With so many DJ's out there now each fighting for a place on the biggest lineups, you really have to have something that distances you from the other contenders. Breaking into the UK hard dance scen scene can bea real feat in itself. However, when you can manage to do this whilst residing in Canada, then you really must be doing something right.

Since his first apearance in the UK some 2 and a half years ago, Rodi has made his way onto some ofthe highest billings including Storm, Tidy Weekender, Frantic, and now the eagerly awaited Summit event on 17th May. In anticipation to the event, I got Rodi sat down to find out about (when he's not pushing buttons) what pushes his.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us Rodi in allowing us to get your first DSI interview. You certainly have been very busy since your arrival in the UK. How have you been finding things?

It’s been a really crazy and fun time over here in the UK since I arrived. I’ve had the opportunity to play some amazing shows, work with some of my hero’s in the hard dance scene and meet so many people. I miss home though and I’m due to visit Canada soon so I’m looking forward to that.

First off, can we ask how you got to the name Rodi Style?

It’s based off an old Chinese comedy rap called “Tai mai shue” or something like that. This guy basically raps about McDonalds and cheeseburgers and the such. Anyways he mentions that he would like to thank “woady style” (there is speculation on whether or not he said “Roady” or “Woady” as I have seen a flash cartoon on the net saying Woady). In any case, between me and all my friends, that became an inside joke that “roady” style was the highest form of style there was. When it came time to choose a DJ name, it just sort of made sense.

So you’ve come over to the UK from Canada. What sorts of things were you doing over there?

Working a really boring office job I also organized events part time but not nearly as much as I used to a few years back. Then playing maybe 3 times a month. I definitely don’t miss the office job at all!

How would you say that the hard dance scenes in both countries differ from each other based on your own experience?

The UK’s hard dance scene is a large step up on the Canadian one. The music style is just more popular and it’s much more accepted. The crowds in the UK also seem to be far more enthusiastic about the music. With that being said though, there is a core of people in Canada that really enjoy the music and I have to give a shout out to them for their continued support of a music style that isn’t as popular as others.

What finally made you decide to make the jump to the UK?

The idea of moving to the UK came to my mind about a year ago after playing at Storm’s 7th birthday but it wasn’t until Andy Whitby was in Calgary and gave me that “talk” about how I should pursue my dreams. I think hearing it from a well established DJ such as himself and him telling me I could do it really helped set the gears in motion.

The UK crowd does certainly seem to have warmed to you very nicely. Firstly, you’ve managed to get the clubbers votes as the best newcomer to the scene, and now you’re pulling in a hefty number of sets now at some of the largest events going in the UK. Was this initially a bit daunting for you?

Definitely but I think it helped ensure that I didn’t slack off and that I was working hard at getting my name out and marketing myself. I’ve also been fortunate enough to have a few key players in the scene helping me out (Garbo and Alec Mills spring to mind) and I am so grateful for everything they’ve done for me.

What has been your best UK moment so far?
That’s a tough one, there have been so many great moments, I think arriving at the Hard Dance Awards and finding out that I won was one of the happiest moments in my life. But also Storm NYE was a night to remember with an amazing atmosphere and rammed club!

Where can we be catching you at festivals this year?

I’m really really happy to say that I’ve been booked to play at Coloursfest, Global Gathering and Creamfields. I’m so very excited!

To all the clubbers that haven’t managed to get in front of you yet, how would you describe the sound that you push in your performances and what could they expect to see from you?

Half a year ago I would have said really full on filth but I’ve toned things down quite a bit in the recent months and I would say that my sound is still very full on but has many melodic elements to it. Sort of hard house/nrg with the occasional trancey elements. Things expect from my sets include scratching, tricks and possibly the occasional feet scratching ? I think crowd surfing is something I’ve always wanted to try as well but visions of falling face first into the ground has deterred me thus far haha!

Myself and the other Summit promoters have really been taken aback by some of your work on the mixer, EFX units, and let’s not forget the scratching in your sets. Were there any DJ’s that particularly inspired you to take the route of being a ‘trickster style DJ’?

Most definitely guys like James Zabiela, Eddie Halliwell and Rik Parkinson who are constantly pushing the boundaries of a conventional DJ set. Really inspiring stuff! Watching the DMC style DJs such as the scratch perverts are also a way I can draw some inspiration from.

Do you ever use other styles of music to work with when scratching at home in order to create new sounds?

I wish I could say that I do, but at the moment I don’t have decks because I had to sell everything before coming over so I truthfully haven’t had much time to practice these days. I more or less practice live now but hopefully with some time I will be back up and running.

Talking of trickster DJ’s, you’ve just finished the new album for Tidy alongside Andy Whitby which is due for release in June. Can you tell us a bit more about this?

The album title is “Music For a Harder Generation: The New Generation” and I’m so incredibly happy that I was chosen to mix disc 2. My disc is obviously of the harder variety with tasteful tricks thrown here and there to keep the disc similar to my live performances. I think it’ll be a really great album with two very different discs for everyone! I also had my first proper photo shoot for the album and you should see some of the first few photos that were taken of me! I look like a deer caught in headlights!

When did you decide to start producing hard house?
About 3 years ago, it was the natural step forward if I wanted to advance my career in music and I figured it was time to put forth the ideas in my head into reality. Talk about daunting at first though! The producing world is like a jungle out there with so much to learn.

Who are your top producers on the hard dance scene at the moment?

My absolute 3 favourite producers have to be Paul Maddox, Defective Audio and Equinox. Everything they do is gold.

You’ve also got a label ‘Kung Fu Wax’. Can you tell us a bit about the label, and what we can expect from it in the future?

Kung Fu Wax is a vinyl label I started up a few months ago and our first release is in stores already with the 2nd one due any day now. There are a lot of well respected artists on board including Defective Audio, Nik Denton and Ben Stevens.

Here’s our release schedule, I hope you guys like it!

KFW001 *out now*
A. Rodi Style – Jump
B. Rodi Style – Let Go
B2. Rodi Style – Spelling Bee

KFW002 *in stores soon*
A. Karl Davis & Defective Audio – Big Rich the Needle Pusher
B. Ben Stevens & Rodi Style – Chaos Theory

KFW003
A. Ben Stevens & Rodi Style – In Control
B. Dave Curtis – Snapshot
B2. FKM, Sonik & Riggsy – Oh Yeah

KFW004
Rodi Style & DJ Pseudo “Pistol Packing” – the remix
A. Adam M & Defective Audio remix
B. Nik Denton remix
B2. Rodi’s Kung Fu mix

When you’re in the studio, what to you are the key ingredients to making a great track?

I think it all starts with a good kick and bass combination. If that’s not sounding phat then you’re done for already. For me when I make a tune I like to focus on a catchy main synth that *hopefully* people will remember and sing to themselves when they leave the club.

Summit Fresh is only around the corner, and we’ve been asking all our DJ’s to bring in some fresh tracks that clubbers will have never heard before. Have you any ideas on what you will be doing to go with the theme?

I’ve been hard at work in the studio and I have some bits that no one’s heard yet that I’ve saved up for Summit. I won’t give it away but I will try to start off my set with 1 of them so keep an eye out for it.

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