Today, we're joined by no other than Ioana Pârlog aka Miss I, ahead of MisBits' 11th anniversary. Raised in a musical family, Miss I became a key player in the Romanian underground scene and founded Misbits, one of Bucharest's first electronic record shops. 

Tune in to listen to her freshly out-of-the-shop vinyl-only podcast, and don't miss out on the iconic anniversary this weekend at the club, where she’ll play along with Cap, oddist and Quest - (tickets here). 

Here’s an interesting conversation we had with Ioana recently:  

Ioana, you’ve been around for 2 decades in the electronic music scene. What drives you after all this time?

I can't believe so much time passed..sometimes I feel like I just started! What still drives me is the excitement of a good party and that feeling that you have after, pumped with energy! Music is giving me so much but it can also take... If I feel like I had a good event, I cannot describe the happiness, but if I feel something is not right...it can be really upsetting so I guess is a balance and with this balance i want to experience more. 

At Misbits, my drive is when i see people happy with the selection I made for them or they find records that they looked for a long time and they find them in the shop. 

What is one of the most fulfilling projects you’ve nurtured?

I can say with open heart, Misbits - it was the first project I truly believed in from the start, without any doubts and took a wonderful shape in these 11 years!  I'm not planning to stop anytime soon :D There are lots of exciting plans for the future.

What would you say is your superpower? 

My superpower kicks in when my emotions are fully engaged. I thrive on being a warm host and creating memorable experiences for others.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?

I've encountered numerous failures along the way, but one particular instance stands out – a video podcast I produced some time ago. Despite what I perceived as my worst performance, it surprisingly garnered some success.

If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it — what would it say and why?

Don't rush the things that you believe in. They will come in time. 

Why this? Because nowadays, people want things to happen NOW! There are a lot of factors to process. I mean in the music scene... you need experience, years of practice. It doesn't matter how good you are. You can be good from the start, be that exception, and escalate very fast. But if you don't think about it and you think you're entitled to everything... as fast as you went up, the same way you will go down. Also, when you truly want to do something... you don't think of success from the start, you take it as it comes and you keep doing it because you love it, not because of other factors. Anyway, those who deserve it will stay around, the others... I wish them good luck.

What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made? 

 ⁠One of the most valuable investments I've made is dedicating my time and energy into cultivating my passion for music, particularly through my venture, Misbits! It has been a rewarding journey where I've invested my resources to create a meaningful presence in the music scene.

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

I love to dance when the food is great :D

Your favorite track ever?

Bobby McFerrin - Don't worry be happy - I played many times as my last track in sets :)