DJ Clodagh - Old New Funky Pumping Mix - Oct 2006

Biography of DJ Clodagh

CLODAGH (Pronounced CLO-DA)

They say 'The Irish love to laugh & love to dance' & boy do I love to do both! Growing up in the countryside, Athlone, Co. Roscommon, the very centre of Ireland, I was big into Sport (Basketball, Football, Camogie) & Irish Dancing. You couldn't get me off the dance floor at the local disco's & later rock concerts! I was big into REM, RadioHead, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins & Alanis Morrisette.

I became a Fitness Instructor in 1994 and so was constantly moving to music! I've been teaching on average 10 classes (Aerobics, Step, Body Sculpt, Spin etc) a week for the past 11 years!! I always play the best tunes in my classes so I have all these mothers jumping around to pumping house & techno music! It's very funny, I secretly think they're all big ravers! Hehehe!

It wasn't until I moved to London in 1999 that I discovered the club scene, when my sisters took me to some warehouse parties and then I thought 'Wow, this is what I've been missing all my life!!!!'

I was hooked' on the music, the vibe, the atmosphere & just dancing all night long on the dance floor! Being a regular at the Pendragon Trance parties & Free Party Techno Scene! Which was great as I never really ever had much money. I really really really LOVE to dance, it's so much fun & a great way to let your hair down! I get so much energy from music. Eg I can dance all night long on 2 cans of Redbull, get one hour sleep & then go to work & teach 2 aerobics classes! My friends call me 'Super Clodagh!'

I often thought about Dj'in so 3 years later, after returning from travelling in 2001, my Spanish boyfriend at the time Nacho & I kept our promise, saved up & bought our first set of decks. Two weeks later we threw our first house party & 'SPIRITUALISED' was born' always noted for its wicked decoration & amazingly friendly/fun atmosphere with the best trance & techno in the main room & house music in the second room!

I'm very open minded when it comes to music, my style varies from Electronic to Funky Tech House to Pumping Techno.. I also like Trance, D'n'B and that wicked minimal German sound.

Basically I love anything that makes me move!

I play monthly in London at 24 hour Techno in the City' @ Dukes, Houndsditch St, Algate. And play regularly on the Free Techno Party Scene in London on the underground soundsystem Malfaiteurs.

In 2004 I joined the www.thevinylvixens.com female Dj Agency and in 2005 I joined the French www.unitedj.com Dj Agency!

Dj's that have really inspired me are-

* Dj Marky (Brazilian D?n?B Dj) - an unbelievably entertaining Dj!

* Valentino Kanzyani - this guy is amazing on 3 decks!!

* James Zabiela ? he is light years ahead of other Djs!

* Chris & Aaron Liberator & DAVE the Drummer - I probably would never have discovered Techno without them, big RESPECT!!

*And of course the man himself, my hero- Carl Cox, he just radiates good energy!!

I've been really lucky and won quiet a few Dj Competitions-

* In 2002 I won the Cyberdog Trance Dj Competition (I'd only been mixing 8 months!)

* In 2004 I won Trevor Rockcliffe's Stomp Techno Competition &

* The Ascension Awards National House Dj Competition where my prize was to play at the famous WMF Club, Berlin.

* 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.

In the first show there was 8 Dj's who played infront of the 4 mentors' Mr.C, Roni Size, Sister Bliss & Tom Middleton. Each Mentor chose one person as their apprentice & Sister Bliss from Faithless picked me! I got to play at Bora Bora in Ibiza, Turnmills in London, Shindig in New Castle & Nation in Liverpool.

I made my first track in a studio, 'Oiche Mhaith (Good Night)' ' Irish Tribal House.

Got a Dj lesson from James Zabiela (no.13 Dj in the world, this guy is amazing!!!)

Best of all I got emails from Misstress Barbara & the man himself Carl Cox giving me advice for the final which was held in Liverpool at Nation. I played & rocked 1,000 people! I achieved my goal of playing 3 decks, scratching, used samples on a Cdj & effects! Played my heart out & had a load of fun!! It was an amazing experience & achievement for me, as I'd only been Dj'in 2 years!!!

Check out www.thejoyofdecks.tv

But my biggest achievement to date was been asked personally by my hero Carl Cox to warm up for him on tour in France in May 2005!! I got to play to crowds of up to 4,000 people at the amazing 'Carl Cox & Friends' parties in Paris & Strasbourg. Rocked the crowd in between Sasha & Carl Cox at the 'Inox3 Electronic Music Festival' in Toulouse and warmed up for Carl at the famous VIP room at the Cannes Film Festival. We started the tour in my home country Ireland, at the Redbox, Dublin on 1 st May followed by 6 gigs all over France. This was a truly amazing experience & I learned so much from Carl, he is what every Dj should be! Check out www.carlcox.com

I also played after the no.1 Dj in the world at the time 'Tiesto' at the 'Autumn Electronic Festival' in Toulouse in September 2005. So far I've rocked crowds in Bulgaria, headlined gigs in the South of France, Poland & Italy & got my first overseas residency in Tunisia!

I'm also the first female Dj to ever play in Algeria!

So where to next??? I'm really excited about the future, there's so much I want to continue learning. I've already completed a few short music production courses & moved into an excellent music studio! I can make as much noise as I want without disturbing anyone!!! YEAH! Finally no complaining neighbours!! I want keep working on 3 decks, adding Cdj's & effects units & basically trying to keep my sets as interesting & creative as possible! I have plans for a LIVE set & my own record label up and running by 2007. I want to play all over the world!

For me a Dj should be an entertainer, letting their personalities come through their music & having only one thing in mind & that is to rock the crowd! Making people dance & have a lot of fun!

The best advice given to me is when you Dj just play your best kick ass tunes and have a lot of fun, because when you have fun the people have fun with you!!

Yep, the future looks bright!

Clodagh has played along side- Carl Cox, Tiesto, Sasha, Mr.C, Sister Bliss, Roni Size, Tom Middleton, Hernan Cantanno, Trevor Rockcliffe, Dj Misjah, Ignition Technician, Misstress Barbara, Chris & Aaron Liberator, DAVE the Drummer, Luke Slater, Stacey Pullen, Anderson Noise, Erol Alkan, Headman, Audio Bullys, Tall Paul, Stanton Warriors & Express 2.

'She's got Carl Cox potential'- Mr. C

'A wicked Dj!'- Roy the Roach (Trust the Dj)

'Best warm up Dj we?ve had at STOMP!'- Trevor Rockcliffe

'Clodagh is the definition of party animal when she gets behind the decks'- Sister Bliss