The legendary Technoclub will be opening its doors once again this weekend with Talla 2XLC welcoming the highly talended Claudia Cazacu to set the decks alight. We went to catch a word...

There is not many people around who have not heard of the Technoclub. It’s been on of Germany’s most famous club nights for well over two decades with the mighty Talla 2XLC at the reigns. This Saturday, the 1^st September, will see Talla unleash the 40^thedition of the club’s compilation series. He’s got good company for it with female trance master Claudia Cazacu  in command of the mix along with Talla. She was voted the best female DJ in last year’s DJ Mag poll and if you’ve heard any of her previous bangers like ‘Freefalling’ you can understand why. It’s not the first time she’s been at the Technoclub but it’s a place she is more than welcome to return. Return she does this Saturday coming so we have at i:Vibes went to have a chat.

Claudia Cazacu:  Nature One was incredible. I have rarely seen such a laser show and atmosphere. What I really liked was the fact that you could go up the hills and get the view of the entire site, which you can’t really get at others festivals. It was like watching it all from the sky. Breathtaking.

i:Vibes: Were you able to meet some Djs at Nature One and what other DJ gig was a highlight for you?

Claudia Cazacu: Festivals are always great for catching up with everyone who has flown in from all over the world and usually we all have the whole day / night to hang out. I love heading into the crowd so I can really experience a festival. I went right in the middle of the main arena and I have to say it was crazy and it’s nice to see things from the other side of the decks. The biggest highlight for me was the techno arena, the lasers and the darkness in there, together with the incredible music just took my breath away.

i:Vibes: You are returning to Technoclub in Frankfurt, Germany. You already played there some years ago. What are your memories of playing at that incredible club?

Claudia Cazacu: It was an amazing place, a real underground experience. I’ve actually met some of the crowd from there at Nature One. Technoclub is such a famous place and the German crowd is crazy. They really know their music so I am excited to get back there in September.

i:Vibes: When was the first time that you heard the name Talla 2XLC? Was he able to influence you in your music?

Claudia Cazacu: It’s really funny, because from the moment I heard his name in the industry it fascinated me to find out why 2XLC, what it really meant and it took me years to find out. When I played at Technoclub for the first time in 2010, the moment I met him, this was my first question and finally got an answer. Talla is such an amazing producer and DJ and I’ve always admired his work.

i:Vibes: What is your favourite Talla 2XLC track and why?

Claudia Cazacu: It has to be ‘Can You Feel The Silence’ just pure German style and only a pure German can deliver this.

i:Vibes: How would a Talla 2XLC/ Claudia Cazacu track sound like in 2012?

Claudia Cazacu: You’ll have to check our collaboration and see for yourself. Make sure you play it loud.

i:Vibes: How important has Talla 2XLC been for the world wide EDM scene in which it is always changing?

Claudia Cazacu: There are people in this industry that have given years of their life to the scene in many different ways but very few have covered so many years in so many ways as an artist, DJ, Promoter, Label owner and more. Tall has given so much and is a real credit to the scene.

i:Vibes: You are mixing the next Technoclub CD. You are the first woman that he has chosen to have as mix partner. How honoured are you to have this chance?

Claudia Cazacu: I am very honoured to be the first. The Technoclub CD is such a massive brand and it’s a privilege for me to be able to take part in it.

i:Vibes: What kind of a mix can we await from you on the CD?

Claudia Cazacu: My mix will be a cross genre, from techno to progressive, moving into uplifting and tech trance. The music is really changing fast recently and I’m enjoying the more techy sounds but will always love the uplifting vibes too.

i:Vibes: What kind of DJ mix and style can we await from you at Technoclub? Just the hits, tracks from the new CD or even some older trance classics mixed in?

Claudia Cazacu: First of all it’s all about the crowd. I need to read them first and then decide what to play. Of course I will drop some tracks form the new CD and there is always room for some classics. They always work and the crowd loves it.

i:Vibes: You are from Romania. Who were your early musical inspirations?

Claudia Cazacu: I’ve always admired people like Carl Cox, Tiesto, Sasha. For me they always represented real pioneers in this music. I’ve always admired their work and been fascinated how they contributed in changing the course of musical history.

i:Vibes: You moved to London in 1998 to study finance, but first became a DJ in 2006. Why did it take so long?

Claudia Cazacu: I actually moved to London to discover a new me, to see what life can offer me in other places. I first finished my University for English Syntax & Grammar at the Cambridge London Branch, and then moved into Banking of Finance. But I always felt something was missing. Attending parties all around UK for few years I realized that music made me complete, was filling in that missing gap in my life and after a while, I decided to make it life. I feel complete now and it’s an amazing achievement.

i:Vibes: Was there a track or DJ/producer where it made click that you had to become a DJ/producer?

Claudia Cazacu: For me music was my escape at the w/e after a long working week. I used to love everything about it, there were so many tracks that I couldn’t wait to listen in the club. I’ve always been fascinated how the DJ, one single person on that big stage can control the whole crowd and somewhere, deep down in my heart I’ve always wanted to be that person.

i:Vibes: Is there a female Djane7producer that you look up to?

Claudia Cazacu: I like to have my own identity and follow my own path. I do admire that there are so many female DJ’s in the industry and there are more to come.

i:Vibes: Woman DJ/producers continue to be rare. How difficult was it for you to get a foot in the door? How important was it for you to be accepted by your music and not just good looks?

Claudia Cazacu: I really don’t see it being any different for a new DJ / Producer if they are male or female. The only way to move forward and have people take you seriously is to dedicate yourself to your work and produce good music along with performances in the clubs. At the end of the day I believe the crowd choose with their ears and not their eyes.

i:Vibes: In the past there seemed to be more female DJs represented in the DJ Mag 100. In 2010, you were 93 and the only one in the list. Where do you see the future of female DJs going in terms of overall acceptance?

Claudia Cazacu: I think women are just as accepted as men in the industry and there are many women doing great work at the moment and receiving critical acclaim at the same time. Dance music is really popular in the mainstream right now and I am sure this will inspire more females to get behind the decks.

i:Vibes: How has your sound developed as a producer since Couture and Cowgirl?

Claudia Cazacu: Wow, Cowgirl that seems so far away. That was in the beginning, at a time when I was perceiving music in a different way. But we all evolve with time, you have to, as the world changes and you’re a part of it. My sound has changed throughout the years and continues to change. I really love the techno sound at the moment and try to include it in my new productions. This is what I feel right now; it’s what makes my heart beat faster.

i:Vibes: One of your early hits was Freefalling. What do you remember about this production with Aubrey Gallagher?

Claudia Cazacu: Freefalling really put me on the map. I knew I wanted a vocal track and I wanted Audrey’s vocals as I have always been in love with her voice. I always used to say she had the voice of an angel. Once the track was finished I sent it to Audrey for the vocals and the final result was extraordinary. People know the words everywhere I go and always request me to play it.

i:Vibes: You have produced tracks with the wonderful Sied Van Riel. How intense is a studio session with him and what have you learned from him in the studio?

Claudia Cazacu: It’s very intense considering he smokes about a million cigarettes in few hours Sied is an extraordinary producer, really fast in what he is doing and there was always room for me to learn more. He really knows what he wants and I love the fact that he applies the unique Dutch style in his productions.

i:Vibes: What productions can we await from you in the future?

Claudia Cazacu: I have a new track “Return” that has just come out on my new label Haute, of course the collaboration with Talla 2XLC as part of the Technoclub Compilation and at the moment I am working on something pretty big, but unfortunately I can’t reveal any more at the moment. I’ve learnt to keep the secret until my work is done. You will have to keep an eye out for this.

i:Vibes: You started your own label Couture in 2007. How much of a challenge is it keeping it a success and what releases can we await from it in the future?

Claudia Cazacu: I used to release lots more music on Couture in the past, but lately it’s very hard to find good quality music. I am always looking for new artists. Having a label implies a lot of work, from listening to hundreds of promos, dealing with the paper work side but it’s also great fun and gives me the freedom to release whatever I like. This year I’ve also launched a new label, Haute, which sees releases in the techno field.

i:Vibes: If you could be locked away with a producer for 24 hours in a studio who would you chose?

Claudia Cazacu: Rank 1 without question. I absolutely love their productions, just perfection.

i:Vibes: What German DJ’s /producers do you respect besides Talla 2XLC?

Claudia Cazacu: I’ve always admired Scott Project and I was lucky to meet him last time I was at Technoclub. Paul van Dyk is a great German symbol, an amazing DJ and producer, someone to really respect. I’m playing alongside Paul a couple of times in the next few months whilst he is touring his album here in the UK.

i:Vibes: What are your five all-time favourite tracks?

Claudia Cazacu: 1. Bedrock - Heaven Scent
2. Cirez D - Glow
3. Underworld - Cowgirl
4. Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes (Gabriel and Dresden Sweeping Strings Rmx)
5. Empirion – Narcotic Influence

i:Vibes: Were you able to catch any events at the Olympics and what did you enjoy most?

Claudia Cazacu: I actually did not have time to watch a lot as I have been on the road 24/7 but I did managed to watch to Opening Ceremony, not in the stadium, but from a better angle, on my sofa in 3D. Very proud to be British!

i:Vibes: What has been your most crazy DJ experience so far in your career?

Claudia Cazacu: There was one time in Egypt, when I was put in a dangerous situation after a beach party during the revolution. A massive fight started and, being in the middle of the desert, we had to leave straight away to get back to Cairo. Driving thought the desert at night was very dangerous at this time. I do love adventure, but that time I was scared. When we arrived in Cairo, we could not get back into the city as the roads were closed by the army and we had to find refuge at a friend’s house. The life of a DJ sounds glamorous but sometimes we take for granted the insane travel schedule and find ourselves often alone in very strange environments.

i:Vibes: If you played your last gig tomorrow, with what track would you end your DJ set with?

Claudia Cazacu: I never want to think about the last set I play but I know that when my time comes I will spend a very long time choosing the tracks. Hopefully I won’t need to do this any time soon.