Nina Las Vegas

Nina Las Vegas
Born
Nina Elizabeth Agzarian

(1984-12-18) 18 December 1984 (age 40)
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Career
ShowMix Up Exclusives
StationTriple J
NetworkAustralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
CountryAustralia
Previous showHouse Party

Nina Elizabeth Agzarian (born 18 December 1984), known professionally by her stage name Nina Las Vegas, is an Australian radio host, DJ and music producer. From 2009 to 2014 she was the host of House Party on national radio station Triple J. She released compilation albums, House Party Volume 1 (3 August 2012) and House Party Volume 2 (2 August 2013), which appeared on the ARIA Charts. In 2015 she started her own music recording label "NLV Records". Las Vegas is also signed to the label.

Biography

1984–2006: Early life

Nina Elizabeth Agzarian[1] was born on 18 December 1984[2] in Wagga Wagga, the second daughter to an Armenian-Egyptian father, Michael (Graphic Designer and Advertiser of Advision (Surry Hills, Australia))[3] and Australian mother, Janine née Bishop[1][4] (a teacher at St Joseph's Primary School).[5] She attended South Wagga Public School.[6] At eighteen, she moved to Sydney to commence university, where she started working in radio production. In 2004 she began an internship at national youth radio broadcaster, Triple J, where she adopted the stage name of Nina Las Vegas.[1]

2007–2015: Heaps Decent & House Party

In 2007, Agzarian, Andrew Levins (a Sydney DJ) and Diplo (an American DJ, music producer, and songwriter) established Heaps Decent as a non-profit organisation which supports emerging underprivileged and indigenous musicians. Heaps Decent offers ongoing music programs at schools, juvenile justice centres and youth drop-in centres in New South Wales.

From 2009 to 2014 Agzarian was the host of House Party on Triple J. On 3 August 2012 Triple J released a double album, House Party Volume 1, where she mixed the tracks for various artists. The album peaked at number 2 on the ARIA Compilation Albums chart.[7][8]

On 2 August 2013, Triple J issued a follow-up compilation album, House Party Volume 2,[9] again with Agzarian mixing for various artists, which was also certified Gold.[10] Both compilation albums made the ARIA top 25 dance albums of the year for the respective year of their release.[11][12]

During this time she curated and toured with acts such as Flume, Beni, What So Not, Flight Facilities, Wave Racer, Indian Summer and Tyler Touché across the country as part of the Triple J House Party and 'NLV Presents' National Tours.[13][14] She performed at Stereosonic[15] and Splendour in the Grass in 2014, which attracted some criticism as she was a DJ and not a musician.[16] She selected the soundtrack for the Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks to bring in 2015.[17]

2014–present: Solo releases

In 2014, Agzarian released her first official single "Don't Send", with Melbourne producer Swick on American DJ and music producer, Skrillex's online label, Nest HQ.

In 2015, Agzarian announced her tour of the United States including performances at South by Southwest and the Winter Music Conference.[18] As of February 2015 Agzarian produces and presents Mix Up Exclusives on Triple J, on Saturdays from 9 to 10 p.m.[19] Agazarian has since resigned from Triple J to pursue her record label 'NLV Records' and solo career.

She released "Impossible" on 10 April 2020.[20]

Discography

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with Australian chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
Compilation
[7]
Triple J House Party
(Mixed by Nina Las Vegas)
  • Released: 3 August 2012
  • Label: ABC, UMA (5339476)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 2
Triple J House Party Volume Two
(Mixed by Nina Las Vegas)
  • Released: 23 Aug 2013[21]
  • Label: ABC, UMA (5344789)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 1

Extended plays

Title Details
Cool Sports (with Swick)
  • Released: 29 October 2015[22]
  • Label: Fool's Gold Records (FGR123)
  • Format: DD
Ezy or Never
  • Released: 4 August 2016[23]
  • Label: NLV Records (NLVR0004)
  • Format: DD
Lucky Girl
  • Released: 20 July 2018[24]
  • Label: NLV Records
  • Format: DD

Singles

Title Year Album
"Don't Send" (with Swick)[25] 2014 non album single
"Ezy"[26] 2016 Ezy or Never
"Substitute" (featuring Swick)[27]
"Now or Never" (featuring C.Z. & Swick)[28]
"Deserts"[29] 2017 non album singles
"Freeze"[30]
"Hydration" (with Swick)[31] 2018
"Lucky Girl" (featuring Swick)[32] Lucky Girl
"One Thirty" (with Anna Lunoe)[33] 2019 TBA
"Tananaram" (with Swick & MC Bin Laden)[34]
"Impossible" (with Thai Chi Rose)[35] 2020

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019[36] Lucky Girl Best Independent Dance/Electronic Album Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b c "30 Under 30: Nina Las Vegas". Time Out Sydney. Time Out Group Ltd. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  2. ^ "User Report". Genealogy.com. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Michael Agzarian". Charles Sturt University. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Interview: Nina Las Vegas". The Ripe. Ripe Media Group. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Janine Bishop Agzarian". St Joseph's and Aquinas. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Town & Gown Procession". The Daily Advertiser. 27 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  7. ^ a b
  8. ^ "ARIA Top 20 Compilation Albums Charts". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 15 October 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Triple J House Party. Volume Two". Australia Australian Broadcasting Corporation (distributed by Universal Music Australia). 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  10. ^ Fuamoli, Sosefina (26 August 2013). "The Au Interview: Nina Las Vegas (Sydney)".
  11. ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 50 Dance Albums 2012".
  12. ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 50 Dance Albums 2013".
  13. ^ "Nine Australian DJ/Producers To Look Out For in 2014, Handpicked by Nina Las Vegas". Vice. 19 February 2014. Sydney's sweetheart talks about her NLV Presents tour and gives you the scoop on the best new dance acts from Down Under
  14. ^ Cunningham, Katie (1 August 2013). "Flight Facilities lead the line-up for triple j's House Party tour". inthemix.[dead link‍]
  15. ^ Vincent, Peter (30 July 2014). "Stereosonic 2014 announces stunning line-up with Calvin Harris, Skillrex".
  16. ^ Levin, Darren (28 July 2014). "Nina Las Vegas responds to her detractors in the best way imaginable".
  17. ^ Godfrey, Miles (30 December 2014). "Sydney New Year's Eve: Revellers camp out days in advance for best seat in the house". The Daily Telegraph.
  18. ^ "Nina Las Vegas Announces SXSW, Miami's WMC and more USA dates". 3 February 2015.
  19. ^ "Playlist: Mix Up Exclusives 21/02/2015 Nina Las Vegas, AWE, Joseph Marinetti and Francis Inferno Orchestra". Mix Up Exclusives with Nina Las Vegas. Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 21 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  20. ^ "New Aus Music Playlist 10/04/20". Music Feeds. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Triple J House Party Vol 2". Triple J. ABC Shop (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  22. ^ "Cool Sports (EP)". Apple Music. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Ezy or Never (EP)". Apple Music. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  24. ^ "Lucky Girl (EP)". Apple Music. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  25. ^ "Don't Sent - single (DD)". Apple Music. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  26. ^ "Ezy - single (DD)". Apple Music. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  27. ^ "Substitute - single (DD)". Apple Music. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  28. ^ "Now or Never - single (DD)". Apple Music. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  29. ^ "Deserts - single (DD)". Apple Music. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  30. ^ "Freeze - single (DD)". Apple Music. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  31. ^ "Hydration - single (DD)". Apple Music. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  32. ^ "Lucky Girl - single (DD)". Apple Music. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  33. ^ "One Thirty - single (DD)". Apple Music. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  34. ^ "One Thirty - single (DD)". Apple Music. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  35. ^ "Impossible - single (DD)". Apple Music. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  36. ^ "2019 AIR Awards Nominees". 28 March 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2020.