Top 100 DJ Claudia Cazacu talks to Skiddle ahead of Goodgreef's Easter Friday

On April 22nd, Goodgreef is set to shake up the North East with a huge Easter special at Newcastle’s Digital.

Headlining Goodgreef’s first Geordie jaunt of 2011 will be trance legend Gareth Emery, with woman-of-the-moment Claudia Cazacu bringing up the rear.

We caught up with the Romanian born DJ to find out about growing up on the other side of the Iron Curtain, how it feels to be the only woman in the DJ Mag top 100, and her plans for Goodgreef Easter Friday.

Congratulations on making DJ Mag’s Top 100! What did it mean to you to be included?
Thank you. It’s an amazing realisation and honour for me to be part of it and I am really grateful to everyone who supported me and made this possible.

You’re the only female DJ in the top 100. Is it harder for women to gain recognition or are there just less of them doing it?
Being a woman has its advantages and disadvantages, but I think there are actually many more women DJs that people first realise. I never really give the gender thing much thought until I get asked this question in an interview so on a day to day basis being a girl is no different than being a boy in the industry.

Growing up in Romania, was there much of a club scene? What first sparked your interest in electronic music?
The only connection I had with the dance scene back in Romania was ATB’s track, Till I Come. I had no idea about this wonderful side of music until moved to the UK and started spending my weekends going out. I grew up under a dictatorship so for me it was a big change to discover dance music scene and its culture here in London

What made you decide to move to the UK, and what do you think you’d be doing now if you’d stayed in Romania?
I moved to UK for a fresh start with new adventures, to see what life can offer that wasn’t possible back home in Romania. I love what I am doing right now so much, that I can’t imagine how my life would have been if I didn’t move to London. I’m just going through the process of naturalisation as a British Citizen right now so in a couple of weeks I will be a loyal subject of her Majesty’s Kingdom

How did you go about getting into DJing?
I was lucky enough to be given a set of decks and mixer for Christmas one year and just started practicing. Within a year I had my first gig in Amsterdam at the street rave for Queensday. The rest, as they say, is History.

You also run your own label, Couture. Is it difficult to juggle being a label head with a busy touring schedule?
Couture has been taken on by the Dutch label Spinnin leaving me to A&R, which allows me to have more time to spend in the studio, as I don’t have to deal with the administrative side of the business.

What do you look for when signing an artist to your label? Do you have specific criteria?
As long as the track is good and different, there is nothing else I am interested in. At the end of the day it’s all about quality releases

You produce a monthly radio show called Haute Couture. What’s the main aim of this show? How do you select music for it?
I love doing my radio show and from January this year there is also a monthly Haute Couture podcast available to download from Itunes. I really get into the whole creative process, listening to hundreds of tracks and reducing them down to fit. I love that I get the freedom to play whatever I feel works, which means I can play stuff that I might not get to play in the club, I’ve even managed to include breaks and dubstep tracks that I really like.

Do you prefer creating your own tracks or remixing others'?
First of all I like to concentrate in creating my own tracks as they reflect my state of mind and my way of perceiving the music. But I love playing with remixes also, and trying to beat the original. It’s a different challenge.

What’s been the most overwhelming moment of your career to date?
I had the great pleasure to have the midnight set this year at Passion in Coalville. The crowd and the atmosphere were absolutely amazing. It’s a moment that will stick with me forever. What better way to start a new year?

What three tunes can we definitely expect to hear at your Goodgreef set?
Greg Downey Pres R.I.C.O., 'Game Face'
W & W, 'Impact'
And of course a classic, but you’re gonna have to wait and see for this one.

What are you most looking forward to about Goodgreef Easter Friday at Digital?
It’s always amazing to play for Goodgreef especially up north where the crowd is so up for it. What I really look forward to is being with the Goodgreef family and being able to have a bit of a party with the crew.

Interview by: Jayne Robinson

Claudia Cazacu news, events and info

Claudia Cazacu will play with Gareth Emery at Digital in Newcastle on April 22nd. Ticket are £15, available below.

Tickets are no longer available for this event