10 Questions with Rodi Style!

I took some time out to get to know the name on everyone’s lips at the moment.. DJ Rodi Style!

So Rodi how ya doing?! We are very much looking forward to having you down to Escape to make your Escape Gets Filthy debut on September 13th!! So lets get to know you!

First of all how long have you been DJ’ing for and how would you describe your style?

Hi Rob! Really looking forward to Escape! I’ve been at the DJ game for close to 7 years now starting out originally with some hardcore *sssh* and trance. I would describe my style as bordering the no nonsense harder edge side of hard house although I have been putting a lot more melody and tunefulness into my productions and sets lately.

Sounds great mate! Now we all know your pretty skilled on a DJM and CDJ’s! So tell us what is your favourite trick? Or is it top secret!?

Thanks! I’d say my favourite trick is the “feedback loop” on the EFX1000. The possibilities are endless with the trick. I could scratch for 8 beats and then it would be sampled immediately in real time which I can chop up and modify, bring in and out whenever I please and generally mess about and have a good time! I think the only problem with that trick is that most people won’t know it’s happening unless they really pay attention, otherwise it might just sound like part of the tune, or that I’ve completely messed up the song haha!

Fair Play! Hope to see it in action at Escape Gets Filthy… we will be rigging up cameras pointing at the decks showing on the big screens for everyone to see your wizardry! What can we expect to hear from you at Escape Gets Filthy!? What makes your sets different to the average DJ?

I have put together a special Russian opera, 3/3 time polka influenced set which I think is going to devastate the dance floor like nobody’s business! I think what makes my sets stand out comes down to all the technical mumbo jumbo I do on the equipment. I try my very best to add some “flair” and excitement to my sets by rinsing the equipment’s fx and scratching (without *hopefully* overdoing it).

Returning back to the first part of this question. I suppose it’s best to expect a very high energy set with some filth in it!

Bring it on mate!! Heres another for ya, what are your top 5 never-fail dancefloor destroyers?

Tony De Vit – the Dawn (Paul Janes remix) is one of those never fail dancefloor classics, but I’ll focus on some of the newer stuff and I’d have to go with…

Paul Glazby – the Thrasher
Rodi Style DJ Pseudo – Pistol Packing (Rodi’s Kung Fu Mix) *I swear I can never get away with not playing this as someone usually asks me*
Ben Townsend – Matt’s Song
Ben Stevens & Rodi Style – U Got 2 Know
Jonah – Sssst....listen (Technikal remix)

Some wicked tunes there Rodi….love “The Dawn” I am yet to hear Technikals remix of Jonah… sounds like a winner!! Tell us a bit about your production work, whats on the horizons? Any collaborations?

Lots on the go for me at the minute, I’ve finally moved up to Manchester and am rebuilding my studio which means I have been hard at work lately. I’ve just finished a remix for Technikal’s label of a track called “Don’t Stop” by Technikal & Helen G which has been getting really great feedback on the dancefloor. As well I have been focusing some of my time on the pop/house/trance album I’ve been working at with the rest of my group “Sound Language” www.myspace.com/soundlanguagemusic as well as my solo house/progressive alias under my real name “Benjamin Leung”. It keeps me sane working on different music styles other than hard dance all the time J

As for collaborations, I’ve done a tune with Paul Maddox for his E.P. on Tidy and one with Technikal for his album project both of which I’m extremely happy with and it was such an honor working with two top notch producers.

Small plug as well, I’m offering studio engineering so if you have ideas but don’t know how to make them a reality, then shoot me an email at rodistyle@djrodistyle.com and we’ll talk :D!

Great stuff mate, might take you up on that myself! Now heres a few questions from some Escape Get Filthy nutters…..

SULLY

Which underground websites and communities helped you progress your music production knowledge?

Definitely the defining website to my sound and productions would have to be the community/msgboard at www.bangingtunes.com Ever since I started, people on the boards have given me constructive advice on my mixes/productions as well as provide great insight into new tunes and the happenings within the UK hard dance scene. Stuff I wouldn’t know about unless I read the boards because we’re so deprived in Canada.

MATT THOMAS

What/Who are your main influences for wanting to become a world class DJ? How did u get into it, why do you love it, and where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I don’t think I ever envisioned getting to the level that I’m at right now but I think just seeing DJs playing on huge stages to multitudes of people enjoying their music has really spurred my drive to build up my DJ career. The little things inside my DJ career such as production and live sets though, have been very heavily influenced by DJs such as Eddie Halliwell/James Zabiela and producers Paul Maddox/Defective Audio. There isn’t a really fancy story about how I got into DJ’ing, I was 17 at the time and saved up some money to get a pair of Gemini PT-2100’s with a good friend of mine, and just spent hours and hours practicing in my basement.
In 5 years time I would really love to have built up a really good following, perhaps land in the top 100 and be touring around the world. Oh and also become a UK resident and be done with all this work visa shenanigans!

ALY

What is the proudest/most memorable moment of your career so far?

There’s so many it’s hard to choose 1 single moment above the rest. I would have to say being signed to Tidy as it’s a dream come true and something I thought to be unachievable due to living across the world. It’s still pretty surreal at times when I think back to when I first started DJ’ing and purchasing tracks on the Tidy label. Also when I won the “Best New Face” award. It totally felt like an “out of body” experience when I was walking up to receive the award.

WILL REES

If you could choose to go back to back with anyone who would it be?

Hmm I would have to go with one of my best mates back in Canada who goes under “Status Wan” (he’s also the other half of my “Leung & Wan” house/trance alias as well as part of “Sound Language”). He knows the way I play and can read when I will be doing a trick, at which he adds to it by complimenting my trick with something else. It’s incredibly fun when we do sets together.

For Hard Dance, I think I would have to go with Ilogik, he’s one of my main influences that got me into scratching over hard house (his old sundissential cd is ace) and he’s definitely in the “forward thinking” category of DJs that are pushing more than just regular mixing. Notable mention goes to Andy K, we did a b2b set in Lincoln which was a ton of fun, he’s amazing at scratching.

RHYS WILLIAMS

If you were stuck on a desert island, what 3 tunes would you like to have with you!?

Really tough question! I think no matter what 3 tunes I bring with me, I’d eventually get so sick of them that I’d go crazy. Off the top of my head I would have to go with…

DJ Shog – Feel Me (Inpetto remix)
The vocals are incredibly lush and it’s just one of those tracks you could close your eyes to and forget about being stuck on a desert island!

Coldplay – the Scientist
So I could sing along and not forget the English language whilst slaving away by myself on the desert island. One of my all time favorite songs as well.

Oceanlab – on the beach
Such a chilled out song, I could listen to it for hours without getting bored.

Rodi – thankyou so much for taking the time out to let us know a bit about urself… now lets let the music do the talking!!

Guys you can catch Rodi Style LIVE @ Escape Gets Filthy on September 13th @ Escape, Swansea, alongside Lisa Pin-up, Amber D, Rob Davies, Will Rees and many more… so get yourselves down there and witness it for yourself!!

CLICK HERE FOR ESCAPE GETS FILTHY! SEPTEMBER 13TH, RODI STYLE, LISA PINUP, AMBER D, ROB DAVIES, WILL REES & LOADS MORE!

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