Label Spotlight: ILLUSION (Klaudia Gawlas)

Klaudia Gawlas continues her impressive run of releases this July as she prepares to drop the second single on her newfound ILLUSION imprint. Following on from the undeniably infectious ‘YDK’, Klaudia is back on hand to deliver another poignant display of potent techno goodness – ready to stamp its authority on dancefloors around the globe. You can buy/stream it here: https://lnkfi.re/resilience_illusion.

The aptly named ‘Resilience’ is a habitually robust peak-time cut, loaded with high-octane club-focused elements from start to finish. Pounding, driving drum grooves, and coarse percussive attack steers the track forwards alongside a riveting bassline, ricocheting acidic-arps and subtly haunting vocal injections. Gawlas has carved out another modern-day, moody and analogue-heavy techno heater whilst setting the pace with promise on one of the genre’s most exciting new label projects. 

With her latest work fresh off the press, we take a look at Klaudia’s ILLUSION platform as we explore our latest Label Spotlight feature: 

Can you tell us about the founding of your ILLUSION Recordings label and what inspired you to start it?

I felt it was time to start a label of my own. I already had some experience with the label side of things, as I ran a label with Eric Sneo a few years ago called MOD. However, managing one alone is something different. Just to release my own music without searching for labels and waiting for release dates is such a good feeling, it gives you a different and refreshed focus. I think everyone feels freer when they start their own label. It’s also lot of work and responsibility, but it’s easier for me to work with my music. There are so many nice artists out there, and I want to give them a chance to release their tracks via ILLUSION.

Do you aim to push any causes or social messages with the brand?

Not so much causes but the name ILLUSION is important. There are many illusions in the world and I want to concentrate on music with a visual aspect. With an illusion you see something, but your brain is telling you something else. I feel this is an effect or feeling that can be applied to music. I get silly illusions every day, but these are things which make me remember how clever and weird the human brain is sometimes. Its trippy, and I love it. So that’s what the message is I guess, music can be an illusion, and create your mind to think and see things like never before. The Illusion is yours……

How would you describe the overall sound and style of the music on ILLUSION?

Well, I just started the label so its early days and also, its only my releases so far, which have been dancefloor focused high energy tracks. Like most of my productions, I like to bring the energy, and a special kind of techno power to my crowd. The label will focus on the stronger side of techno, but it’s not limited to that. It depends on the demos, as honestly, I am open to new artists and anything that really catches my ear and gets me going. It must fit in to a good rave party! That’s my only rule 😊

What do you hope to achieve with ILLUSION in the next few years?

To build a home for some other artists and also for me. A good label, with fair payments and a familiar touch. It would be nice to have a strong team behind it. My dream is to host my own stages at festivals and floors / rooms at some club events with the artists completing the line-up, to shape the party. Supporting younger artists is very important to me.

Turning to your music career, how did you first get into producing and DJing?

I’ve always dreamed about making my own music and being able to create things out of some melodies and beats. In the age of 13 I got this Jeff mills tape and was totally hooked with techno. I had a software for my old computer Commodore 64, where I could make some simple beats. Nothing serious. So, this is how it started. I knew my love for music since age 6. So, I think it was just a question of time to dive in, but I had to finish school and I didn’t keep on. Later in the age of 21 I started to collect vinyls and started to spin them. 

Who were some of your biggest influences when you were starting?

Definitely Jeff Mills, as it was my first tape ever with techno and I think I’ve heard it 100 times. I always discovered something new in it. Was amazing. So, this was what I called techno music. Later probably all the dis who were playing at Alcatraz, the place I used to go every weekend. DJ Rush had a good impact on me, also Carl Cox, Monika Kruse, Speedy J. We were not able to top to every party, but if there was a live recording, we were listening every day. Was so good, only the imagination of the party and the crowd. 

Your sound is a mix of techno and house – can you talk about how you developed your unique style?

It’s probably a mixture of what I was listening to in my younger age. I loved to dance all night long and I think my sets are more a wave of power and energetic techno. I love to play also groovy, but with a certain touch of energy and tempo. I also love to play 3 together. To combine a melody with a different bass drum and maybe put a vocal on top with the 3rd creating some magical moments driven by the crowd. You don’t know what will happens before. But if there is a good connection with the crowd and the soundsystem, I start doing things I didn’t even know was possible. So, it’s about the energy and connection how a set developed. So yes, maybe there are some people they would recognize my sets because of my mixing and tempo.

Can you walk us through your creative process when producing a track?

Often, I start with my hardware just to jam around. I search for a drum, bass, shape it a bit, EQ’ing, and I just add a hi-hat and maybe some FX. Then I start playing around. 

I check the synth for a nice sound that could fit. It’s about trying, but I think this is the main part of a track and the most complicated part. So those couple elements give me the direction I want to go. Then I start working an Ableton to create more around. This is maybe the easier way. If you start with a melody, I think it’s more complicated to shape a nice surrounding around it. 

I love to go with the flow. I know what I like so I try to work till the breaks to increase the power and then release it after the drop. If I can find a good vocal or maybe have some ideas to record a vocal with a lot of reverb it’s perfect. 

What do you think sets your live sets apart from other DJs in the electronic music scene?

I don’t know. Those are the things I don’t think about. I make the music I love and the one which makes me feel good. In teamwork with the audience. Maybe some people out there could answer this question. It’s my passion and my life. It’s not easy for me to compare.

Finally, what do you have planned for the rest of 2023 and beyond with ILLUSION and your music career?

I am looking forward to my full schedule and hope to have much fun around the clubs and festivals. Some releases are in the pipeline, and I have a little project I want to take care of. So, yeah, I think it will not get boring.

Klaudia Gawlas’ ‘Resilience’ is available to buy/stream via Illusion: https://lnkfi.re/resilience_illusion.

Klaudia Gawlas
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