FOLD Invites Andromeda + Interview
Klaudia, thanks for agreeing to this interview. It was such a pleasure to record your mix to share with the public.
How was the transition from Jasmin to Andromeda?
I started playing with my middle name Jasmin while studying at University in Leeds and becoming part of a thriving scene that was the perfect breeding ground for aspiring artists. I was drawn by the raw and classic sounds of acid house and Detroit techno and after moving to London, I started to get introduced to the techno scene through events such as Unmasked, On The 5th Day and Koodeta. The turning point was when I performed for the first time at HTBX and got introduced to a scene that was different to anything I had ever experienced before. Playing vinyl sets to a hedonistic crowd that was hungry for the heavier stuff really inspired me to dig deeper and find records that expressed my darker side. I decided to start a new project that would represent my alter-ego by embodying the character of ‘The Chained Woman’ from Greek mythology, Andromeda. It was a spontaneous transition that gave me a chance to reinvent my public persona by playing under an alias that is a metaphysical representation of my higher self.
As a regular at unfold, how do you find the booth being in the middle of the room?
I think that the 360 degrees DJ booth is a great concept that creates an intimate atmosphere by removing the barrier between the crowd and the performer. It makes you feel more connected with the crowd by being on the same level on the dancefloor. It was the first time that I played on such a setup and I could really feel the energy of the room all the way through, it was magical.
Do you prepare your set in a different way when you play in the round?
I don’t think that the DJ setup has an effect on the way I prepare for my sets but playing in the round can encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and play tracks that you might have not played otherwise. For example I ended up playing ‘Higher State Of Consciousness’ which wasn’t planned but it fit the moment perfectly and many people were coming up to me and commenting about that particular track which wasn't on my original tracklist. I also played some dialogue from the matrix during the breakdown of one of the tracks which was a very transcendental moment.
It was great to make you our latest resident at FOLD. Have you held a residency at a club before?
It is an honour to be one of the residents at FOLD and I feel extremely lucky to be part of such a ground-breaking institution. I was first made resident of an event called Flux in Leeds in 2010 which became one of the most popular student nights in the city. I was also a regular at one of the most legendary clubbing institutions in the world, Back to Basics, where I hosted the second room and played alongside legendary artists such as Derrick May, Carl Craig, Chez Damier and many others. I organised my own events in London for many years after that where I played as a resident and hosted radio shows on stations such as Hoxton FM, Bloop and Soho Radio.
What do you see as a unique challenge to being a resident DJ? Do you try to do a different set each time or is there not enough time in between shows to do that effectively?
I think the biggest challenge of a resident is to maintain a consistent sound and at the same surprise the crowd every time you perform by making sure that each set is memorable. I spend most of my spare time searching for music and I buy new tracks before every performance in order to deliver a unique performance that is specifically tailored to that moment in time. As a perfectionist, I always strive to make each set better than the previous one and the challenge of trying to achieve that is what gets me excited about performing. Having a residency makes it possible to grow and develop your skills as an artist by delivering quality sets on a regular basis and becoming part of an institution that trusts and believes in you.