For those of you who have been in the San Diego club scene as of late, you’ve no doubt come across DJ Nikno spinning house or felt DJ Niknotiq’s heavy hip-hop beats at The Flame and Numbers. These diverse DJs are actually different sides of the same personality, reflecting the intrinsically diverse nature that defines this up-and-coming DJ. And Saturday, May 27, DJ Nikno takes his eclectic house style to a whole new level, debuting at Rich’s Foam Party.

Rocket: How did you get started DJing?

DJN: The Flame was set to reopen two years ago and they didn’t have a DJ for the back room. I was kind of thrown in there last minute. That first night was rough. I had just enough music to make it through the night.

Rocket: Who are your influences?

DJN: I consider my sound to be constantly evolving, so my influences change with my mood. Currently, I am listening to a lot of electro house such as David Guetta, Benny Benassi and Axwell. I like the chunky bass lines and heavy beats. There’s a real energy in this music that translates into energy on the dance floor. I’m dropping a lot of these songs into my sets, and I’ve made some remixes that incorporate this sound. The most notable being “Temperature Satisfaction,” which mashes the reggae sound of Sean Paul with the electro sound of Benny Benassi. It’s a song that makes the dance floor go crazy.

Rocket: If someone on the dance floor couldn’t see the DJ booth and tried to guess who is DJing, how would they know it was you?

DJN: I think the wide range of different genres I play would be an immediate tip off. I also like to create mini sets of music where I play three songs of one type of sound and then three songs of a different sound. I never like staying on the same sound for too long. I’m not a big fan of certain circuit DJs whose four hour sets end up sounding like one long song. What’s the point? I have the repeat function on my iPod. I just choose not to use it.

Rocket: What are your current favorite remixes and what do you like about them?

DJN: I should start by saying that I’m not always a big fan of remixes. I usually try to play the original unless the remix really adds to the song. Currently, the Soulwax remix of “Dare,” by the Gorillaz, is one of my favorites. It really adds a heavy bass line and gives it that electro sound. The other remix that I currently love is the Freemasons’ remix of Heather Headley’s “In My Mind.” This song is just so emotional and uplifting. Just about anything by the Freemasons is hot right now.

Rocket: What is your all-time favorite remix?

DJN: Well, it’s not a remix, but my all-time favorite club song is “Music Sounds Better With You” by Stardust. It’s got a great beat, and, though simple, the lyrics are really spot on. When you’re with the person you love, the music really does sound better.

Rocket: Who are some artists to look out for?

DJN: Stuart Price. No one knows who he is but everyone has heard his music. He remixes under the names Jacques Lu Cont and Thin White Duke. He won a Grammy for his remix of No Doubt’s “It’s My Life.” He also wrote and produced most of Madonna’s latest album, including hits “Hung Up” and “Sorry.” His remix of “What Else Is There?” by Röyksopp, is absolutely stunning and is currently a fixture in my sets.

Rocket: What kind of sound can we expect from your Rich’s debut?

DJN: Rich’s is home to good house and club music in San Diego, and my set will definitely be geared toward that. There will be a lot of Euro house and electro house. It will be a mix of new and old with some surprises thrown in. You may not recognize every song I play, but they will all be uplifting and euphoric. The songs I have picked out are songs that you can’t help but dance to. I will also debut my remix of one of my favorite current tracks, “Get Together” by Madonna.

Rocket: What do you think of the current state of clubbing in San Diego?

DJN: San Diego is a very mainstream town. A lot of people here rely on the radio to learn about new music. I’m sorry, but I don’t trust Clear Channel Communications to make good music choices for me. CCC owns 11 radio stations in San Diego. If you listen to the radio you’ll just hear the same 30 songs regurgitated over and over. Because of this, the club scene in San Diego has become very mainstream. I’m doing my part to change that. I love introducing people to new music. If you trust the DJ, you may learn something new. One of the most satisfying things as a DJ is to have someone tell me that I turned them on to a new song. I’m never too busy in the DJ booth to write down the name of a song for someone. On the flip side, nothing is more frustrating than playing a new song and watching people walk off the floor without giving it a chance.

Rocket: Any advice for aspiring DJs?

DJN: This one is easy: practice. The path to becoming a good DJ is no different than the path to becoming a good athlete. It takes a lot of time and devotion. I spend about 10 hours a week practicing and another 10 hours a week finding music and working on remixes. I’m not at the top yet, but I feel that the potential is there as long as I continue to work on it.

And practice makes perfect. Check out DJ Nikno at Rich’s Foam Party on Saturday, May 27. And if you’re in L.A. Sunday, May 28, bring your squeaky-clean self to The Factory for some dirty-tribal beats. D-Formation, Eddie X, De Leon, DJ Ruff, David Tort and I will be spinning from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. More info at www.lattitudevents.com.