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Nick Grater: Build It And They Will Rave
- Andrew Munnik
- Oct 7
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 8
Powerhouse DJ, Techno pioneer and producer extraordinaire,
Nick Grater is as entrenched into the scene as wristbands. If you’re reading this and you don’t know the name Nick Grater, we would genuinely love to know how! Any South African joller who’s been around for a minute has felt Nick Grater’s influence, even if they didn’t recognise it behind the scenes.
A gem of South African nightlife, he’s the mastermind behind some of your favourite events and a revolutionary behind the decks, playing sets that leave his audiences with a profound sense of freedom and discovery. Coming in with a community he helped to build from the ground (actually underground) up, Nick Grater’s name is carved into the foundations of techno in SA, uplifting new artists in his wake.
Nick Grater’s Underground Community: Built From the Ground Up
Techno wasn’t always what it is today. Those who have grown up in the scene might be surprised to discover that in its youth- and by extension in Nick Grater’s youth- it was a dirty word. House was always popular, drawing crowds across town, but in Johannesburg during the 90s, Techno was relegated to a position of underground exclusion. Thankfully, Nick Grater can thrive without sunlight.
From his ‘home base,’ G.A.S.S (Great and Secret Show), he chased after every underground event he could find. It was his escape and his safe place, offering him a chance to let out his frustrations and worries.
Then, in 1997, he made the decision to stop chasing. Instead of waiting for the right night to come around, Nick jumped up onto the stage, beginning a legacy of musical exploration that would continue for decades to come.
His first gig was at a small club called Atomic in Northcliff, where he made his DJ debut under the name N.X. Not long after this though, his sound began to take shape. Inspired by a ‘No Cheese’ campaign that sought to remove the cheesy elements from nightlife, he dropped his alias and took up his given name to perform. Thankfully, his given name fit perfectly, and Nick Grater has been rocking the deck ever since.
A Legacy of Musical Exploration
As for why Techno specifically drew Nick’s attention, it all has to do with the sound. Every genre has its fluctuations- even pop can go from melodic and upbeat to slow and sultry. Techno, however, has more facets than any other. There basically aren’t any rules. When Nick discovered driving, hard beats that he could throw himself around to, he knew there would be no going back. He had to chase the sound.
This journey of exploring everything Techno has to offer took Nick around the world, playing on stages with some of the greatest names in electronic music history. All the while though, he kept pushing the envelope.
As the industry grew and the genre picked up momentum, there were those who opposed Nick Grater’s style, but this opposition only pushed him further.
He created a platform to pioneer his particular style, and over twenty years later Teknotribe is still pushing the boundaries of techno.
As for what Nick actually likes to play during his sets- that depends on what he calls himself. For all the exploration he’s done, Nick has several pseudonyms under which he performs.
These include Nick Grater, Bionic, and Matrimony. Each is dedicated to a style of techno, although the last he only uses when he performs alongside his wife, the two of them forming Matrimony. Under Nick Grater, you can expect driving, peak-time techno that takes its audience on a journey.
A Platform For Techno Pioneers
Only those who have partied across the country would know it, but the Cape Town and Johannesburg dance cultures are quite different. As communal as it can feel across the board, Joburg’s nightlife is more homogenous than the Cape’s. Techno, Psy and House music can exist at the same venue- it’s all one culture. This is how Nick approaches the industry. He’s there for authentic connection and shared passion for music, only working with those who share his values.
This thinking has brought Nick to some of his greatest achievements to date, from grungy warehouse parties in Berlin where clothing and public decency are both optional to massive, pumping stages.
If we were to go through everything Nick Grater has achieved during his career, this would be a very long and very tedious list. Suffice to say though, he has staked his claim to the industry, shaping it as he shaped himself into the artist he is today.
For many DJs, this illustrious series of performances would be sufficient, but not for Nick. Decades later, he’s still pushing that envelope, all the while collecting each like-minded weirdo he can find. Many young DJs- in fact, many old DJs- owe their start to Nick’s influence.
Be it giving them a platform to express their art or offering subtle tips on the side, though, it’s always done with a passion for music, a love for the crowd and an overwhelming urge to fuck the establishment up.
More than twenty years in the game and Nick Grater is still innovating, finding new facets of Techno with each set. Though he performs under a host of names, it’s easy to spot a Nick Grater set.
It’s the one with driving, prime-time rhythms, encouraging the dancefloor to throw themselves around. When he began, there was little support for Techno music in South Africa, but with each vinyl he fits into the deck, he builds his platform further, paving the way for others to follow.
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