Exclusive Interview: Yulia Niko’s Vision for Redefining House Music and Nurturing Creativity

For Yulia, the name “AXEPT” is deeply symbolic, derived from the word accept, which she views as a cornerstone of creativity and collaboration. “I was using the word ‘accept’ as a base for the idea. To me, it means starting to believe in something, to support or embrace a talent or a sound. In our music world, we can't live without this magic word. Every time we hear an extraordinary artist, we ‘accept’ their vision of how music should sound,” she explains. This ethos forms the foundation of the label’s identity, which seeks to provide a home for innovative artists and modern, boundary-pushing music.

AXEPT is known for its unique fusion of minimal and groovy aesthetics, often described as “glam minimal.” Yulia embraces the term with enthusiasm, seeing it as a starting point for the label’s journey. “‘Glam’ is the name of the first record we released in November, but I don’t mind developing a new style! It’s accessible music that can fit a VIP party or a techno rave. Honestly, it’s hard to judge now which direction we’re going—we just focus on new, modern, and really good music.”

This philosophy reflects Yulia’s personal style, rooted in simplicity and elegance. “I do like minimal sounds in music. It doesn’t mean it can’t be commercial or must follow a particular formula. For example, all the music Keinemusik does, for me, is very good quality minimal. I also love listening to jazz—that’s minimal for me. As a Capricorn, I like keeping things simple and strictly professional, and this aligns with AXEPT’s clean and fresh approach.”

Yulia takes a hands-on approach to the label’s curation process, personally listening to every demo submitted. “I sometimes give guidance on how to make tracks better if I see potential. In general, the label reflects my own taste, so any track I’d feel like playing at my shows will likely be signed. It doesn’t matter if it’s an artist’s first-ever track.”

With this careful curation, AXEPT’s debut release, “Glam”, was a resounding success. “Anywhere I go out, I hear this track playing. I think this is a huge success for a first EP on a new label,” Yulia says proudly. Looking ahead, the label has an exciting release schedule, including a remix of “Glam” by Musumeci, a strong EP by Alexey Union, and upcoming singles from Jordi Iven and Lloyd Barwood.

Yulia’s 18-year career as a DJ and producer has been instrumental in shaping her approach to running AXEPT. “I’ve always cared about the people on the dance floor. This experience has helped me identify what’s good and what’s not. Over time, I gained enough trust from other artists, and this year, I finally felt it was the right time to launch a label.”

Her journey has not been without challenges. Moving to New York 12 years ago with just $300 and one piece of luggage, Yulia fought hard to build her career. “It’s been a long journey, but I stayed close to legends from our music scene to learn as much as I could. Now, I have a budget I’ve earned myself, and I want to invest in extraordinary, talented people. Supporting others is just my nature, and it makes running the label even more rewarding.”

AXEPT is set to expand beyond being a traditional record label. “We’re planning to go full-on,” Yulia reveals. “I’m working on a fashion brand starting with high-quality t-shirts made from some of the best fabrics in the world. Our first showcase is being locked in for Ibiza this year, and we’re also launching an Only Vinyl series. Who knows what other ideas might come to mind!”

The label’s goals for its first full year are equally ambitious. “We want to show artists that we are a serious platform that respects their art. We want to return to the world of ‘it’s all about music,’ instead of ‘it’s all about strong social media.’”

Yulia’s advice for emerging artists is simple yet profound: “Do not copy anyone, and do not listen to anyone. Do what you feel is best. The world needs fresh ideas and new music. We welcome anyone who can deliver positive vibes and healing sounds.”

With a strong vision and an unwavering commitment to quality and innovation, AXEPT is poised to become a driving force in the electronic music scene. Whether through its unique sound, supportive approach to new talent, or expansion into new creative avenues, Yulia Niko’s AXEPT is redefining what it means to run a modern record label.