Where did you grow up?
Brooklyn, NY Coney Island.
What was it like for you growing up?
My dad raised us, he raised six kids. He’s my mentor. He taught me how to be a man, taught me how to be a gentleman, taught me how to be a respectful human being, taught me how to be a person, go after what I want. I always have patience think before I speak, and look before I walk.
One of the things that my grandfather told me. If a man understands time, he knows how to make a minute last an hour. And if you know how to do that, you know how to make a second last a life. Those types of things.
Favorite food or spot in NY?
I have a couple – Surfside Pizza in Coney Island and Louis in the Bronx
Who do you look up to?
My dad reflects on the way I am now a lot. I don’t know, I… I idolized him. He did it right. He sent me to school. He raised us in a lot of good ways, you know. I raise my kids the same way.
What is your biggest dream?
The biggest dream is, well, I went after it. I went into the music industry. I traveled. I’ve been around the world. I met a lot of people. I’ve seen a lot of things and I’ve just had fun with it.
What made you move to Pittsburgh and how do you like it so far?
I’ve been in Pittsburgh for eight and a half years. When I found out I was having a kid, I moved here. I have nothing against New York — that’s home — I just didn’t want to raise my kids in that city. I wanted to change. I’m not saying I didn’t want my kids to walk in my footsteps, but I wanted a change for my kid. I moved here to Pittsburgh, and I wish I had moved here a lot sooner, because I love it here. Why Pittsburgh? My kids’ mother, she’s from here. And so Pittsburgh was it. Okay, Pittsburgh was not on my to-live list. Pittsburgh was nowhere near on my list. I’m not going to lie, there was nothing about Pittsburgh that brought me here. But my kids’ mother, she chose here, and I came. I didn’t want to go, but I didn’t want to live in New York. I knew that. And so we chose here. I love it here now. I’m a Pens fan, so there’s that. I’m here. I call this home now. I love everything about Pittsburgh. I love the people here. I’ve got nothing but love for the people.
What jobs have you had? And which is your favorite?
I was an airline mechanic with Virgin Airlines. I used to work for Victoria’s Secret. During the Christmas season, I was a stock boy. But mostly, I’ve DJed all my life. I’m from New York. And that’s where the majority of my money comes from. I’ve got a love for music. If I was married, I would have an affair with music. Music has really… It took me to a lot of places. Music suits me. It’s relaxing.
It’s well known that you’re a DJ, so what’s your DJ name and what’s the history of it?
DJ Niko. I’ve been calling myself Niko for as long as I can remember, since I was a kid. My dad called me Niko. My dad, well, has a lot to do with the middle name, but he’s been calling me Niko ever since.
What kind of events do you most like to DJ?
I DJ weddings, birthday parties, cookouts, events. I do a lot of stuff. I do it online. I do clubs mostly during the holiday season.
What do you like most about DJing?
I like the house music. I didn’t used to like house music, but I love it. It gets people jumping, most of it.
How did you start working here at NA?
Wow. I used to work with my other school, Woodland Hills. A big fight broke out there, and I didn’t want to go back into a school. My supervisor asked me to come back and work at the school, and I turned it down. And she asked me again. I turned it down again. She asked me a third time. She said, I only needed you for two weeks. I came here. I was here for three days, and I said I wanted to be here. After three days, I fell in love with it.
What’s your favorite thing about working here at NA?
Oh, man. Where do I start? The kids, the teachers. These teachers here, I have nothing but the highest of respect for these. When I walk, when I’m doing my rounds, I see them, they’re teaching. They’re actually teaching you. That’s something you don’t really see.
