Cailín’s Rise in Techno: From Humble Beginnings to Industry Recognition

Cailín has been steadily making a name for herself for a number of years in the Irish techno scene, with her authentic style and deep passion for electronic music.

In a candid interview with Mike Mannix, Cailín opened up about her journey as a DJ, her admiration for industry legends, and her experience in gigs that have shaped her career.

From playing at iconic venues like Tresor in Berlin to sharing the stage with celebrated DJs like Dave Clarke, Ben Sims, Jeff Mills and many more, Cailín’s trajectory is marked by dedication and an unwavering love for music.

The conversation delved into Cailín’s relationship with vinyl records, the mentorship she’s received, and the overwhelming support from her peers and fans.

She described her performances at high-profile events like Tresor’s Klubnact and shared her thoughts on what it means to be recognized in a field dominated by seasoned professionals.

Throughout the interview, Cailín’s humility and gratitude were evident, making it clear that she remains grounded despite her success.

The interview began with Mike Mannix humorously struggling to pronounce Cailín’s name correctly. Cailín light-heartedly corrected him, saying, “It’s pronounced Colleen, Cailín.” Mike responded with good-natured banter, repeating her name several times until he got it right.

They were outside dance music venue Pawn Shop in Dublin city centre, setting a relaxed and familiar tone for the discussion.

Mike Mannix: “I’ll still forget it in about five minutes, do you know what I mean haha?”

Cailín: “I’ll forgive you haha.”

This casual exchange highlighted their friendly rapport, setting the stage for an insightful conversation about Cailín’s career.

Cailín spoke about her recent gig at Index in Dublin, where she performed again as a support act for Dave Clarke, following an opening set by Niall Kelly. Cailín expressed her admiration for Dave, sharing how he’s taken her under his wing over the past couple of years.

Cailin: “He’s been very kind and supportive to me the last couple of years, and it’s a beautiful thing for me because…

Dave Clarke is above everybody else for me. He’s the one that made me fall in love with techno initially.”

She reflected on how surreal it is to now consider someone who inspired her journey, as a mentor and friend. Cailín reminisced about her experience performing at Tresor for the second time. Her first time at the event was in 2019 during the New Faces night hosted by Mareena.

Cailin: “It was my second time playing there. I played there in 2019 at the New Faces night that Mareena hosted… So it was great to go back and play before Dave and get a four-hour opening set.

“I love opening clubs, and to be able to control the Tresor floor for so long at the start of the night allowed me to play records I’ve been saving for years for an occassion like this.”

She highlighted how special it felt to play a lengthy opening set and how it allowed her to truly control the room’s energy. The experience was, as she described,

“one of the best experiences of my life.”

Cailín shared her busy schedule for the coming months, expressing excitement about her upcoming performances at various clubs around Ireland. One highlight she mentioned was her appearance at the Circles Festival during the October Bank Holiday weekend.

Cailin: “I’m playing pretty much every weekend until the end of the year, and I’m very happy about that…

I have some really nice gigs lined up, like the Circles Festival with Surgeon and Ellen Allien”

Her enthusiasm was palpable as she spoke about performing alongside well-known artists and how these opportunities have made her career “incredible.”

“I recently played b2b with Ben Sims which was mindblowing. I had to pinch myself a number of times that night to make sure I was awake and not in a crazy lucid dream”.

When the conversation turned to her use of vinyl, Cailín explained that her affinity for vinyl is rooted in her early experiences as a punter and a DJ.

Cailín: “When I was coming up…and even before that while I was a punter, vinyl was what I adored. I couldn’t take my eyes off the DJ. Every Friday and Saturday night I was up the front of the dancefloor staring at the DJ watching, listening, trying to learn, completely fascinated. CDJs weren’t really a thing back then.

It was all Technics and stacks of wax.”

That’s what I fell in love with and what I am still in love with.”

She shared a story about how she started learning to DJ in college after responding to a flyer for DJ lessons. She credited her friend Enda Geoghegan for offering her free lessons and nurturing her passion for music.

To this day, she remains close to him and values his early support in her career.

The interview concluded with Cailín reflecting on how blessed she feels to be part of a community that values her talent. She acknowledged that her hard work and dedication have paid off, but she remains grateful and humbled by the opportunities she’s been given.

Cailin: “I’m so lucky. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

This is the life I want to live forever.”

Nothing compares to the sense of love and community you experiencein our world.”

Cailín’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and gratitude. She continues to push boundaries and establish herself as a formidable talent in the techno world, with a promising future ahead!