For over two decades, Cezar has been a defining presence within Romania’s electronic music landscape. Known for his meticulous approach to sound and a deeply musical style that moves between minimal, house, breakbeat and everything in between, his sets reflect both technical precision and an instinctive understanding of rhythm and groove. From early parties in Bucharest to shaping the identity of influential labels and playing clubs around the world, his journey has been guided by curiosity, experimentation and a strong belief in authenticity.
Cezar’s first proper experience behind the decks came in the early 2000s at a small private party in Bucharest’s now closed Propaganda club. The space itself was modest, more like a kitchen than a dance floor, but it left a lasting impression. “It was organised by me & Kozo” he recalls. “We played all night for our friends. It was emotional because it was the first time playing in an actual place. I still remember the goosebumps. It was tiny inside, maybe for fifty people. Outside was a nice, busy terrace for late afternoon parties.”
Those early gatherings gradually evolved into more regular events. After a year of organising private parties, the duo began hosting Thursday nights at Studio Martin, initially in a small upstairs space. Eventually, Kozo secured a residency in the main room, with Cezar following soon after. “I played there with Kozo for maybe two or three years. From that point, everything started happening.”
For Cezar, what mattered most then and still does now was the connection to the dance floor. “I remember the music I was playing back then wasn’t in a certain genre, but people kept coming back for our gatherings. For me, it doesn’t matter who you are or what music you play. If people are following what you’re doing, that’s the most important thing. That’s what keeps everything moving.”
Although he was born in Bucharest, Cezar’s early experiences also stretched beyond the capital. Summers spent between Piatra Neamț and Bacău, where his family has roots, introduced him to small local scenes that helped shape his early path. It was here he connected with future collaborators, forging friendships that have lasted more than two decades.
When asked to describe his sound, Cezar admits the question is not an easy one. “It’s difficult to say. I’m always focused on being technically as good as I can be, rather than playing from a particular category,” he says. “I guess I started with what people then called tech-minimal. But if you listen to those tracks now, they could easily fit in different categories. There are so many sub-genres now, but back then, it was more the search for a vibe than a specific sound. More minimalistic, with a little bit of techno and electro.”
Rather than adhering to strict genre boundaries, his focus has always been on the technical craft of DJing and the creative possibilities between styles. “I play a mix of different styles, focusing on how creatively I can blend them together. Each genre calls for its own approach to mixing, and I move fluidly between minimal, house, acid, techno, and breakbeat. I’m also a big hip-hop fan, which is why breakbeat feels especially natural to me.”
Among the many festivals he has played over the years, unsurprisingly, one stands above the rest – Sunwaves. The Romanian beach gathering has been a defining institution for the global minimal scene, and for Cezar, it carries a personal significance. “For me, Sunwaves is always special. Maybe some artists would see it as something that you have to accomplish, but for our generation, it just felt kind of natural. It grew together with the scene, giving the space to present our music movement to bigger crowds.” The festival has faced challenges in recent years, mainly legal pressures from the government and reported hostilities from the authorities. As a result, Sunwaves changed location. Despite that, its spirit remains unique. “That kind of energy is hard to find anywhere else. Even now, as the event moves from Romania to other countries, the feeling is still there. Sunwaves is not just a place to showcase yourself; it’s a milestone for our movement.”
Club experiences have also played a crucial role in shaping his perspective, particularly when it comes to sound systems. Among the venues he highlights, Supermarket in Zurich stands out as one of the most technically rewarding spaces he has encountered. “It’s a place where you can hear everything, so you can be precise and creative. When the PA sound and monitoring are that good, you can do things that you didn’t even think were possible.” But that level of clarity can also be unforgiving. “It shows all the good qualities, but also the flaws in your music and mixing. If you really pay attention, playing with creativity and focus, it can reveal a lot of your potential.”
For Cezar, the quality of a sound system depends less on the brand and more on the expertise behind it. “Any sound system is good when it’s tuned properly for the space it’s in. And the sound engineers are crucial; if you get somebody with experience and they do the sound right, that can elevate the overall musical experience. The sound engineer can really make or break the night.”
Beyond DJing, Cezar has also played an important role as a label founder. In 2011, he co-launched the influential Understand label alongside Kozo and Praslea, helping shape the sound of Romanian minimal. More recently, in 2020, he introduced newer platforms like Algorhythm of Unknown, where the focus is on developing a new creative group with musicians from different musical backgrounds. In 2025, he launched Deruta Records, designed to showcase a broader spectrum of his productions and a new wave of EDM producers. “I have a lot of music that doesn’t fit Understand. That label is pivotal in our sound, it has a very clear identity and I want to keep it that way.” Deruta allows him to explore ideas that move beyond the strict minimal framework. “In the past, I was trying to make everything sound minimal. Now I realise that sometimes a musical idea asks for something else, maybe more house, more techno, or something more jazzy. People know me for playing Romanian minimal, but this is not quite right. Whatever I do, it has all these styles implied.”
Despite that, he is still very much a fan of the ethos that “less is more”. “You have more space to hear things, more space to be creative.” Rather than forcing tracks into a predetermined structure, he prefers to follow where the initial idea leads. This openness has also influenced the way he approaches DJ sets. “I move between house, breakbeat, minimal, techno and touches of jazz, crafting a layered experience instead of simply playing tracks.”
In Cezar’s eyes, the essence of dance music ultimately lies in something deeper than genre or technique. “Rhythm connects people. If you look at ancient history, people gathered together for rituals or celebrations, using drums and chanting as the foundation of social interaction. Electronic music is just another version of that. It’s something that exists in our DNA.”
After more than twenty years in the booth, his inspirations remain wide-ranging. Rather than naming a definitive list, he prefers to highlight qualities he admires in others. But above all, he believes the next generation should focus on finding their own voice rather than replicating others. “In the beginning, you will have influences. That’s normal,” he says. “At some point, you need to understand that you don’t need to copy anyone. You just need to find your own way of expressing thru music.” For Cezar, that process of discovery, both personal and musical, remains the driving force behind everything he does.
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