Few artists in modern electronic music command a dancefloor quite like Nicole Moudaber.

Across more than a decade at the forefront of global techno and house culture, the Lebanese-British DJ, producer and InTheMood founder has built a career defined by instinct, intensity and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. Whether delivering peak-time techno at major festivals or deep, extended journeys inside intimate club spaces, Moudaber has always resisted formula, choosing instead to follow feeling, emotion and connection.

Ahead of her appearance at Astral Plane: Total Eclipse Festival, the new Spanish festival taking place during the 2026 total solar eclipse at La Pinilla Mountain Resort in August, Moudaber reflects on global dance culture, collaboration, creative evolution and the importance of staying true to your identity in an era increasingly driven by trends and algorithms. She also discusses the unique challenge of performing during a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event, and why moments like these still inspire the same nerves and excitement that first drew her to the dancefloor.

Where are you in the world right now and what’s the plan for the coming weekend?

Right now, I’m in London, finally off the road for a minute. I’ve been locked in the studio every day, no travel, just making music. I realised the other day I haven’t properly been home since the end of November … how mad is that. So, this weekend, no clubs, no stages, just me myself and I.

Your schedule this year spans major clubs and festivals from Chicago to Ibiza to London. Does each city still have its own musical personality or has dance culture become more globalized now?

From experience, touring the world hundreds of times I’ve learned every crowd has a different set of ears. Some lean more towards house, more open and playful and others want serious driving techno and that contrast is real. i feel it immediately and that’s the beauty of it, I feel lucky I can move between both worlds. I adapt very quickly, I have all the weapons ready to fire in any situation but always stay true to my sound and the ethos of taking people on a journey they can feel, not just hear.

Nicole Moudaber

You’ve played everywhere from intimate underground rooms to massive festival stages. What changes most in your mindset when stepping onto those very different dancefloors?

They’re completely different energies almost like two personalities.

Festivals are extrovert. Big, immediate and high impact. You’ve got a shorter window so it’s about the bangers and grabbing everyone from the first moment. It’s powerful and very straight forward.

Clubs are more introvert. That’s where I get creative. I love playing long sets and really express myself without limits.  That’s where the real storytelling happens for me where I can go deeper and that’s where you really understand who I am as an artist.

Are there places or scenes in 2026 that are surprising you right now, somewhere audiences are especially hungry or open-minded?

There are always pockets that surprise me and that’s what keeps this exciting.

Right now I’m seeing a real hunger in places where the crowd is there for the music first no phones and no ego. I’ve felt it in New York , Beirut, Colombia and Seoul.   What’s interesting is the crowd is more open again. They’re not stuck in one lane. You can move from house into deeper, hypnotic techno, build tension, strip it back, go heavy again. There’s a shift happening for sure, I think people are craving something real again, less trends and more identity.

Nicole Moudaber

Your productions have always balanced power and groove. When you’re in the studio now, what excites you more, making something built for peak-time impact, or creating a deeper emotional journey?

Both really. It really depends on my mood and state of mind that day. Some days I want power, something that hits, relentless and peak time and other days I’m chasing something deeper, more emotional, and more fun. The truth is I might come back to something the next day and feel completely different about it. Love it one day, hate it the next. I don’t like putting boundaries on my creativity. For me, music has no borders – It’s about feelings not formulas.

You’ve collaborated with artists across different corners of electronic music, from Carl Cox to Armin van Buuren and Deep Dish. What do collaborations bring out in you that solo work doesn’t?

Collaboration pulls you out of your own head! When I’m solo, it’s my world, my mood and my emotions. But the moment you bring someone else in, everything shifts, we are now blending two worlds.

Working with people like Carl Cox, Armin van Buuren, Jamie Jones or Deep Dish – they all come from different musical spectrums and that’s what I love the most. Shaping those differences into one unique sound, merging styles in a way that feels natural and unexpected. That’s where the magic lies

Tracks like Eyes On Me with Space 92 show your sound still evolving. How do you stay creatively restless after so many years at the top level?

The key is not to get too comfortable; that’s the truth. Also, something important I didn’t mention before is that collaboration isn’t just about musical direction, it’s about personalities too. If I vibe with someone and if there’s a real connection, the outcome is always stronger. That ties directly into staying restless. The moment you think you’ve “made it” is the moment you stop evolving. I’m still curious, still searching, still questioning everything I do. Even with a track like Eyes On Me, it’s never about repeating a formula and I test everything on the dancefloor because the crowd will always tell you the truth. And honestly, I get bored easily. If I hear myself doing the same thing twice, I move on.  That’s what keeps me restless.

There’s a lot of conversation in techno right now about speed, trends and short attention spans. What do you think makes a track timeless rather than just viral for a moment?

Trends come and go like fashion that’s nothing new. Speed, hype, short attention spans it’s all part of the cycle. But timeless music? That’s a different thing completely. A timeless track makes you feel something the first time you hear it and the hundredth time and still sounds good. A lot of viral tracks are built for impact and quick reaction and that’s fine there’s space for that. But they don’t always last because they’re not built with depth.

Timeless music has a touch of soul whether it’s slow or fast and when you can play it years later it still connects. I’ve always believed in making music for the long game, not the algorithm, I simply can’t do it even if I tried.

After decades of touring, what still gives you that rush before a set begins?

I wouldn’t say decades!  more like a solid 13 years but time flies when you’re having fun. There’s always a bit of nerves before my sets, even to this day and I like that because it keeps me sharp. The excitement of testing my tracks and watching the reactions, playing new music I want to share, connecting with my people on the dancefloor and giving everything I’ve got to create a moment they’ll remember.  And yeah, maybe a shot of tequila helps me take the edge off but only once I’m deep into the set and fully in the flow.

InTheMood has become much more than a radio show, it’s a platform and community. What have you learned about your audience and fans by building that ecosystem?

InTheMood isn’t just an online radio show. It’s syndicated across more than 60 countries, reaching well over 20 million listeners every week. That kind of reach comes with real responsibility. What I’ve learned is that my audience genuinely appreciates music in all its forms. They understand that I’m a music lover first – whether it’s house, techno or anything in between, they trust what I play.And that trust didn’t happen overnight. It’s built on consistency week after week, year after year, showing up and delivering quality.
What really surprised me is how connected our community is. People listening from completely different parts of the world still feel part of the same tribe. Then they come to the InTheMood events and it all clicks and makes sense.

it’s a movement. I see it everywhere, people raising their phones with “I’M IN THE MOOD” written on them, my flags waving, people wearing the Mood merch and honestly, that fills my heart with joy. Because there have been moments where I’ve thought about stopping. It’s time-consuming, especially when I’m exhausted from traveling and a heavy schedule – the last thing I want to do on a Monday or Tuesday is record a show. But the love I get from around the world makes it all worth it.

Nicole Moudaber

You’ve long been a visible voice for authenticity and inclusivity in dance music. Do you feel the industry is genuinely evolving or does it still have work to do?

It’s evolving for sure but there’s still work to do. There’s more awareness now and more conversations happening so that’s a positive shift. You’re seeing more diversity on lineups, more opportunities opening up but it can’t just live on the surface. The conversation around women has grown a lot for example and that’s important but it still needs to go deeper. It’s not just about representation, it’s about respect, equality and real opportunity.

Beyond that, it’s about creating safe spaces for everyone no matter who you are or where you come from.  Our culture was built on that idea. It was always about freedom, unity and defying the conventional. If I’m honest, it sometimes feels like we used to be freer. Less pressure, less judgment and now there’s more scrutiny, more expectations and that can take away from the purity of it all. Inclusivity isn’t something you just talk about? It’s something you live. So yes, we’ve moved forward but there’s still a responsibility on all of us to protect that original spirit and make sure this culture stays open and real.

You’ve achieved longevity in one of the fastest-moving scenes in music. What’s the secret to staying relevant without chasing trends?

It’s probably down to not chasing trends to be honest. Of course, you have to adapt as music evolves and the scene moves fast but I’ve always trusted my instinct and my ears, which are the greatest instrument I possess, I do what feels right to me. The moment you start chasing what’s popular, you lose your identity in my opinion and I stay connected to the dancefloor and holding on to that same feeling I had the very first time I fell in love with it.  Longevity comes from authenticity; trends come and go.

Astral Plane Total Eclipse Festival where Nicole Moudaber will be performing in August 2026

You’re performing at the inaugural Astral Plane: Total Eclipse Festival in the mountains of Segovia during the 2026 total solar eclipse. Festivals often talk about “unique experiences,” but this really is once-in-a-lifetime territory. As an artist, how do you prepare for a moment people may remember forever?

I’m not sure I can fully answer that, but one thing is certain, I’ll have a collection of my favourite tracks that I feel truly represent the moment, guided by my own instinct and understanding of it.

The event is taking place at La Pinilla Mountain Resort with stages in the mountains and one aligned directly with the eclipse itself. How important is environment and landscape in shaping the energy of a crowd?

It’s definitely not just another festival; it’s a moment in time! A memorable one for sure. I remember being at a total eclipse in Ibiza once, we were all waiting for it and there was no music playing. It was powerful in its own way and it showed me how important sound and even the absence of it, is in shaping an experience.

When I’m playing something like this, I don’t overthink it. I prepare, of course, but I also leave space for the unknown because that’s where the magic lives. The setting, the energy, the eclipse itself… you can’t script that. For me, it’s about tuning into the environment and respecting the moment. I go in with music that has depth and emotion, something that can breathe with the space not just hit hard for the sake of it. At the same time, I read the crowd, I feel what’s happening in real time and I let that guide me. If you get it right, it becomes something people don’t just remember, they feel it forever.

Nicole Moudaber rocking the club

If you had to soundtrack the exact moment of totality, when the sun disappears and the corona appears, what kind of feeling would you want people to experience?

I’d want it to feel transcendent… let’s see if I can translate that visual into music in real time. No phones would be ideal but let’s be honest, everyone’s going to want to capture that moment, so the music has to complement it, not fight it. I’d strip it back a little, let it breathe, build something powerful and spiritual that rises with the eclipse itself. I’m gonna start digging and tune into my chakras!

Astral Plane is planning future editions that follow eclipses around the world. Could you imagine becoming part of that journey again in future years?

100%. Moments like that don’t come around often, If Astral Plane is building a journey around these kinds of experiences, I’m all in.

Astral Plane Total Eclipse Festival takes places August 10, 11th and 12th in Segovia, Spain. Tickets on sale now HERE.

Head to Beatportal to read The Night Bazaar exclusive interviews in partnership with Beatport HERE.