• Hello Clodagh J We are really very happy you will come to perform to Apokalypsa event. So first of all I would like to ask you –the new year has already started, but how was for you year 2007? What was for you the biggest success and the oposite – what was the worst moment?

Hi! Happy New Year & thank you so much for inviting me to play at Apokalypsa! I really can’t wait! ...2007 was an interesting year for me. I had lots of good gigs playing in Croatia, Sweden, Algeria, Bulgaria, Poland, Spain, Uk, Ireland & Northern Ireland. My favourite was probally Sweden, it was my first time there & the people were fantastic.

A bad part of 2007 for me was dealing with a lot of unprofessional people in the music business. It’s a shame but that’s life. But the worst moment of 2007 was losing a close friend of mine to cancer. She was only 28 & it was a very sad time for me.

My biggest success of 2007 was probally my frist track I released called „Mechanized“ which i made with Ali Wilson and was released on Ali’s label „Tekelec“. It had huge support from Sander Van Doorn & Carl Cox! Carl listed it at No.6 in his May 2007 Top 10, picked it as his „Global Warmer“ track for one of his summer Global Radio Shows & basically played it everywhere. I have a video of him rocking the crowd with it @ Glastonbury (which is the biggest & most famous festival in Uk). You can see it on my myspace page (www.myspace.com/djclodagh)

In the beginning of the year I decided I wanted to release 3 tracks, but I actually released 4 tracks and made 6 tracks altogether! J

In September 2007 I decided to cut down on my Dj Gigs & focus more on my music production. I moved from Ireland to London to do a very good electronic music production course in LOGIC. It’s a great course & I’m learning loads!

• Have you ever been in Czech Republic? And have you ever heard about Apokalypsa party?

Yes! I played in Czech Republic in November 2006 at a party called Ultratech @ Excalibur Club in Velke Mezirici with Christian Fischer. It was my first time ever in Czech Rep and I had such a great time. It was a small party but man did the people dance like crazy! Really great fun! I’ve heard Apokalypsa is the best & biggest party to play in Czech Republic so I’m really looking forward to coming back to Czech and playing at this party!

• I’m sure, you travel a lot. Do you see still any differencies between countries, where you play? When you travel for a gig, do you have some time to see something more from the country?

It’s very interesting to see different cultures, meeting people & of course seeing the country itself. Usually if I get to a gig early or have time the following day I try to have a look around the town or city but sometimes i just don’t have time. I went to Morocco for the first time & was only in the country about 10 hours when i had to leave again, I didn’t see anything except the airport, hotel & club!! It’s amazing to see how different countries are & also to see the same country at different times of the year. At a party, no matter where you are in the world, people are the same and love to dance & party & have fun!

So thats great!

• Do you like traveling? How do you spent time when traveling – I mean in the hotel, in the plane, at the airport…?

I love travelling, it’s exciting seeing new countries & meeting new people but I also hate travelling too as it takes up so much time & it’s very tiring!

When travelling to a gig I’m usually listening to music, reading & sometimes I try and sleep. When I get to the hotel I usually have something to eat, get ready & perpare myself mentally for the gig... sometimes I go straight to the club from the airport which is very tiring. Then on the way home I’m usally asleep zzzzzzzz. Airport’s can get very boring. The worst is when i have to take a connecting flight which means I fly to one country, wait for the next flight & then fly to the country I’m playing in. Sometimes it takes a good 12 hours of travelling to get to a gig, the longest i had to travel was 19hours non stop to a gig & then play!!! It’s even worse coming home as I’m trying not to fall asleep & miss my connecting flight. I nearly did it in Paris. I played in Algeria, had no sleep & got straight on the plane after my set, then in Paris my flight was delayed, the airport was so stuffy & I fell asleep, when i woke up I was the last person sitting at the gate, everyone was on the plane!! Luckily I just made it! J Everytime I travel usually something funny happens, I’ve had lots of adventures & lots of stories to tell my grandchildren when I am old!! I feel very lucky to have travelled to so many different countries. J

• Czech Republic belongs to Eastern Europe. Many DJ’s like eastern countries, in their opinion people here „know how“ to party, they like music and dancing. What do you think about it?

I totally agree!! Eastern Europe Rocks!! The parties are always amazing & a pleasure to play at because of the people. They have such great energy & just dance like crazy! I love playing Bulgaria, Poland etc. That’s why I’m so excited to come back & play Czech Republic! Sometimes I’d love to bring a few planes full of eastern european clubbers to London & show the London people how to party!

• Please can you tell us something more about the dance scene in Ireland? Where are the best clubs, what are the best events…

Ireland has a small dance scene and sadly I havn’t played in Ireland very often. The best clubs are in Dublin the capital, there are 2 big clubs there called Spirit & The TriPod (Redbox). They bring all the big name Dj’s & Acts. There are a good few smaller nights happening too around the country. My favourite I played was a party called Vivamusic in Limerick city. It was a Thursday night party & I was playing outside in a courtyard under the stars & the crowd were going nuts! Really good fun! During the summer there are some really good music festivals eg The Garden Party, HiFi, Electric Picnic, Oxegen etc

The downside to club scene in Ireland is every venue must close at 2am!! It’s the law! So it’s really weird when the parties finish at 2am!! I’m used to start Djing at a party at 4 or 5am!!

• Is the electronic music in Ireland influenced by the typical and specific music sound of this country?

Irish traditional music is great, so full of life & energy. It makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck & of course Irish Dancing is famous all over the world. Irish people love to dance & love music & love to have fun! Rock music & Indie is also very big in Ireland with lots of music festivals & gigs happening all over the country. I think Irish people love any music thats strong & full of energy & emotion! You should check out „Hystereo“ it’s a dance music duo that make really awesome strong powerful electro techno. I really love their stuff. There are many great Irish Producers & Dj’s breaking through. Another one to watch out for is Rhythm Technologies (Barry Murphy) he makes great underground techno & I co-produced 2 tracks with him, Tramyard Vibes (Kick the Drum) & Electro Static (TechArt).

• Please try to describe your actual music sound? What kind of music do you play? And what kind of technical equipment do you use for your show?

My sets & sound have always been high energy, pumping, lets have it, party music! J I really love to dance & I really love making people dance & have fun! Of course it depends on what time of the night & where I am playing. I like all kinds of music & depending on what I’m booked for & what the crowd want then I play it! Eg. In Algeria & Tunisia I play house - funky, techy, groovy, tribal, electro etc. Then in Algeria or Poland I’d play more techno – pumping, electro, funky to more harder stuff! All depends what time i’m playing & the crowd!

I play a mixture of Vinyl & Cds with effects units!

• „Clodagh“ is your name, or it’s only a nickname? What does it mean?

Clodagh is my real name! It’s an Irish name & many people havn’t heard it before. (It’s pronounounced CLO-DA). There is a river in Ireland called the Clodagh but other than that it doesn’t have a meaning. It’s also good because when my name is on a flyer people can’t tell if I’m a guy or a girl so they usually get a suprise when they see me play!

• I know you was playing for Carl Cox tour. How was it? What do you think about Carl – how is he in your point of view? Do you respect and admire some DJ’s ? Who is the best one in your opinion?

Being invited to play on tour with your hero is always a dream come true! The whole tour was amazing and Carl was both great fun & a gentleman. He’s exactly like you see behind the decks, he’s not putting it on. He truely loves it! He‘s a great Dj. I totally respect any Dj who plays from the heart, with a lot of passion & truely plays for the people. That’s really important. For me Carl is No.1 but I also respect Dj’s like Valentino Kanzyani, Dj Murphy, Jeff Amadeus, Dj Rush, Misstress Barbara, Dave The Drummer & Chris Liberator etc.

• Let’s talk about Apokalypsa. What do you think about line up – Eddie Halliwell, D.A.V.E. The Drummer, John B., Killswitch, Joris Voorn….?

Woohooo, this party is going to be great! Eddie Halliwell is a real showman & I love Joris Voorn’s productions but have never seen him so it will be great to play with both of them. Dave the Drummer is awesome & will blow the roof of the party! And I’m looking forward to checking out John B & Killswitch. J

• Do you like dancing? Do you stay after your set at the party, or you prefere to go relax to the hotel?

Hehehe... I Love to dance! You can usually find me on the dancefloor before & after I play my set. It’s a great way to soak up the atmosphere & check out the sound too! That’s why i’m usually so tired on my way home after a gig because I dance so much behind the decks & on the dancefloor after my set. If there is a really good Dj on, there’s no stopping me! J

• What are your plans for 2008?

2008 is going to be a great year! I’m really looking forward to lots of good gigs & lots of good music! I’d really like to work on maybe doing a LIVE set in the future!

• And the last thing – if you wouldn’t be a DJ, what you would do? What was your dream job, when you were a little child?

I was always into sports and I played a lot of basketball & football & an Irish sport called camogie, so I actually wanted to work with sport & people. I trained to become a Fitness Instructor and worked at that for 11years! I just stopped last year to focus more on my music! So during the day I was making people jump around to music in my aerobics classes & at night I was making people jump around on the dancefloor! J

Thank you for the interview and see u at Apokalypsa!

And thank you! Don’t forget your dancing shoes, the party will be awesome, see you on the dancefloor!!!