016|| |- | "Ayla"<ref>{{cite news |title=Ayla (Ben Nicky & Luke Bond remix). |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=128329897&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=[[Mixmag]] |date=February 2018}}</ref> || Ayla (Ben Nicky & Luke Bond remix) ||2018|| |- | "Like fire"<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Bein |first1=Kat |title=Ben Nicky & Mash'd N Kutcher Bursts Beats 'Like Fire' With Luciana: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ben-nicky-mashd-n-kutcher-like-fire-luciana-8526772/ |access-date=6 February 2025 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=7 August 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813012724/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ben-nicky-mashd-n-kutcher-like-fire-luciana-8526772/ |url-status=live }}</ref> || Ben Nicky & [[Mashd N Kutcher]] ||2019|| |- | "Giving You Up"<ref name="MMGYU">{{cite web |title=tunes / hard dance music |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=142545337&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |website=[[Mixmag]] |access-date=7 February 2025 |date=April 2020}}</ref> || Ben Nicky ft Sarah De Warren||2020|| |- | "Drown you out"<ref>{{cite web |title=BEN NICKY FT RACHELLE JENKENS songs and albums |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/59183/ben-nicky-ft-rachelle-jenkens/ |website=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=6 February 2025}}</ref> || Ben Nicky ft. Rachelle Jenkens||2020|| style="text-align:center;"|85 |- | "Dance"<ref>{{cite web |title=BEN NICKY & APOLLO songs and albums |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/59322/ben-nicky-and-apollo/ |website=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=6 February 2025 |archive-date=21 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721192247/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/59322/ben-nicky-and-apollo/ |url-status=live }}</ref> || Ben Nicky & Apollo ||2021|| style="text-align:center;"|84 |- | "Where were you"<ref>{{cite web |title=BEN NICKY & HAYLA songs and albums |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/60747/ben-nicky-and-hayla/ |website=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=6 February 2025 |archive-date=29 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429190554/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/60747/ben-nicky-and-hayla/ |url-status=live }}</ref> || Ben Nicky & Hayla|| 2021||style="text-align:center;"|85 |- |"[[Dizzy (Olly Alexander song)|Dizzy]]"<ref>{{cite web |title=Dizzy (Ben Nicky Remix) - Single by Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Ben Nicky |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/2ITohvsB1oW59Ho1mckavZ |website=Spotify |date=2024}}</ref>||[[Olly Alexander]] (Ben Nicky remix)||2024|| |}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Discogs artist}} * {{AllMusic}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicky, Ben}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century British musicians]] [[Category:Year of birth unknown]] [[Category:British electronic dance music DJs]] [[Category:DJs from Bristol]]