EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
In an industry where the beats are as relentless as the pursuit for innovation, Klaudia Gawlas stands as a titan of the techno realm. Born of the bustling soundscape of Poland and honing her skills in Germany, Klaudia’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Illusion Recor- dings, her brainchild, emerges not just as a label but as a herald of her distinct auditory vision. Following the trailblazing releases of ‘YDK’ and ‘Resilience’, she returns with ‘Crazy’ – a track that promises to capture the essence of the night in its pulsating beats and indomi- table spirit. As Klaudia continues to craft her path, marked by raw energy and an undenia- ble sense of authenticity, we sit down to un- ravel the threads of creativity and ambition that weave the fabric of her burgeoning legacy.
Klaudia, you began your musical journey with the keyboard and guitar, and even produced on a Commodore 64 at thirteen. How do you think these early musical explorations influenced your later forays into techno music?
“It influenced me a lot. Maybe not the instru- ments, as I tried to teach myself because my parents didn’t want to pay for lessons. For them, music was just a hobby and not worth suppor- ting. When I found this disc for my Commodore 64 with this software, I still remember it was a magic moment. I started to realize that this surrounding is so nice, and I feel so good with all the music around me, and I wanted to work more in the studio. I’ve had this vision of how my working space should look like and tried to imagine working later in this area. Now I sit almost every day in the studio when I am home, it reminds me of some kind of space station where I produce my music. Creating tunes, getting lost in this spectrum of sounds and beats, that’s what I enjoy and have fun with. I can hide from the world in here, and that’s sometimes what I need.”
Taking a detour
radio broadcasting in the US sounds like quite an experience. How have these aca- demic pursuits influenced your approach to music, both in production and in performance?
“Well, I just went to college to improve my English, but I had no idea what to study. I thought psychology was a good idea. It was a disaster for me to be honest. I mean, I really love to dive in in Psychology, but when it gets deeper, I can’t follow it anymore, it’s incredibly complex. I also loved radio broadcasting and that was one of the best of my classes. It was similar to when I was about 13 years old, when I used this little studio and most of my work was done there, cutting it on a reel to reel played, and practising some voice announcements, recording things. It helps that I loved my teacher, he was a typical Klischee guy from the states, he always came in with a McDonalds bag and an XXL size drink every day. I thought that if I never made it as a DJ, this would maybe be my plan B.”
to study Psychology and
“Papillon” in 2013 marked a significant mi- lestone in your career. Can you share the inspiration and story behind this track, and how did it feel to witness its monumental success?
“Yes, it was a long time ago now! I remember that I invited one of my friends to play in my hometown. It was such a good party. He also has very good taste in music and always digs deep to find new and interesting artists and releases. He started to play a melody, I still remember it now, it was something special, and I had a recording of the set, and played it over and over again. Once I found the track ID, I started researching more music and got addicted. So it was from then that I produced ‘Papillon’ with a friend in his studio, and it was a task to find the right vocal. The funny thing about the track, is that I was the only one that believed in it. There were so many people who told me that it was shit, with too many vocals, but I kept true to myself and listened to my heart, I loved it. As soon as I played it at some shows, I knew it was right, the reaction from the audience was nuts. So many track ID request for it immediately, it was a great and memorable time of my career.”
Over the years, you’ve played at some of the world’s biggest festivals and have received support from techno giants like Dubfire and Nicole Moudaber. Are there any moments or collaborations that stand out as particu- larly transformative or memorable for you?
“Working with such big names is always impor- tant and I feel honoured to be able to do it. I learnt a lot when working with others, and it helps you to grow. I really loved my collaboration with Gary Beck. The track ‘Treasure’ was a hit for the dancefloor and I still get the crowd going crazy when I play it now, since it’s been a year from when we released it already. Gary is such an amazing producer, I hope to work with him again one day.”
Establishing your own label, Illusion Recor- dings, must have been a dream realized. What’s your vision for the label and how do you aim to differentiate it in the crowded techno landscape?
“I started my own label to be able to handle everything myself. The track, the mastering, the artwork and publishing along with control on release dates. It gives me so much power over my own music, and a platform that’s guaranteed to release it. Illusion is my baby, but I know that I am still practising a lot when it comes to running a label, there is a lot to do, and its not as simple as it may first seem. I also want to be able to support other artists and give their music a home too, there are so many talented producers who’s music I want to be able to share, and having my own label enables that.”
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