KLAUDIA GAWLAS: “IT WAS NOT EASY TO TELL YOUR PARENTS, YOU WANT TO WORK WITH MUSIC”.

Hello Klaudia, thank you very much for this interview. How is your 2023 going? What projects are you working on?

Thank you for speaking to me. 2023 is already proving to be a very busy year and I have a lot of shows, both clubs and festivals. It’s a positive stress and it gives me so much energy. The festival season is on fire right now, I feel they are all sold out and the crowd brings the best energy. I am also working on my new label ILLUSION Recordings, so will have releases coming up and maybe some events with time. I have just finished the merchandise for the label too, which we launched in partnership with international fashion brand Liv Bergen. I am really looking forward to ‘Fireball’ coming out this week on SCI+TEC, it’s a track that I have been playing for a long time, so I am excited it finally can be released to dancefloors around the world.

We have listened to “Fire Ball” and we loved it. What can you tell us about this release?

Actually I´ve got inspired at some events when they have the Fireworks. The feeling when the drop comes and the energy level increases. Those moments created a lot of emotions to me and that’s what I wanted to bring in to this track. I concentrated on the drops and the Fireball effect on it. The track itself might be more like a tool track and it’s rollin´ till the break. A good build up and an amazing explosion at the drop with a big hands up moment. I´ve tested and played this one for a long time and it worked fantastic. I think this track has been my best one of my whole playlists. So I am very happy about that.

“Fire Ball” was released on SCI+TEC, Dubfire’s prestigious label. How was it working for such a well-respected label?

It’s a big honor for me of course to work with such good and big labels like SCI TEC. They have enough experience to guide you through the whole release and its very nice to work with the nice team. It´s a very warm and familiar surroundings. They do a good job, so I am happy to be back with a new release.

What is your relationship with Dubfire?

I admire him a lot. His sets are just amazing and the vibe he creates is just another level. He is a true artist. I am very thankful to have the opportunity to work with Ali. He is a legend, traveling the world and playing the best festivals. So, this means a lot to me, to get the opportunity to be heard in the world by one of the best DJs out there.

You started making beats at the age of 13, right? What were they like?

I have started on a Commodore 64. I was going through all Discs of an uncle of me and have found a music program. I just remember it could have been the first fruity loop version. It looked like it. I got this disc and I just started to work with this. It sounded awful. Just a Bassdrum, hihats and a kind of Piano.
I knew exactly I want to have a job with many buttons and knobs around me. So, the option of producing music just showed up in this moment. I knew already I love music and there is a special connection between us but this moment changed it a bit more. I had a keyboard and a guitar to practice. It was not easy to tell your parents, you want to work with music. There was not much of a chance to make a living out of it back then.

What was your musical evolution since those early years?

First I was still going to school and my mom wanted me to have a “real” job first. So I finished school and was not so much in touch with music by this time. I have missed it a lot and went then to USA for one year stay by the age of 20. I’ve started to study Radio Broadcasting and realized there are so many ways to work with music. I met some hip hop guys and this was my real first touch with some vinyls and turntables. They showed me how to spin, mix and everything. This is how I started and afterwards I came back as a Dj to Germany and never stopped. Soon I started also to produce my own tracks.
Sometimes you just need the right people in your life to show you the way.

How would you define the current situation of the electronic music scene & Techno scene?

We are still in a kind of peak. There are so many sold out festivals and you have electronic music everywhere. Everyone is promoting parties with this music, but after pandemic the crisis was not over. Many clubs had to struggle with high energy costs and a lot of other difficulties. It also was a huge Problem hiring the right people. Many crazy stories happened last year, but after all I would say we are still here and even bigger. The major festival selling out and doing great, same as many clubs. But the power and energy level on the dance floors changed a lot.

There is a new trend, which is not so new for those who have been in the industry for many years, that is based on accelerating the BPMS to the maximum and that seems to be loved by the new generation of clubbers. What is your opinion?

The music now changed a lot to harder styles. Everywhere you have this hard techno parties. I kinda like it, but to a certain level. I remember we were the same in the younger age. We started to rave around 145 bpm. This was our rhythm. „Grown up“ you start to listen to more other styles and dive deeper. Music styles change during the years.

I personally think this is always a Zeitgeist of our society. We have uncertain times, so this is always a point where the music gets harder, rougher, stronger. It has a certain energy level, you can feel the power of this all. We have a completely new generation, coming out from pandemic which was not able to party. Imagine you wait till the age of 18, finally able to go out, and then there is a lockdown. I would freak out. I remember I was waiting sooo long to turn 18 to finally being able to visit some real Techno Clubs. This generation is hungry.

This young people are the future and it’s also important to educate the listener in a set. Music is also very important to heal things around us and connect people instead of dividing them.

Another topic that is present today is the use of AI in electronic music. Is it a passing fad or has it come to stay?

Well, this is a good question. Kind of crazy if you imagine how this works. You can do many things with AI but you can’t replace humans mind and feelings. It´s not possible. I think music is also still made by emotions. From different moods and emotions created live. This is something what will still survive. No computer is as good as a special vibe and human feelings. Spinning for example is not the same like with a software. It sounds a bit different. Always. We will see. I am very open minded. But Art is Art, made by feelings and emotions.

Finally, where will we be able to enjoy your sound in the coming months? (From 1 july please)

🇩🇪01 07 || RUHR IN LOVE || OBERHAUSEN || DE
🇩🇪01 07 || PANAMA OPEN AIR || BONN || DE
🇨🇿07 07 || BEATS 4 LOVE || OSTRAVA || CZ
🇩🇪08 07 || RAVE THE PLANET || BERLIN || DE
🇩🇪08 07 || RAVE THE PLANET || BERLIN || DE (Nature One Float)
🇧🇪09 07 || OSTEND BEACH FESTIVAL || OSTENDE || BE
🇩🇪15 07 || JUNKYARD || DORTMUND || DE
🇩🇪16 07 || SEA YOU FESTIVAL || TUNISEE || DE
🇩🇪21 07 || PAROOKAVILLE || WEEZE || DE
🇩🇪29 07 || HOPPELHASEN OPEN AIR || HANAU || DE
🇩🇪04 08 || NATURE ONE || RAKETENBASIS PYDNA || DE
🇩🇪05 08 || ISLE OF SUMMER || OBERSCHLEISSHEIM || DE
🇧🇪12 08 || DANCE VALLEY || VELSEN-ZUID || BE
🇩🇪12 08 || HEILE WELT FESTIVAL || NEUKIRCHEN-VLUYN || DE
🇩🇪18 08 || ECHELON FESTIVAL || BAD AIBLING || DE
🇩🇪26 08 || NIBIRII || DÜREN || DE