With her recent productions licensed to the mighty ARMADA MUSIC and SPINNIN’ RECORDS, clearly Claudia Cazacu is much, much more than just a pretty face. In this exclusive interview, Claudia reveals all about her meteoric rise to DJing and production superstardom to our Editor-In-Chief Jason Kinetic. Lucky Fella... 

JASON : (BLUSHING...) Hi Claudia. Thank you so much for joining me today; it’s an absolute pleasure to have you with us here at Elevation Music. One of the main reasons we’ve invited you to take part in this interview is the fact that you’ve gained more respect as a DJ and Producer in a few years than most artists could ever dream of achieving in their whole careers. When you first started DJing, did you have many connections in clubland to help you get started? If not, how did you go about getting yourself noticed?

CLAUDIA : It’s my pleasure to be with you, thanks for having me. I can say I had a lot of connections in the clubbers’ world, but not in the actual industry. Been here now for 3 years and if there’s one thing that I’ve learnt more than anything, it’s that it doesn’t matter who you know: it matters how good your work is. Hard work always pays off.
 
JASON : You’ve mentioned in earlier interviews that out of anybody in the dance music world, the artist you’d most like to work with is Armin Van Buuren. Now that Armin has signed your latest single  ‘Freefalling’ for release on his ASOT (A State of Trance) Recordings and the 2009 ASOT album, do you feel like all of your dance music dreams are coming true right now? Do you have any particular goals with your DJing career, or are you just pushing yourself to the limit to achieve the most you possibly can?

CLAUDIA : Having the honour of being on ASOT and getting Armin’s support - it is a dream come true for me. Armin has always been an inspiration. I also have so much more to make reality. I am a perfectionist and push myself beyond limits to achieve my goals.

JASON : If you weren’t to be voted in the top 100 DJs in the world next year, would you cry?

CLAUDIA: Being recognised for your effort is always a great feeling, so of course I would love to be in the Top 100 this year but it will happen when I deserve to be there so I’m happy to wait.  

JASON : You’ve got your own label, COUTURE, which has been doing really well and has had some fantastic releases. What made you decide to start the label? What are your long-term plans for the label? If you had to pick one artist / act that you’ve signed to COUTURE, which one would be your hottest tip for making the big time, and why?

CLAUDIA: I wanted to be able to release on my own schedule and also to release tracks from other producers that I felt were cool and a bit different to everything else being released. Back when the label started I came across a couple of guys from Liverpool ‘Mac & Taylor’. They are so passionate about what they do and I’m really pleased that they are doing so well lately, playing big events and having their tracks supported regularly on Radio 1 by Judge Jules and a whole host of big DJs.

JASON : Anytime I mention your name to clubbers who don't know much about you, they ask me ‘Isn’t that the really hot Romanian trance DJ?’. Since you’ve received lots of exposure with your DJing career have you had any offers of modelling contracts? Whether you have or haven’t, is modelling something you’d like to do?

CLAUDIA: My last job before doing music full time was actually managing a modelling agency. Modelling wasn’t for me.

JASON : Of course everyone’s talking about Ibiza now Claudia, and no doubt you’ll be playing plenty of gigs over there this year. Which events are you booked to play for? Have you ever played in Ibiza before? Which gigs over there are you looking forward to playing the most?

CLAUDIA : Last year I played for Judgement Sundays and I’m really pleased to be heading back over to play for them again this year. I’m also playing for a very special Cancer charity fundraising event put together by Tristan Ingram so I’m really looking forward to that as well.

JASON : I’m asking everyone I interview this question – when you’re in Ibiza and not either DJing or in the clubs, what will you spend your time doing, and can you recommend any special places for our readers to check out?

CLAUDIA: If you have never been before you have to see the sunset at Café Del Mar. During the day I like to visit some of the amazing beaches like Salinas and Bora Bora. 
 
JASON : Which record in your CD wallet / DJ box at the moment do you think is going to be the biggest in Ibiza?

CLAUDIA : Tristan Ingram seems to have this summer all tied up with his ‘Perfect Sunrise’ release on Toolroom and his massive remix of La Roux ‘In For The Kill’ which is being played by Tiesto, Jules and almost every other DJ on the island.

JASON : I know you work pretty flat-out on your DJing and Production career, but I’ve got a couple of personal questions for you so our readers can get a bit more an idea of who Claudia Cazacu is at home, not in the club or in the studio -  are you OK with that?

CLAUDIA: Sure.

JASON : Brad Pitt or Colin Firth?

CLAUDIA: Can I have Angelina instead? 

JASON : Gucci or Topshop?

CLAUDIA: Are you serious? GUCCI

JASON : Nobu or Burger King?

CLAUDIA: Nobu, absolutely love the place.

JASON : Silk or PVC?

CLAUDIA: Silk 100%

JASON : Thanks so much Claudia, it’s been an honour. Just before you go, can you tell us what your next single is going to be, when it’s released and where we can catch you playing next in the UK?

CLAUDIA: Size Zero/ Mannequin on Reset and Lekker on Armada, all in August.