DJ Clodagh — in the view!
03.feb.2006. Interview with DJ Clodagh. English version.
Comments are available only in bulgarian version. Enjoy!
Eight months ago we’ve listened to the music… and it was incredible! DJ Clodagh along with the other London Techno Legengs rocked the stage! She was among the first to play and made a wonderful impression. Rhythm and dynamism combined with her splendid behaviour behind the decks. So much energy, hot energy… – we realized that we must talk with her! :)
We’ve spoken and she agreed for an interview so we exchange contacts and… all sunk into oblivion. Somehow we never got round to it.
But here she is – coming again for the Invader party in Bulgaria! Now is the moment…
“Clodagh is the definition of party animal when she gets behind the decks” – Sister Bliss (Faithless)
• ENEArt: First, who is DJ Clodagh? Could you introduce yourself to our readers…
Clodagh: Hi Everyone! I’m Dj Clodagh! I’m from Ireland but I’ve been living in London for 7 years now. I started Djing & Promoting parties 4 years ago.
• Clodagh McCann is your name… but did you ever though about a dj nickname?
Haha! Yes, when I started Djing I called myself “Techno Tramp” but I was advised to change it & just use my own name “Clodagh” as people wouldn’t know that I was a girl, so it’s kinda cool, I’m glad I’m Dj Clodagh now. Plus I don’t just mix Techno, I play House & Electronic beats & a bit of Trance sometimes.
• What do your relatives and friends think about the electronic music?
Do they all like (and understand) what you are doing?
In the beginning my parents were like… “What do you want to be a Dj for? That’s stupid, go do a secretarial course!” but I was determined, then I got on a TV show called the “Joy of Decks”, my parents were so proud, then I did the tour with Carl Cox & now travel all over the world, they support me 100% and are always encouraging me!
I have 2 really cool older sisters Maureen & Michelle who come support me at gigs & as for my friends well they’re all clubbers, who love to party! Really great people who’ve been there from the start!
• Describe your average day?
I’ve been a Fitness Instructor for about 12 years now and still work part time teaching Aerobics, Step, Spinning & Strength classes! Everyday is different for me but for example I’d wake up, check my emails listening to mixes, then I’d practise for 1-2hours, post some Demo’s, go into the city & buy some records usually from Kinetec Records, get home, listen to them again, check my emails again, go to work & teach 2 classes, home, write some stuff for my website, practise again, then go play a gig somewhere in London, get home 5am, sleep a few hours & then do it all over again! I don’t sleep a lot!
• What’s drew you into the electronic music?
When I lived in Ireland I used to play Electronic Dance Music in my Aerobics Classes because it had so much energy in it, I always loved to dance but got bored of the local discos playing pop & chart music, so when I moved to London in 1999 my sisters took me to some clubs & warehouse parties and I was completely hooked! I couldn’t believe all these people together, happy, and dancing all night long to this amazing dance music… “This is what I’ve been missing all my life!” I lived for the weekends to go out dancing to Trance, then discovered Techno & then House music! When I lived in Ireland I didn’t even know what Techno music was!! The atmosphere at these parties was amazing & all the fantastic friends I have now, I met at different parties over the years so I owe a lot to electronic music.
• Who is DJ Clodagh behind the decks?
Dj Clodagh behind the decks is a very determined girl wanting to rock every party she plays, making people dance like crazy & have the best night out ever! I really am very happy when I’m Djing & want to make everyone feel what I’m feeling! I’m always dancing, jumping & shouting at the crowd. I like to have fun when I play!
• And outside it…
I eat, sleep & drink music! I’m always dreaming about it! I’m a very hyper active person, I never chill out, I don’t even have a TV! I’m always doing about 10 things at once! & I’m happiest like that!
• You’ve already been in Bulgaria at the first Invader party… how did it impress you?
Oh my God! I will never forget that party, it was one of my best parties of 2005 and it was because of the people! I’ve never seen people dance with so much energy like that before, it was something really special. I keep telling people about that party! Bulgarians rock! I’ve big respect for Danny & his friends for putting on these great parties in Bulgria! I can’t wait to come back & play Invader again this weekend on Friday 11th Feb! Get ready for some funky techno!!! Yeah!
• What do you think about the drugs and their usage at the party?
To be honest I didn’t see anyone take drugs & the people didn’t look like they were on drugs, not like in other countries. They had this amazing energy & danced like crazy from the beginning till the end of the party as if the music was their drug!
• Plus or minus to be a woman DJ?
Definitely a plus! It’s something special I guess as there’s not many of us around. I love to shock people so when people see me I guess they say “Oh it’s a girl” and then they hear me mix & see how much energy & passion I play with, people usually don’t forget me in a hurry! I do wish more girls would start Djing!
• There are women DJs who play naked… your opinion?
WHAT???!!! Naked? Wow, I never heard of that, well if they’re brave enough to do it, good for them! There’s no way I would do it!
• Do you think it’s possible for someone to compensate the lack of talent with hard work and tenacity?
Even if you have talent you still have to work very very hard! As long as the person is determined & passionate & loves music I think anything is possible!
• It is rumored that the electronic stage in countries like England and Germany is drowsier and somehow oversaturated… What’s up actually?
There was definitely a lack of excitement about dance music parties & clubbing from 2001-2004 and I think that was due to people being spoiled with so many parties to choose from & then people becoming bored. Right now the parties have definitely gotten smaller which I think is better and the music has gotten better. It’s more underground & it’s getting exciting again!
• You are one of the first four finalists in the ITV show “The Joy of Decks”… could you tell us more about this competition and what happened there?
In 2003 I was chosen in the final 4 out of 300 for the 6 part ITV docu-series “THE JOY OF DECKS”. The idea of the show was to turn 4 up & coming Dj’s into professional DJ’s. There were 4 mentors… Mr.C, Roni Size, Sister Bliss & Tom Middleton. Sister Bliss from Faithless chose me as her apprentice!
During the show I got to make my first track in a studio… a Tribal House Track called “Oiche Mhaith” (Good Night). I also got to play at Bora Bora (Ibiza), Turnmills (London) & Shindig (New Castle).
The final of the show was held at Nation (Liverpool) where I rocked 1,000 people! I achieved my goals of scratching, playing 3 decks, used samples on a Cdj & effects units! It was an amazing experience & achievement for me, as I’d only been Dj’in 2 years!
On the first show, after Mr.C saw me play he said that I had “Carl Cox Potential” which blew me away, Carl saw the show & told me he thought I did great on it! Check www.thejoyofdecks.tv
• Tell us more about Carl Cox? You were invited for his tour in France…
Carl Cox is my hero and he’s a really great person. He really is truly passionate about music & Djing, he lives for it & is happiest when he’s in a club. He really cares about the people who come to hear him play! He saw me on the “Joy Of Decks” so after I emailed him & gave him some demos he made my dream come true & invited me to be his warm up Dj on tour in France in May 2005! The tour actually started in my own country, Ireland then I warmed up for him all over France. I played to crowds of up to 4,000 people at his amazing
“Carl Cox & Friends” parties in Paris & Strasbourg. And rocked the crowd in between Sasha & Carl at the 
“Inox3 Electronic Music Festival” in Toulouse and warmed up for Carl at the famous VIP room at the Cannes Film Festival! The whole tour was amazing! I still can’t believe I did it! It’s so great that Carl wanted to help me & just to even watch him play I learned so much!
Check my website for photos www.djclodagh.com
• You’ve been in Ibiza too. Is it so perfectly as we hear all the time?
Ibiza is great, such a beautiful island, lots of beaches & clear blue water, lots of sunshine! Then there’s all the great clubs! I think it’s great because everyone who goes there is into music & clubbing, everyone is on holiday & forget their problems, they are there to have fun so the atmosphere is really great! The only problem is that its very expensive! Especially the drinks in the clubs!! Even water!
The best parties to go to are Circo Loco @ DC10, Cocoon @ Amnesia, Carl Cox @ Space & Mr.C’s Free party Superfreq @ Underground!
• What’s your idea of the “perfect party”?
The people and the sound are the most important things! A party full of the best high energy positive party people from all over the world including all my friends with the best kick ass sound system! Somewhere warm, outdoors on a beach maybe in Brazil!
Yeah, dancing under the stars! Oh I want to be there now!!! I’d have Carl Cox headlining, with Valentino Kanzyani, Dj Markey, James Zabiela, Mr.C, The Killers, U2 and ME!
• What’s the strangest thing ever happened to you at a party?
Last year I was Djing at a Party in London when a crazy man stormed into the party with something like a baseball bat & tried to smash up the mixer while I was Djing!!! He could have killed me! That was definitely the strangest & scariest thing that’s ever happened to me!
• Is there something in your life that you want to come back and change?
I wouldn’t change anything in my life, I believe everything happens for a reason, good stuff & bad stuff. We learn from our mistakes & they make us stronger as people!
• What inspires you?
Really positive, hard working and passionate people inspire me! People who have a dream & really go for it!
When I see that I think wow…!
• How long do you intend to be a DJ and what would you like to do after that?
I really am happiest when I am dancing! Music makes me dance & when I Dj I make other people dance which makes me even happier! I will Dj as long as I have this feeling. I also want to start producing, play LIVE & possibly run my own label.
I believe music will always be a part of my life no matter what!
Thank you, Clodagh! :)))
This interview was realized by cx & Lirex, along with the great enthusiasm of Clodagh.
The photos are taken from djclodagh.com & our personal archives.
Clodagh is comming at 10th this month (friday), specially for the Invader party in BULGARIA. More information at the official Invader site & technobg.
This is Bulgarian site and all is mainly in bulgarian language. HERE you can leave your comment.
