Hey Robbie, you are renowned for setting dancefloors alight around the world with your sexy grooves… what have been your favourite clubs you’ve jammed out over the years?
“I have played in so many clubs over the years, the one’s that I remember and are special in my heart to me are Vanguard in Los Angeles, Crowbar in Buenos Aries, Amnesia in Ibiza, Space in Miami, Mansion in Miami, Pacha in New York, Green Valley in Brazil, The Gallery @ Turnmills in London, Crowbar in Chicago, On Broadway in San Diego, The Mixclub in Paris, Catwalk in Barcelona, Fabrik in Madrid, Nikki Beach in Miami, Pacha – obviously in Ibiza, Pacha in Egypt too and Yalta in Bulgaria. All brilliant and a pleasure to play at.”
The last few years has seen the UK hit hard with diminishing numbers out in clubland, how have you found clubs around the globe you’ve been DJing at in the last couple of years?
“I haven’t seen any change in the shows I have been at, to be honest with you Dan, I have found numbers on the up with more people wanting to hear the ‘Juicy Music’ sound. I was in the UK this Summer and it was really good…”
You have remixed some of the biggest music stars ever – Madonna, Kylie, Faithless, Felix Da Housecat, Basement Jaxx, Pink.. .the list goes on and on. Which of your remixes are you proudest of?
“I really enjoyed remixing Basement Jaxx’s ‘Do Your Thing’. I am very proud of that remix and I think I did a great job. Kylie’s mix was a lot of fun to work on as well, Pink was very difficult to work with however.”
What is the record that has never left your box in 2008?
“Easy, Faithless ‘Insomnia'”
You have DJ’d everywhere – but what was Tunisia like?
“Well Tunisia is great in the Summer, many tourists from Russia, Francy, Egypt, Germany and Italy. The people from Tunisia love the big house sound. I play there every Summer and love it every time.
What DJs that play tunes outside of your music style do you have big respect for?
“Tiesto, Dubfire, Sven Vath, Oakenfold, Armand Ven Helden and The Chems.”
What record always make you cry?
“Hey – I don’t cry, maybe emotional on some of the soulful sounds I spin”
Your ‘Juicy Music’ events are seminal – Ibiza, Miami and beyond… tell us about the best parties you’ve put on and what is around the corner for the brand?
“Every time my team and myself organise ‘Juicy Beach’ at Nikki Beach, the event attracts around 5000 people for 17 hours of house music. We’ve had DJs like Bob Sinclar, Swedish Mafia, Benny Benassi and Sander Van Doorn. I’ll tell you, it is so much fun to do this event. The only stress is dealing with all of the agents and DJ egos, but I dea with it. We also do ‘Juicy Ibiza’ at Amnesia in Ibiza on the Terrace every Sunday, we get a mixture of Italians and cool Spaniards, we are planning on doing ‘Juicy Beach’ in Miami and Ibiza again in 2009.”
You were born in Puerto Rico, how did you get access to the music that let the world revel to one of the best DJs in the world? What music turned you on back then and had you dancing around as a teenager?
“When I was 15, I started buying music at a small shop in San Juan called ‘Ibiza’. They would import all the Euro music and there was another store that would bring the US sound like early Masters at Work, David Morales etc. My early vinyls were Erasure ‘Oh Lamour’, New Order ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’, Depeche Mode ‘Strange Love’ then the Strictly Rhythm releases took over with Morillo’s “I Like To Move It”, CLS ‘Can You Feel It’. It was a great time for dance music. By the way, nobody taught me how to beatmix, I learned it by mistake! I was like “holy shit” – this is so cool!!!”
You spin Electro, House, Funk, Tribal and Progressive House… what is your favourite sound you play?
“My favorite sound is “sexy, energetic pounding melodic sounds (the Robbie Rivera sound). Right now I play Progressive House with Tribal and Electro House influences.”
What get’s put on the Robbie Rivera sound system when you get home from work? Are there for example any albums on there we wouldn’t expect?
“This what I have on my ipod… Coldplay, The Whitest Boy Alive, Bob Marley, Moloko, Royksop, The Police, Dady Yankee, Juanes, Miguel Bose, ACDC, The Clash, U2, Timberland, Ne-Yo, Erasure and Black Uhuru.”
Your discography takes about two hours two read – best tune you’ve done?
“Robbie Rivera ‘Funkatron’ on Subliminal…”
2000 – a great year for you with your ‘Bang’ tune, going all the way to number one. Wow, The Sydney Olympics used it so much… what is the story behind the tune.
“Well I was in my tiny studio in Miami and played the piano melody. I did a Tribal banging mix to it and played it out. The reaction during WMC was insane and a bidding war between record labels started – the good old days of WMC! I made a LOT OF MONEY!!!! We added simple vocals and it took off and was a huge commercial hit for me. It will be released with new mixes in 2009.”
What has been your best club you’ve DJ’d at in the UK ever?
“Back in the day, The Ministry of Sound”.
Where are you living right now?
“Six months of the year Miami, the other six Ibiza… a great life.”
What is the one song EVER RECORDED would you really like to remix?
“U2’s ‘Where The Streets Have No Name”
What will 2009 and Mr Rivera bring us?
“My new album! More banging ‘Juicy’ tracks and a few surprises along the way…”
