Romanian-born, Toronto-bred Simina Grigoriu has been steadily racking up a plethora of accolades during her esteemed decade-long career. Starting off as a DJ, she quickly made the transition as a producer and kicked off her own label Kuukou; a home for techno forward productions where she calls all the shots. In this time she’s also transplanted to Berlin, a place she now calls home and the major source of her creative inspiration, a source as diverse as her influences.
Known as one of the most dedicated, hard-working characters in the industry, it’s safe to say the coming months and years will provide an abundance of amazing releases, performances and surprises from one of Techno’s most dynamic ladies.
Siminia Grigoriu – Propeller Punks is OUT NOW
Balance Selections 255: Simina Grigoriu
Tracklisting:
1.
Blackchild & Paco Osuna – Elektrika Salsa (Original Mix)
2. Mark Antonio & Drumsauw – Emotions
3. HI-LO – Crescendo
4. Mark Antonio & Drumsauw – Fusion
5. Marco Faraone – Pressure
6. Sinisa Tamamovic – Freeze Your Mind (Original Mix)
7. Valpy – Night Garden (Original Mix)
8. Clif Jack – Somewhere
9. Mark Antonio & Drumsauw – Chromatic
10. Simina Grigoriu – Propeller Punks
11. Fruhwerk – Narc (Rework)
12. alentinø – Lost Contact
13. Joyhouser – Pulsar
14. Joyhouser – Roam Zwei
Balance Selections Q+A
Name: Simina Grigoriu
Location: Berlin
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Labels affiliated with: FORM Music, We Are The Brave, Tronic, Elevate, Kuukou
My last 3 releases:
Simina Grigoriu – Radiocarbon
Simina Grigoriu – Actuary
Simina Grigoriu – Mental Warfare
What music did you listen to as a child?
I’ve been in love with music since I can remember. And not just electronic music. My grandparents were big on music. The house was always full of anthems from Edith Piaf, Maria Tanase, Frank Sinatra, Al Bano & Romina Power, and Raffaella Carrà, just to name a few. My parents were into Eric Clapton, The Beatles, The Bangles, Dire Straits, Bob Dylan, Queen, Bob Marley, Kraftwerk, UB40, Jimi Hendrix, Cat Stevens, and so many more. There were also the soundtrack artists such as Vangelis, and Ennio Morricone, my musical heroes. As a kid I was into all of the above as well as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Paula Abdul, Snoop Dog, and KNOTB (haha! Stop laughing).
Later on, I got into NWA, Cypress Hill, A Tribe Called Quest, Da Brat, Big L, Mobb Deep, Nas, Wu Tang Clan, Fugees, Foxy Brown, Lil’ Kim, Buster Rhymes, Lady Saw, The Prodigy, Aphex Twin, Sneaker Pimps, The Chemical Brothers, Gigi D’Agostingo, Gino Soccio, and Claudio Coccoluto, who was a dear friend. Then there was my love for Nirvana, Hole, Garbage, NIN, Rancid, Metallica. Also, ANY jungle DJ from the late 90’s, classical music, in general, and pretty much good music from any genre. I do not discriminate.
On the electronic front, Jeff Mills is my personal hero but it was this early stuff above that made me want to get into music before I even knew what electronic music was. My mother said that by the time I was six years old I used to burst into tears at the end of most movies (during the credits) because the music and feeling was just that powerful and overwhelming for me. It was actually one of my first memories. I don’t think I do that anymore, though. Only during ceremonies 🙂
When was the first time that you realised that you liked electronic music?
I was 11 years old visiting Bucharest one summer and I bought a bootleg CD of Prodigy’s ‘Experience’. I was hooked. I fell in love with them and knew all their tracks. I went to concerts. Had the posters. My mom thought I was nuts. At 14, I started raving in Toronto and that opened me up to Jungle music and House/Rave. It was our weekend thing and i was a firecracker. I still love all those songs from the 90’s.
When was the first time you saw a DJ in a club?
I was 12 years old, again visiting Romania and we went to a discotheque to dance and party. I was fascinated by what he was doing with vinyl and it immediately sparked an interest. The big love came as a raver in Toronto in the mid-late 90’s. (See question above) 🙂
Which producers/artists/acts inspire you?
Jeff Mills is my musical hero and I’ve been admiring him for decades. A lot of things inspire me but mostly it’s my surroundings. I love music and I am genuinely interested in what other DJ’s are doing. I take nothing for granted so being able to see my heroes on stage up close and personal is always appreciated. I learn and am inspired by what I see and hear. Always.
What was the last album that you downloaded/bought?
I can’t remember! They all come as promos to me! After doing this for 15 years, I am lucky enough to have access to so much new music I rarely have to hunt for new stuff unless it’s on vinyl. I’m spoiled like that. I do hunt search on Beatport but it’s not for albums it’s for banger tracks for my set. I don’t often find albums I love but there are gems inside each one.
What is your current production and DJ set up like?
Pioneer V10 and 4 x CDJs. I don’t play live on stage but I am playing with the idea of it! I have some cute machines I’d like to incorporate into my DJ setup. Let’s see if I find time to do that this summer. Change is great!
What releases do you have on the horizon?
I am releasing ‘Propeller Punks’ on my label, Kuukou Records, which is out now. I have a release on OFF Recordings coming up in September and a handful or remixes I’m working on as well, namely one for Sisko Elektrofanatic’s ‘Sequence’, also on Kuukou. More stuff in the works but it’s not been announced yet.
Where can we hear you perform?
This weekend I play Love Parade (Rave The Planet Parade) here in Berlin as well as the afterparty at Metropol. In two weeks I play Deichbrand, then Ants at Ushuaia, after which comes Untold Festival in my home country Romania. Circo Illuminati in Rome follows that and then the legendary Techno Ballon in Gdansk. I don’t play every weekend because I have two little girls and it’s summer so I take time out to have holidays with them as much as possible but the summer is quite full and balancing life is a very fun challenge at the moment. Time is flying!
Tell us more about the podcast you made for Balance?
I recorded this podcast at home on a Pioneer V10 with Nexus 2000 CDJs. I’ve incorporated new tracks form my label Kuukou Records as well new stuff from friends and colleagues. I particularly like HI-LO’s new release on Drumcode and Clif Jack’s new track ‘Somewhere’ on Filth on Acid. I’ve also used my new track ‘Propeller Punks’, which is out now on Kuukou!
My Recommendations
The top track in my DJ wallet currently is:
Layton Giordani – Phantom
If I could recommend only one of my tracks for you to listen to it would be:
Simina Grigoriu – 1981
If I could recommend only one track for you to listen to it would be:
Extrawelt – 8000
The last movie I watched that I really liked:
Can’t remember, all we watch is kids stuff! I love ‘Luca’! 🙂
My favourite TV show:
Probably ‘The Simpsons’ or ‘Seinfeld’ but there are SO many good ones.
