The king of Miami rocking his dream. Hit it
Interview : Dan Prince
You seem to have music running through your veins, born in one of the clubbing capitals of the world in Brazil and raised and born in Miami! So what’s the story here, from South to North America…?
“Haha! Yeah, I was born in Brazil but raised in Miami. Growing up I had a variety of different types of music in my household, anywhere from Samba, Axe, Classic Rock and as a teenager was into hip hop. So yeah, I grew up on a variety of genres of music.”
Tell me, as a resident of Miami, how do the locals feel when the WMC and Ultra come to town every Spring Break?
“I think the locals feel honored. For us it’s perfect. There’s people that dream of coming to Miami for WMC. We have it here every year in our backyard”
You used to be a hip hop DJ but moved into electronic sounds…
“I just was always really into hip hop but when I started producing I went straight to house music and DJing followed. I started in the underground after-hours scene down in Miami and just have progressed from there.”
So you are the producer on everyone’s lips at the moment thanks to your ‘Rock This Dream’ EP which is finally getting a release on Mixmash. DMCWORLD featured the record in our ADE BUZZ Special last October – what has taken so long dude?
“Haha! It’s a process to finish everything and timing is key for everything! It needed to be at the right time and I think right after WMC was perfect.”
Talk us through the three tunes on the EP…
“Well ‘Rock This Dream’ is something I wanted to do that’s different from anything out right now. The melody is from the movie Requiem For A Dream. It’s like a movie anthem. To me that melody is so epic. I replayed it completely and needed to add some big vocals on it and Roland Clark really fit perfect. He made one of the most classic vocals in house (I Get Deep) and it was great to be able to get him on this one. ‘Losing My Mind’ is more of a progressive side of me as I paired up with Jakob Liedholm. He’s a great producer with a lot of talent that’s up and coming as well. The vocals I got Giuseppe Viola on. ‘Viral’ is basically a cover of Led Zeppelin – ‘Cashmir’. The melody and drop is from the original track, like I said earlier, I’m a big fan of Classic Rock so I wanted to pay homage to it.”
You also enjoyed the biggest tune in Miami WMC week this year, your monstrous ‘Hit It!’ being heard everywhere. Tell us about the tune…
“‘Hit It’ being played by almost every DJ was just amazing. I remember hanging with my agent at the Owsla stage and the dubstep guys were even playing it haha. The track is a collaboration between myself, GTA & Digital Lab. It’s really surreal hearing your track being played by so many DJs. Feels great!”
What were the highlights for you from Miami week…
“I think all of WMC this year was a highlight. The birds, the parties, the energy. I played so many gigs, last year I think I had one shit gig that nobody even knew about, but this year it was just fully turned up. LIV was amazing with Laidback Luke (that’s me driving to the club below), Mansion with Porter Robinson & Mat Zo, Arkadia with Brass Knuckles, the Elektro Mag Freshman Class party.. Everything about WMC this year was amazing except for the traffic!!”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“Hmmm…I play a lot of my own tracks and unreleased stuff of mine, but if I were to name a few that aren’t mine, it would probably be
1. Dannic – Clobber
2. Daddy Groove Cryogenix – Vertigo
3.Sebjak & Marcus Schossow – Liceu
4.Alesso vs. OneRepublic – If I Lose Myself
5. Matt Zo & Porter Robinson – Easy
…and I guess thes rest are mine haha…
6. Henrix feat Roland Clark- Rock this Dream
7.Henrix- Viral
8. Henrix & Jakob Liedholm- Losing My Mind
9. Henrix GTA Digital Lab- HIT IT
10. Henrix & Darmon- Titan
You are in the middle of a cool Grid Tour right now with Bassjackers and Dyro. What’s it like being on tour with these guys, who is the bad influence?
“It’s amazing! The guys are really cool. We’ve been partying hard. I’m not sure who is the bad influence to be honest, we’re all pretty crazy.”
Some massive news for you announced a couple of weeks ago, you are playing the opening night at Cream in Ibiza with Pail; Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyk, Laidback Luke and Hardwell. This is your first time in Ibiza…what are you expecting?
“Honestly I dont even know what to expect. I’m so looking forward to it. I’ve heard so many stories from my DJ buddies. I expect insanity. Especially since its the opening party. Plus playing with Luke and Hardwell is going to be crazy.”
Be interesting to see what you make of it, it makes Las Vegas look like a school library…
“Dan, we shall see! Vegas is crazy but Ibiza is Ibiza. I dont know.”
What are the big festivals you are looking forward to in 2013?
“Ahh looking forward to many festivals, playing some that I cant announce yet, but it’s looking good and I’m looking forward to it…”
It may not be good for my image, but Henrix really loves…
“Haha – damn that’s a hard one. Umm, I’m a really big fan of Johnnie Walker Black Label. I can drink that all night.”
Not many people know this but Henrix is really good at…
“Making toast. I’m the best at putting 2 pieces of bread in a toaster and waiting 3 min for it to be done. If the mood is right ill add some butter. I’m the motherfuckin champ at that lol…”
What is the greatest record you have ever played to a dancefloor?
“Damn that’s hard to say. There has been so many genius records thats I’ve played that it’s hard to pinpoint one.”
Who are the superstars from around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“Haha I’ve met a few great DJs that I’ve come to become friends with; Tiesto, Laidback Luke, Hardwell, Steve Angello and a few others. They’re great people.”
What is the craziest request you have ever had from a clubber whilst DJing?
“At WMC this year some girl comes up to me and says I’m the best DJ she’s ever heard and then asked if I had something ratchet like “Bandsa Make Her Dance”. When I told her not tonight lol she told me…”what kind of DJ are you?” lol. Also I’ve had people come to the booth asking for a drink thinking I was a bartender or something…for future reference, I don’t mind girls asking me for drinks but when guys ask thats just weird lol…I guess I dont look like I should be behind the decks or somethin’…not sure.”
And finally, what is coming next from you studio wise?
“A lot! Have so many great collabs and already working on the next solo single and another vocal solo single. So a lot to come that I can’t speak of right now but will soon!”
Meet Henrix video…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq5nMe70DXI
http://www.facebook.com/HenrixMusic
