Meet Niki Bakhtiyar of Boston

Today we’d like to introduce you to Niki Bakhtiyar

Hi Niki, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In Iran, where I grew up, everything as a girl was being scrutinized but music became my escape. When I was little, I started playing classical piano and by the age of 15, my passion made me enroll in a music high school. There, I started playing the Qanun, a Middle Eastern instrument with a heavenly sound that instantly drew me in. Playing piano sharpened my technical skills, but Qanun reconnected me with my roots, blending its traditional melodies into my growing musical identity.
As a teenager, my desire to spark change in my country led me to Persian hip-hop; a space where I could release my anger through music and protest the injustices around me. But It wasn’t just an outlet for my frustration; it also introduced me to a world of new music and unique sounds that challenged everything I thought I knew. That bold new direction, combined with the curiosity of my teenage self, eventually opened the door to the world of electronic music and my journey reached a peak when I began exploring techno. The more I listened, the deeper my connection became, and I felt compelled to explore even further.
In a country where music was under heavy government control, techno thrived in the shadows. The outskirts of the city became a hidden safe space for the underground techno scene, where secret parties offered rare moments of true freedom. I vividly recall my first underground party, young people dancing together, dressed exactly as they wished, and a community where queer individuals could express themselves without fear. It created a space where people could be their true selves, even if only for a few brief hours. That’s when I realized that techno isn’t just a genre; it’s a culture that lets you simply be who you are.
Determined to take my passion further, I discovered the Electronic Production and Design program at Berklee College of Music and immediately knew it was where I belonged; not just to refine my approach to sound and music production, but to continue playing my qanun and keep my roots alive. So, I left Iran, leaving behind everything familiar, to chase this dream. From the moment I arrived, Berklee has challenged and inspired me, surrounding me with some of the most talented and lovely musicians. Every day here has expanded my understanding of sound, technology, and artistry, pushing me to grow in ways I never imagined. Meanwhile, In my first year at Berklee, I stepped into Boston’s techno community, and I was embraced immediately. InfraBoston was my introduction to a scene in which energy was pulsing, warm, busy, and full of possibilities. After months, I went from being just an enthusiastic dancer to a resident DJ as “NIQI”. Along the way, every set and every new connection deepened my understanding of both music and life, turning each experience into a stepping stone toward my growth as an artist and as a person.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a female musician in Iran is not easy. Female musicians, especially singers, have been arrested, banned from traveling, and stripped of opportunities just because of their gender. The restrictions make it so hard to have a career, so many talented artists don’t even get a chance to be heard. But despite all of that, many still find ways to create and share their music, even if it means taking risks. It’s a constant fight, but their resilience proves that no amount of suppression can silence them completely. In Esfahan, where I grew up, women aren’t even allowed to perform on stage. It didn’t matter how talented we were or how much we worked for it, just being a woman was enough to shut the door on us. I’ll never forget that night in 2017, just minutes before we were supposed to perform at a festival in Esfahan, when the organizer suddenly refused to let us go on stage. He told us he had no choice, he had been ordered to cancel our set because some of the musicians were women. Even though our hearts raced with fear, we gathered our courage and stepped on stage to perform. That moment mad me ready to fight for what I love. I promised myself that no one could ever quiet my spirit. Now, every time I perform on stage, I’m reminded of the struggle it took to get here, and I’m deeply grateful for every opportunity to share my music with others.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a sound designer, DJ, and musician who’s always chasing new ways to shape sound into a story. One of my biggest passions is sound design for games and visual media, exploring how audio can bring stories and environments to life in subtle but powerful ways. At the same time, I’m deeply involved in techno production, DJing, and performing live on hardware, aiming to create a journey through my sets that feels hypnotic, raw, and deeply connected to the energy of the moment. My love for classical and traditional music also plays a big role in how I approach sound, giving me a strong sense of melody, structure, and dynamics that influences both my electronic productions and my work in sound design. At the end of the day, I’m just someone who loves experimenting, learning, and creating sounds that make people feel something: whether they’re dancing, playing a game, or getting lost in a story.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niki.bakhtiyar
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/niki-bakhtiyar-5285b9207
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nikibakhtiyar?si=qM69Xgeuw-LrDxyD
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/Vx2vq6eHVtn7YpWb7

Image Credits
Misha Barshteyn
Sarah Kay
Matthew Muise