Presenting to PDF "DJ Redd"

[DJ Freddy]

Ben Rojas aka "DJ Redd"

For 20+ years, I’ve been addicted to the one's and two's. Over the span of my career, I performed at some of South Florida's legendary bars & clubs: 1235, Club Nu, Johnny's All Star, Coaches, Moe's Cantina and most notably Dan Marino's American Sports Bar & Grill. Throughout the early 90's, Coconut Grove was the place to be... And Marino's Thursday College Night was thee place to party. It was there that I made a name for myself spinning an eclectic mix of Alternative, Dance, Retro, Rock, Hip Hop and Electronica. College kids ate it up and Marino's had a 6 year run... An eternity by South FL. standards! In the late 90's, I moved over to Sticky Fingers -- owned by Rolling Stones great Ron Wood -- and continued my Thursday "College Night" reign. Along with Thursday’s, I took on Friday & Saturday nights as well, which brought me back to my roots - dance music. There began my love of "House" and a Y2K return to the SoBe scene.


These days, I’ve swapped mixing music for a living to editing films and directing commercials.

Busy at work and busy being a dad, it’s a struggle to find time for my passion: mixing, remixing and producing music. Normally every summer, you can catch me spinning "Beach House" at Mamitas Beach Club in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico -- www.mamitasbeachclub.com

Peace, Love & Happiness!

REDD

Well I had a chance to catch up with this amazing talent here in Sunny Miami, Florida. I have had the opportunity to spin along side DJ Redd and I will tell you that this guy is amazing. See for yourself and listen to his shows either on www.clubmegamixradio.com or his Podcasts on iTunes. I have been a good friend of DJ Redd for a few years but never knew how Ben got started in the music business. I was excited to know that he was accepting my invitation to be interviewed.


Ben, how did DJ Redd become a Disc Jockey?

I believe it was 1980 when I started grabbing my sister's stereo (turntable, cassette deck, receiver & speakers) and butted it up against my parent's enormous furniture-style stereo (long piece w/ built-in receiver, 8-track, turntable & speakers). Basically I would turn the volume up/down on either stereo and crossed between songs. Eventually my parents got fed up w/my sis constantly yelling at me to leave her stereo alone and bought me my own stereo.

What did your first DJ equipment consist of?

Around the same time I got my first stereo, my sister moved out and left me her system. Now I had 2 turntables side by side! I quickly saved up for a Radio Shack mixer and the rest is history.

What does your present equipment consists of?

These days, I mobile light, if I mobile at all! I can't imagine carrying crates of records anymore so "have laptop, will travel" ;O) My studio consists of 2 Tech.12's, 2 Pio. CDJ-800's, a Pio. DJM-400, M-Audio Torq, Ableton and 17" MacBook Pro. The booth outputs to my Mac Pro workstation running Final Cut Studio for my Film & Video Editing, which includes Soundtrack Pro for audio & multi-track mixing.

What DJ did you learn from or shadowed when you first got into the profession?

The "DJ scene" wasn't as big back then as it is today... LOL, there certainly was no YouTube so you could checkout a DJ out! You pretty much had to sneak into a club, make your way to the booth and watch the DJ in action. I don't remember the name of the local "Big Daddy's" type lounge I had in my neighborhood, but I got in there several times to watch the guy spin. That's the first time I saw a Bozak... It was love at first sight! Later, as I started sneaking into some of S. FL legendary clubs: Pete & Lenny's, 94th Aero Squadron and arguably the best club in Miami -- Casanovas. If I had to pick a DJ that influenced me, Ciro Llerena. To this day, it is an absolute pleasure to hear the man mix it up.

How many years have you been spinning professionally?

I've always considered my "professional" experience when I started spinning in clubs in 1989, so 23 or so years. But if I go back to my first payed mobiles in 1983 -- LOL, I remember it vividly because I couldn't drive yet so my dad took me -- I've been pro for 26 years.

How was the experience like when you first spun for a live audience?

There is nothing like spinning to a live audience, period. No drink... No drug... Nada! I remember opening night at Johnny's All-Star Sports Club & Grill in the Kendall Town & Country Center so vividly it's scary! This place was HUGE and never having spun for such a large crowd (1K), I must have puked my brains out prior to performing! That rush was amazing and to this today is still exciting as ever... LOL, I just don't puke anymore ;o)

Were you nervous when you that first time and how did you handle those nerves?

Again, I hurled like nobody's business! I think for several years I'd get sick to my stomach prior to a big gig, but never like the first time. To this day I still get butterflies, but a couple of Goose
& Cran's and good to go ;O}

What music does DJ Redd enjoy to spin the most and why?

I'm a HouseHead through & through. Don't me wrong, I love classic anything - Disco, Freestyle, Retro-Alternative - but these days I'm happy when I'm tweakin da house!

How do you compare today’s dance music to the 80’s and 90’s?

The 80's & 90's, and today for that matter, are products of Disco. There is no getting around the fact that the evolution of electronic music came from the amazing dance music of the mid to late 70's. Case in point, Giorgio Moroder's "The Chase", Voyage's "Souvenirs" or Cerrone's "Supernature"; throw a house beat underneath and those tracks are as hip as ever! As for the 80's, the beautiful thing is that Freestyle held on to lyrics, which in my view is what made it so successful. The 90's became more electronic and lyrics started taking a backseat to the "art of sampling". LOL, I call it the Techno 90's. What I love about the 90's was that underground house music was taking form. I was spinning alternative music throughout the 90's, but more & more DJ's like Tony Humphries, Todd Terry and one of my all time favorites - Frankie Knuckles, were really starting to influence my direction in dance music... Which is exactly how ended up being a HouseHead ;o)

Where was the first club you were spinning at and how did you get the gig?

Throughout the late 80's I'd being doing mobiles; especially for College type parties being held at clubs around S.FL., but it wasn't until 1989 that the opportunity to spin at new & revolutionary sports club came up. While taking a Sound Engineering class at Miami Dade Community College, a classmate mentioned a new club opening up near by the campus. I followed up, worked feverishly on a demo cassette and got the residency at Johnny's All-Star Sports Club.

How difficult is it for a DJ to get work spinning at a club and what process should they take?

Now a days, it's got to be near impossible to walk off the street and get a gig! You need to know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone ;o) It's about networking! It's sad, but you pretty much have to work for next to nothing, in as many places as possible and hope you get noticed.

Do you have a mix show or a link to your mixes so members can listen to them?

While I don't host or spin on my own show like my days on ClubMegaMixRadio.com. You can always find my Podcasts on iTunes under DJ:REDD or REDD: the eclectic soul.

Are you looking to spin at a club now or in the immediate future?

My life is plenty hectic these days with 2 little ones running around, but every chance I get I head south to Mamitas Beach Club in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Resident DJ Lukas and Owner
Jorge Marzuca always welcome me with open arms. The Mexican Riviera is a mecca for electronic music... They can't get enough of it! I'll be there next month and hopefully again in August.

What is in store for DJ Redd in the near future and shall we see you spinning in Ibiza 2012?

LOL, no, don't think so... The closest I'm gonna get to Ibiza is Playa ;O) Closer to home, I'm currently working on new "Chillout" mixes that will be featured at Elle's in Miramar. Elle's is a new Bistro & Bar that will open in early Spring. I'll be making guess appearances on a regular basis.

If you could give advice to someone interested in getting into the profession, what advice can you give them?

Have fun! Do it 'cause you love it! If fame & fortune are in the cards, it'll happen... If not, you'll make a buck here or there and love every minute along the way. Even if you don't make a dime, you'll be part of an amazing community of individuals that love the art of DJ'ing.

[DJSAZON]

Great Interview.

[djescobar973]

Redd is the Man!!!

[dj_redd]

Originally Posted by djescobar973

Redd is the Man!!!

LOL, the old man

[Spazz]

Excellent interview Freddy. Redd is the man. These interviews give us a different perspective when guys give us a little insight into their world.

[DJ Al B Bad]

Nice interview and great to get to know Redd more intimately – you brought back a lot of memories (Furniture Style Stereo….damn son I thought we were the only ones that had one of those )

[dj_redd]

Originally Posted by DJ Al B Bad

Nice interview and great to get to know Redd more intimately – you brought back a lot of memories (Furniture Style Stereo….damn son I thought we were the only ones that had one of those )

LOL, I wish I had a photo for a really good laugh

[djjluv]

Really great interview! Love to know how much experience is all around us here on PDF. Thanks

[JJ]

Great interview. I especially love that DJ Redd has been in the game so long and he still loves it. Photos of DJ Redd in front of his equipment would have been nice. Pictures off him spinning (current and from the 80's & 90's) and the equipment would have been great as well.

"...sneak into a club, make your way to the booth and watch the DJ in action." This brings back some memories.

"Do it 'cause you love it!" You got to many new D.J.'s that try to do it for the girls, money or fame. No skill when you can just hit the SYNC button. Very Sad.

[DJ Freddy]

Originally Posted by JJ

Pictures off him spinning (current and from the 80's & 90's) and the equipment would have been great as well.

Great idea! I will make it happen.


Yo Redd, send me the pictures you have on facebook when you were spinning at that club. Also send me that clubmegamix picture that we took at my house when we had that setup with all the toys..

In the future I will ask for pictures from the DJ.

Thanks JJ.