Rock Monsters Romania

When I think about women in the romanian music industry who have left a mark on me and made me go “WOW,” I instantly think of Codruța Vulcu and Corina Oltean.

I first heard about Corina when she was involved with Suburbia11, that ska band full of lunatics who sang about whatever they wanted and had an energy that you rarely come across. Having an affinity for Sibiu, I later discovered that she was involved in many events there, and I always followed her on social media to see what she was up to and what cool stuff she was getting into.

To understand how awesome Suburbia11 was, they performed at FITS in Piața Mare during the heaviest rain I’ve ever seen in my life. I took the volunteers I had brought all the way from Reșița for a study visit and told them we should go see Suburbia11 because we wouldn’t regret it. And it was just like that. We danced and sang in the rain, and even now when I meet those people, they ask me when we are doing something like that again and how cool it was at Suburbia11 in the rain in Sibiu.

I have Corina’s number saved in my phone as “Corina Suburbia11,” from a concert at The Pub where I had won an invitation. We danced at that concert until it ended and talked to the people and the band afterward.

I’m always happy when I see Corina post something, thinking that I surely need to clear my schedule because something cool is coming up. This woman is a role model for me; she shows that if you want something, you can achieve it, and even when you think you can’t do it anymore, you can still push a little further. I’m very proud to have had this interview with her, and I hope you, the readers, can understand at least 10% of the fact that Corina is a strong, determined woman who has represented and continues to represent the women behind concerts and festivals for years.

That being said, let’s see what Corina had to say in response.

What are the things people should know about you before reading this interview?

First, thank you so much for this interview 🙂 . My name is Corina Oltean, I am from Sibiu, and I am a PR & Marketing professional with most of my experience in cultural and live music events. I’ve collaborated with lots of different events over the years and currently I am working on promoting Focus in the Park Festival in Sibiu and many other events and festivals organized by Focus Events team. I am very passionate about underground music and I started getting involved in marketing for live events many years ago, while I was promoting my boyfriend’s ska band :). Although that band doesn’t exist anymore, the experience of touring, promoting, organizing and selling concerts all over the country helped me learn a lot about the industry and meet many inspiring people. And luckily for me, it slowly became something I do for a living. 

Which woman inspired you from the beginning? What have you learned from her as a model?

The first woman who ever inspired me was the Artmania Festival organizer, Codruța Vulcu. Artmania was the first festival I was ever involved in, when I was 14 or 15, as a volunteer, and then later on, at some of their events, when I moved to Bucharest. Codruța made such a strong impression on me at that young age because she was like a rock, determined, never tired, never angry, always on and focused on the event that was happening. I learned then how important it is to stay cool, don’t waste time on useless details and keep your eyes on the ball in the frenzy and sometimes chaos and panic that can emerge in a big scale, live event.

Why have you chosen the music industry? Where does your passion come from?

It’s something I remember very clearly: I was very young, working my first job (which I hated) in a bank. I was thinking about what my dream job would be. I knew what it was but I had absolutely no courage to say it out loud to anyone. I’ve already felt the excitement of working at events but that seemed like a fun thing you do for free on summer vacations. I thought for a while what I could do to make that exciting thing my job – it felt impossible – I knew no one working in this field, I didn’t even have one friend who knew how to play an instrument :). But small steps, small seemingly insignificant decisions over the years slowly got me exactly where I was dreaming to be back then. I remember that at every event I work for, and I’m very grateful.

Was there a moment when another woman warned you about the challenges you might face in the music industry because you’re a woman? What was your reaction?

No, I’ve never had that conversation. 

Have you faced any challenges that could only happen to women in this industry? Can you give us some examples and explain how you overcame them?

To be honest, no. Maybe I was lucky, I don’t know. I’ve always worked in a predominantly male environment but I am really comfortable with that. Most of the logistics, booking, sound engineering, photography, videography is done by men in the projects I am or was involved in. Not exclusively, of course, but predominantly. The girls, you will usually find them in the marketing, financial and administrative roles. But I wouldn’t say that was ever challenging for me. The most important thing is that most of the people I’ve worked or met over the years in this industry, organizers or artists, were extraordinary people, I’ve really never felt mistreated, undermined or discriminated against. On the contrary, I feel like me and the other few girls on the team have a big army of strong, usually black-t-shirt guys with gloves and walkie-talkies watching our back at all times :).

Have you ever felt pressured to present yourself in a certain way because of your gender?

No, I can’t say I did. 90% of the times I am usually behind a laptop or phone screen. The rest 10% of my work – that involves actually meeting and interacting with people – I try to make it as fun as possible so I really don’t pay attention to other things.

What changes would you like to see in the industry to make it more inclusive and welcoming for women?

I think we should support and follow the initiatives that already exist, like Women in Music Romania.

How optimistic are you about the future of the music industry in terms of gender equality?

My experience is limited, but I would say I’m optimistic. But then again, there might be problems I’m not aware of. On stage, I would love to see more badass women musicians, more empowering female figures. I sometimes feel like women are too “vanilla” and lack the courage to express themselves.

Can you share a memorable experience or achievement in your career that you’re particularly proud of?

During the pandemic, I was in charge of promoting and broadcasting a no-audience concert. It was a relatively small band but with the help of our friends and colleagues we managed to pull out a really big production. We had a full-size concert, on a festival-size stage, in a huge, empty, industrial hall, with lights, moving cameras, and a LED screen where people that were watching live, in their homes, were writing comments and showed themselves dancing in their homes. I will never forget the feeling of closeness I’ve had, with so many people, while being in a huge empty space. It’s a great memory, I will always cherish it.

Are there any projects or collaborations you’re currently working on that you’re excited about and would like to share with our audience?

Yes! I am very excited about our 11th Focus in the Park Festival edition, happening in Sibiu between August 21st and 25th, the first one where we start charging a ticket. It’s a huge milestone for us, switching from free entrance to a paid event but it’s also a very natural evolution. Our line-up is bigger than ever before and it’s such a big challenge for our entire team. We’re leveling up everything, from the user experience to the international line-up. We get to bring some of our childhood dream bands on stage. It’s exciting!

Looking back on your career journey so far, what are some valuable lessons or insights you’ve gained that you wish you knew when you were starting out?

Trust your gut feeling above all else, even when it feels crazy – it rarely is. Have kids and build a family whenever you start wishing for it – it’s not the end of anything, you CAN make both worlds meet. I was 8 months pregnant shooting content on a big stage and I enjoyed it greatly 🙂 Don’t waste valuable time on grudges, analyzing how somebody mistreated you, or endless gossip. Nobody owes you anything and it’s nobody’s but our own responsibility to manage and preserve our energy.

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to pursue a career in music? But to the ones that are reading this interview?

I think we all end up where we belong, eventually. We just need to let it happen and pay attention to the opportunities around us. And put a ton of work into it in the meantime – unfortunately I haven’t discovered the recipe that doesn’t involve working like crazy until you end up where you feel comfortable :).

I hope that through this interview, you’ve managed to get to know Corina Oltean at least a little and to understand why I like her so much. She’s a professional who dedicates herself 100%, her passion shines through everything she does, and I suggest you follow her on social media and, why not, come to Focus in The Park in the wonderful Sibiu in August.

Rock Monsters Romania believes in professionalism and in the chance for women to stand out in an industry that seems dominated by men. Due to this belief, we have decided that once every two weeks on our website, you can find a woman who is making waves in the music industry and offers daily inspiration and support to those around them.

Text by Ionela Pleșan

Interview by Ionela Pleșan and Radu Mihai