Simina Grigoriu is a woman whose passion for music is all to see. Currently juggling her shows and studio time with her young daughter and her marriage, the recent launch of her own new label Kuukou, has only further enhanced her work load. Ian Fleming sat down with her recently to discuss her new release and new label – and also how she finds the time to cover all the things she does so successfully…
How are you, what’s good, what’s bad about summer so far?
Hey! I’m fine, thanks! I’ve had a wonderful and busy summer. June and July were full of gigs and in August we took some time off to visit my family in Toronto. In July, I also launched Kuukou Records and it’s been a whirlwind of good music combined with tons of administration. I’ve also spent a lot of time with my hubby and our little girl, Isabella, who seems to be growing like a weed. Where has the time gone?
What challenges have you come up against to get to where you are today? What has been the hardest part so far?
Adding “music producer” to my resume was a big thing. I went to university for Graphic Communications Management and have a B.Tech with minors in Marketing and Entrepreneruship/Innovation. I had no official training or experience with music production before deciding one day, simply, that I will become a producer. I attended some Ableton workshops and learned the basics from my producer friends as well as good ol’ YouTube tutorials. Learning sound manipulation was and still is the most challenging part of my job. For a long time it was important that I worked alone. I had to prove that to myself. I have since opened my mind and realize that working with other artists can add more than take away from a piece of music. For this reason, I often have my brother, Daniel Grigoriu aka Moe Danger, by my side in the studio. I’ve hired him full time as my sound engineer in order to get the fattest possible sound and it’s also a lot of fun!
In a totally separate realm, it’s also been somewhat challenging for me to distinguish myself musically from my husband. He is such a great producer and amazing performer. He’s given me many opportunities to showcase my work and to open his shows. I have learned tricks from him I will never share with the world, but I am still my own producer. I’ve tried my best to work independently and make a name for myself. I am a Kalkbrenner, but not on stage! Smile.
What labels and parties did you get into at first? What really got you into dance music?
I’ve been involved with dance music my whole life. Since fourth grade, I’ve been dancing to C&C Music Factory, Jam & Spoon, The Prodigy, Dr. Bombay! It was the early 90s! My first club experience was in Romania while on holiday when I was 12. By the time I was 14, I was clubbing regularly at Studio Martin (The House of House Music) all summer long. In high school, it was the rave scene in Toronto that introduced me to Jungle music and House/Techno. Back then there were only two rooms. Jungle and Rave (or House/Techno). In university I took a break from clubbing but after I graduated, I was working my 9-5 grind in printing/advertising and as a bartender on weekends. I got back into the club scene but realized quickly I wanted to be behind the decks instead of behind the bar. I practiced at home and was getting better but it wasn’t until I moved to Berlin that I committed to music full time, producing and playing out. The truth is, it’s always been a part of my life. I’m just lucky to be able to make a living from something that started out as a passionate hobby.
And what is your style, what turns you on, what do you aim to achieve as a producer?
Dark and dirty basslines. Fat bass drums. Melodies and grooves.. You can make dark techno music with soft elements and sounds. Like my friend Marc Houle says “You cannot sing a track. You can only sing a song”. Melodies and harmony are important. Nobody wants a generic anything. I aim to make music that moves me – that gets me out of my chair. When you’re standing in front of your machine, chair kicked to the other side of the room, dancing alone in your studio, you know you’re on the right path.
Tell us about your new EP on your own label Kuukou – what inspired or influenced it?
In 2014/2015, while I was pregnant, unable to fly around for shows and confined to my own fat ass on the couch, I decided to get busy in the studio. I produced a good two handful of tracks and now they are slowly coming out on Kuukou. I was inspired by the little alien growing inside of me and I stared to see the world in a new light. I know, it sounds cheesy but it’s how I felt at the time.
Do you have a studio? Can you tell us about some of the gear in it?
I honestly don’t need much. I use Ableton to produce. I usually work digitally with my favourite synths being Sylenth and Massive and I have a little midi keyboard (Akai APC Key 25) to play around. I actually don’t need more. I love my simple setup and I just plug and play. It’s the monitors that can make or break a track.
Do you always write in there or can you write on the road? Do you sketch ideas when on tour?
Yeah, I prefer not to work on music on the road. I can. Of course. But it’s always better when I’m comfy in my studio and have lots of time and no distractions. I use a lot of field sampling but I normally get to work on those when I arrive back in the sanctuary of my space.
Does DJing feed back into your music? Do you use your experiences in the club when in the studio?
Sometimes. I’m always discovering new tracks and I often use the tracks I love as inspiration for my own music.
What else have you got coming up/are you working on? For you personally and also the label.
Isabella always comes first, but essentially I’m juggling a toddler, a husband, my gigs, studio time and weekend tours and now all of the administration that comes along with having a label. It’s a lot. It’s overwhelming. But I am happy and busy. No complaints here! Kuukou is releasing monthly and we have a lot of exciting artists on board. I will bring out some of my own records as well showcasing new talent and top-tier remixers. We are also launching a Kuukou monthly podcast in the coming weeks. It’s exciting!
Do you have goals and dreams and targets of things you would like to achieve?
Many. Maybe too many. Ultimately, my goal right now is to raise a well-mannered little girl while keeping up with the many things I have to do at home, in the studio and on stage. Like all performers, I wish to continue playing dope shows in awesome venues. I hope to expand my reach with my music and I hope that Kuukou Records prospers and that people like what we have to offer. They say you can’t have it all but I’m doing my best at trying.
Simina’s ‘Nunchaku / Kubotan’ is out now on Kuukou
Grab it here – https://www.beatport.com/release/nunchaku-kubotan/1827200
