Massive album and single ‘Closer To The Sun’ zooming our way in November…
Robbie, thank you for coming into the DMC World. Born in a country not associated with DJing – you bought yourself some turntables at an early age and taught yourself to DJ – then venturing out to play at weddings and school parties…what were those days like playing in front of people so different to who you play to now?
“Growing up in Puerto Rico and DJing school events and house parties ,provided me with the knowledge of how to entertain a crowd. It is much different and better now! I get to play in the best clubs and events in the world. Much better than a wedding – ha ha ha!!”
Who were the musical influences/artists/DJs that made you want to buy that first set of turntables in the first place?
“Well when I was 13, I went to my sister’s Senior Prom Graduation Party. This is where I first saw the art of DJing and beatmixing (which I taught myself accidently), the tunes that were big and that influenced me were: Depeche Mode, ‘People are People’ and ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’. Also New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’, Erasure’s ‘Oh L’Amour’, Bronski Beat’s ‘Hit That Perfect Beat’, Masters at Work’s ‘I Can Get No Sleep’ – and many more.”
Your first track you released was ‘Sorullo’ – a track influenced by Latin House – which artists from THAT scene made you want to produce a record of that genre?
“I was really into artists like 2 In A Room & C&C Music Factory during this time. The first track I released “el sorullo” had a Latin House vibe but was more of a hardhouse tune with a Spanish vocal hook that was very catchy. I released it on my label Juicy since no label wanted it at that time. It did open the doors to many prominent labels like Cutting Records & Strictly Rhythm.”
What was the story behind the initial family move from Puerto Rico to Miami?
“I lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico ’till I finished high school in 1992 and decided to move to Fort Lauderdale, Miami area to become a recording engineer. I enrolled in the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and got an associate degree on Music Production in 2 years. Then I studied at Nova Southeastern University and got my Bachelor’s degree in Business administration. So basically I went to Florida to study and to work in the music world.”
What are the big 10 tunes you are playing right now?
1. 68 beats – Number 7- Juicy Music
2. Robbie Rivera- Closer to the Sun – (George Acosta mix) – New State
3. HCCR, Jose Nunez & MYNC- (Boogers-Avicii’s Dumb Dumb remix) – CR2
4. Willie Morales feat Mr Eyez – L.O.V.E- (Main mix) – Juicy Music
5. Robbie Rivera feat. Fast Eddie – Let Me Sip My Drink – New State
6. Dero – 1,2,3,4 (Main mix ) – Juicy Music
7. Jump Smokers & Pitbull – Now You See It – (Robbie Rivera Shake That Ass mix) – Ultra
8. DJ Ralph vs Avicii-Break Da Floor – Juicy Music
9. DMS12 – The Box – Juicy Music
10. Lizzie Curious – Meant To Be -(Arias mix) Juicy Music
Best club you have ever played at?
“There are too many so I will mention just three of my favorites. Vanguard LA, Amnesia Ibiza and Guvernment-Toronto.”
What country that you have visited in for the first time to DJ in, that really surprised you recently?
“I played in Prague a couple of weeks ago for the first time and was in shock with the amount of fans and the number of requests of Rivera tunes!”
Best DJ you have ever played alongside?
“Tiesto and Joachim Garraud. Played b2b with Tiesto in Ibiza and with Joachim in Miami. AMAZING.”
First record you ever bought?
“Men at Work – ‘Business As Usual’.
What did it feel like seeing/hearing your monster of a tune ‘Bang’ being played at the 2000 Sydney Olympics?
“It was very exciting to hear that my tune ‘Bang’ was being played during the Games. It also went top 20 there and top 20 in the UK. We will be remixing this song for 2010.”
How was your residency this Summer at ‘Juicy’ at Privilige in Ibiza – what were the best nights?
“It was great and challenging to take such a big club and to promote on a Tuesday during a recession. But it was great and the best night was having Dero from Argentina and Alex Gaudino in August.”
You have remixed some legends – Basement Jaxx and Nelly Furtado being two – what do you site as your best ever remix – and also, what one record out there would you really like to remix?
“I think the best remix that I have ever done is RES-THEY SAY VISION. I took a sweet vocal melody, added a simple piano and bassline with my trademark compression effect. It sounded great and it went to Number 1 on the Billboard Dance Chart. I would love to remix U2 ‘New Year’s Day’.”
Now then, your discography. Oh my goodness. It would take someone a year to go through your seminal releases – tell us your favourite 5 tunes and why they mean so much to you…
“I have done so many tracks and I seriously believe nobody has done more. My Top 5 are…
1. R.Rivera ‘Grooves ‘Funkatron’ on Subliminal Records.
I did this track with one keyboard/sampler-workstation in two hours. I shopped it to various labels in the UK and the US and was turned down for being too hard or wierd. Well, Erick Morillo’s Subliminal Records released it and made it a hit for me. Then Benny Benassi copied it and made tonnes. The first time I met Benny he told me he was heavily inspired and tried to copy it. Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve Angello also mentioned how much it influenced them, The song still gets played and it does not sound outdated.”
2. Robbie Rivera ‘First The Groove On’ Filtered.
This was also a tune that is very special for me. I started using the filtering effect on disco samples with my House beats. This gave me the name “the filtered king” by DJ Mag – and also got me my first Ibiza gig at Pacha.”
3. Robbie Rivera ‘Feel This’ on Strictly Rhythm.
OK, this was a simple track. Big tribal drums with a 1 note synth and a vocal snippet. I sold this track to a small label in NYC for 400 dollars. Two years later I bought it back, remixed it and sold it to Strictly for $25,000. It went Number 1 the Billboard top 100 Dance Chart. I heard it last year at DC10 and ‘Cocoon’. Then I heard PVD was playing it.”
4. Robbie Rivera ‘Bang’
The was my first top 20 track in the UK. It went to number 13 and I got to do Top of the Pops! Also did interviews at Radio One, MTV TRL, BBC, Pepsi Chart show and many more! Also my first video.
5. Robbie Rivera ‘The Main Room – Part 1 on Juicy.
Very progressive and minimal. Carl Cox and Tiesto rocked it this past Summer. The weird thing is that it sold terrible! – hahaha.”
You have used so many aliases over the years – The Freak, Funk Bandit, Keylime, Loopmart, Tribal Crew, Wicked Phunker, Metalhead, Anima – I could go on and on. Why use so many different names?
“It is simple. I like to release a lot of music and I don’t want to have 8 Rivera releases a month.”
What is next studio wise from Mr Rivera…?
“I will be working on some remixes for tracks on my label and working on a new album under the 68Beats alias. I will also be working with a famous artist that I cannot say.”
Closer to the Sun (Album and Single) released 2nd November on New State Music
www.robbierivera.com
