Traditional house music returns! Big drums and trumpets ‘La Gente’ stylee
Interview by Dan Prince
Mr Rivera, welcome back to DMCWORLD! Where on Planet Earth are you today?
“Hi Dan! I am in San Juan, Puerto Rico taking a break from touring. I have been touring a lot so it’s good to take at least one weekend off and visit family.”
Traditional house music returns in the form of your brand new tune, ‘La Gente’ that swings our way on Juicy. Loving the fact you have gone back to your roots and produced a tribal latin house bomb, please talk us through the sound and history of this new smash…
“I am glad you guys like it. I needed to take a new approach on my work. I was tired of the current popular commercial sound that all sounds the same and are heavily supported by radio and online stores. I have produced many commercial dance tracks (now called EDM) in the past but I felt it was time to go back to my Caribbean and latino roots. I was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and I was influenced by legendary dj/producers like MAW, Morillo, Todd Terry, Armand Van Helden, Sneak, David Morales, Robert Clivilles, Roger Sanchez and Jellybean Benitez to name but a few. My first track ever released was a latin house tune called “El Sorullo.” I had been feeling the itch to go back to that sound add, on a recent flight to Brazil, I was inspired to produce a simple one note bass line track with heavy drum percussion and hard kick drum. The groove was so hypnotic that I rapidly added a distorted sax melody and then layered the same melody with a synth voice. I finished the track on the plane and mastered it at the hotel and tested it that night at the club in Sao Paulo. I fell in love with the sound and the feedback from the fans was incredible. I sent the track to my friend and musician Luis Salgado aka Louie Love in New York and he produced the vocal for me.”
And who better to remix than MAW legend Louie Vega? Why did you reach out to the man like Vega?
“I wanted Louie to listen to the track because he would understand the music and the idea of bringing this latin tribal house style back to the forefront. To be honest, approaching Louie was quite nerve wrecking due to my shyness and the respect I have for him as a producer. I remember a few years ago when I was boarding a plane from Barcelona to Ibiza and I said hello to him. He was very humble and cool so I approached him via twitter as I noticed he followed me. Fast forward to a couple of months ago, I decided to send him “ La Gente” and he loved it so he agreed on remixing the song. I am very happy with the remix because he used the original sax and horn melodies but created a simple yet effective tribal groove with a hypnotic feel that just makes you shake your booty. Louie recently told me how awesome it has been playing the remix at Pacha in Ibiza which is a perfect room for this sound.”
Soundcloud link…
https://soundcloud.com/robbierivera/robbie-rivera-feat-louie-love-la-gente-louie-vega-main-mi
‘La Gente’ is the record that just keeps on giving with even more remixes lurking in there, please talk us through the Sonny Wharton, Dezerate, Dero and Oscar G reworks…
“I like having my tracks remixed by others so I always hit up some of my producer colleagues. Every producer who worked this track did so without hesitation. In fact they were all excited to actually remix a track and do what they do best. All I said to them was “no EDM style please” even though I knew they would have never taken that route. I just had to make sure. Oscar G did a great drum mix, Dero went old school, Sonny added a new funky bassline and Dezarate went a bit dark. All remixers, however, kept the tribal house style which was my wish all along.”
A quote from Fatboy Slim about the record…“Electronic house. What a refreshing prospect! EDM is dead, long live EH!” How does it feel to have created a new genre with one record???
“Norman Cook has supported so many of my tracks in my career. I was so happy that he liked this one. He played it at Amnesia Terrace and I heard though the grapevine that it went off. His quote is perfect for today’s scene. If only I had a hundred dollar bill for all the DJs that tell me the same quote: “EDM is dying”…”
In an interview a while back you said…“ : I think EDM is one of the best types of music in the world because it simply makes you want to dance…period.” With that in mind, what are your thoughts on the US and EDM now that the dust has settled and these kids are slowly starting to discover other strands of dance music…?
“I guess that what I meant at the moment was Dance Music in general, electronically produced music with a dance beat. The industry had recently coined the name and decided to put all of the dance genres under one “EDM” umbrella. I guess I wanted people to understand what I was talking about: dance music! Well in the US, I honestly can give you my opinion on the scene in one word: “annoying.” Everything changed hard and fast. A lot of the music became below par and the producers became djs in three months and most have no idea what it is to be a dj. So much drama and hating on facebook and twitter it was pathetic and funny as well. But you know what Dan? In America many kids want to be djs when they grow up simply because they want to party and get laid. I never had this thought when I was thinking about working in the biz. I started making beats and editing music when I was 13. I wanted to both produce music and dj and I am fortunate to have been able to make a career of it. For me it was about making people happy on the dance floor. Today in America, the dance music scene is all about power, politics and money. Young clubbers, nonetheless, are noticing that other styles of music can make you jump. About five months ago I deleted all EDM tracks from my USB drives except my own original classic productions. Unfortunately, they have now been categorized as EDM even though they date way before the name existed. I only add house tracks to my repertoire. I have been playing all over North America in large venues, small college venues and festivals. Dan, all the kids love house music as well, not just EDM. The problem lies on the many DJs and club owners who don’t have the balls to change, to take some risk and maybe educate a bit. I played the other day to a sold out show in Charlotte. The promoter tells me “Wow Robbie, amazing set! I did not recognize any of the tracks. Everybody I book plays the same”! I get this comment weekly.”
You were on tour in Brazil during the World Cup, you’ve visited the country many times before and we all know it’s crazy…but what’s it like during a World Cup???
“There was a great party energy in Brazil. The people were in party mode all the time. Playing in Sao Paulo during the World Cup was amazing. I also played other cities so it was hectic because airports were so busy. I did see a lot of Americans which was great! I supported my USA team 100%.”
You spent the whole of July spinning in the US in cool places such as Space, Ruby Skye and The Melrose Ballroom. Most people head over to Europe to check out the festivals, Ibiza, Croatia and Mykonos…why did you opt out this year?
“Well I didn’t really opt out this year, the problem was I was already booked in advance in the US. I had 3 offers to play Pacha in Ibiza but all of the dates they had offered conflicted with the ones I had contracted in the US. I would have had to cancel shows. I will be heading to Europe this winter and I am very excited about that.”
It’s that time of year again, the annual DJ Top100. I interviewed Arthur Baker this week, he remarked…“there are too many DJs and genres for a realistic competition – it needs to split”. What are your thoughts on that – do you give a shit any more?
“I do not give a rat’s ass about it anymore. I have been touring weekly for so long and this has not affected my career. I post the link to vote on my social media and if it happens great, if not, well whatever. People talk about it for 2 weeks and then forget. I rather work on getting my music on radio than on a magazine’s chart that nobody will ever know if it’s 100% legit if you know what I mean. By the way what Mr. Baker says is true. I have so much respect for him.”
What are your 5 big tracks in your box right now?
1.The Magician feat. Years & Years-Sunlight
2.Robbie Rivera-La Gente
3.Harry Romero-Tania-Filteheardz mix
4.Bad Boy Bill-Can you feel it
5.Robbie Rivera Feat Caroline D More-Manipulate me (Jose de Mara mix)
A recent quote from a certain superstar DJ…“I believe true DJing is actually an art, but it’s a dying art, as everyone is pushing the sync button…it’s a real shame when you see a ‘DJ’ plug his laptop in and call this DJing. Music will always evolve but sometimes not in the best way.” What are your thoughts on that?
“I agree with this quote. It’s sad that so many new so called DJs just hit play. I actually booked an artist at one of my events who uses a laptop. The DJ playing after him arrived late. He said “I do not have anything else to play what do I do?” I have also seen DJs play sets from their USB that are already mixed. They just move knobs and raise their hands. Well you know what Dan? I honestly don’t care about these acts. They wont be around long.”
What is the last great studio toy you bought yourself?
“A Porsche 911. It’s where I test my tracks. Does this make it a studio gear? Jajaja…”
What is the record that…
…reminds you of your childhood?
New Order-Bizarre Love Triangle
…always get you dancing?
Jaydee-Plastic Dreams
…reminds you of being broken hearted?
EDM tracks
…you wish you would have made?
Kiesza – Hideaway
The last up n’coming DJ/producer you have seen that we should be looking out for…
“Honestly don’t have any one at the moment to tell you. Me? LOL.”
And finally, what is coming out next from yourself and Juicy release wise?
“I have “La Gente” out now and the remixes will be coming out the first week of September. My other piano house single called “That Summer-Kiss the Rain feat. Caroline D Amore” is available now. For winter I have a new single called “The Thing” that is going to make you groove your ass off and also make you laugh with the vocal!”
Thank you dude, a great interview as always!
“Thanks to you Dan, Guy and the DMC crew for your support all these years.”
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https://soundcloud.com/robbierivera
https://www.facebook.com/robbierivera
https://twitter.com/robbierivera
http://instagram.com/robbierivera
Beatport link for main mix:
http://www.beatport.com/track/la-gente-original-mix/5620863
