mixing the globe
rufio rouge
interview with i.t.a.
mmm hmmm, well i’m so pleased to welcome rufio rouge, dj and pianist extraordinaire to powder. we’ve been getting down to your tunes here at the studio rufio and a lot have been raving about you, so tis an absolute pleasure to chat with one as accomplished as yourself.
Thanks, i.t.a., I'm really excited to chat with powder and appreciate the comments!
firstly, you’ve been a personal dj and pianist for characters such as ll cool j. so what’s that all about? what’s ll like? and who else have you been playing for? what stories can you tell us in regards?
I performed piano for LL Cool J and his Boomdizzle event (Boomdizzle is a record label and social networking website created by LL Cool J in 2008). During the event, I performed for the private press event at the Sony Building, playing complex piano renditions of popular hip hop songs combined with some of my favorite classical and jazz selections. It was an awesome experience, and LL is a great guy who definitely has done and continues to do a lot of positive things for music. For DJing, the last notable client I had was Broadway Theatre - a portion of my recording for their afterparty event is available on my SoundCloud. It was a lot of fun mixing the genres they requested, and an exciting addition to my other recordings that feature more scratching with different mixing approaches.
Story-wise, when I was still relatively new to the DJ nightclub circuit, I had just moved from London to Shanghai and was offered two residencies; it was an intense introduction to say the least. For one of the residencies, I would DJ for approximately 8 hours straight bi-weekly, and based on how the nightclub promoted for a particular week, I would cater music accordingly. For one particular night, the DJ who would typically open for me called out sick. I was given the chance to either just do my set, or both my set as well as the other DJ's set - I chose the latter. In addition, the theme of the night was set to host exclusive pole dancers from the area. To make a long story short, the contracted dancers didn't make it to the event, and I was left DJing for 12 hours with a very unique crowd. The typical crowd at this club consisted of local expats, but on this particular evening, I ended up with an odd mix of young local women and much older male expat counterparts. By the end of the night, all but two of the women had left while all the older male clubbers stayed. Conclusively, I learned how to mix for 12 hours straight, and blend every classic rock song back to back until both of the club's poles were destroyed. Keep in mind I typically change songs by their first chorus/hook so I mixed approximately 1200 songs that night ranging from jazz to top 40 and genre in-between. Since this particular event, I have always told clients that I am capable of mixing any genre and have had proper work experience.
the shanghai gig sounds pretty intense... constant mixing and lecherous, old expats. so you've been spinning disks around the globe - shanghai, london, new york, chicago - which city gets you going the most? which crowd lifts your game?
Yeah, definitely something different! I'd have to say that out of all the cities I have spun in, any event I do in Manhattan is always a lot of fun. I believe that all the different types of people found at venues across the city provide extremely unique musical platforms for DJs. An evening could easily start out with an eclectic mix of hip hop and progress into the latest songs back to back with classics. Depending on the venue and theme of the night, scratching records is a huge plus for me, and it is a skill that gets mixed approval outside of New York.
I have a huge respect for where the art of DJing came from, and I think the balance between mixing and technical skill is important for me as a DJ. Emulating a music player doesn't challenge me, but I believe that the process of researching and exploring the compatibility of different songs through creative mixing approaches does. People that appreciate or attempt to appreciate my perspective represent the crowds that motivate me the most.
besides scratching in manhattan, you're also a classical pianist and have been since an early age. tell us a bit about that?
I started playing piano at the age of 3, and briefly received training through my mother who taught occasionally. After a few years, I began taking my ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) exams for piano and music theory, and started studying piano at the Juilliard School on a weekly basis. During this time and up until I was 18, I spent approximately 8 to 10 hours a day practicing piano, and devoting a significant amount of time to music theory/ear training. I eventually completed all the piano levels of NYSSMA with full marks by the age of 9, and the entire sequence of ABRSM piano and music theory exams by age 11. From that point on, my dedication to the piano gave me the opportunity to attend the Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College (now known as the New School for Music), and the University of Chicago on full scholarships. At the peak of my piano career around age 15 to 17, I competed internationally in the annual Eastman Piano Competition, won the Steinway Young Pianists award twice allowing me to perform at Carnegie Hall, and won the C.W. Post Concerto Competition. To this day, I am very grateful for all the scholarships and support I received since my family came from a background that couldn't have afforded my musical education otherwise.
oh my, my, my, you started playing at such a young age and with such dedication… sounds like you were a child prodigy. so how does a gifted young pianist find themselves behind the turntables? does your piano playing come into effect when you’re spinning discs on stage today? and were people in your life ok with this change of focus?
I got interested in turntables around my last semester of being an undergraduate. A good friend of mine was a DJ (Cobra Don), and we performed a number of gigs as a DJ/drummer duo. Toward the end of performing together, I bought myself a pair of Technics for $190.00 (a great deal for the time), and a basic mixer.
My experience playing piano made learning how to DJ extremely accessible, and within a month, I was on an academic program abroad and had the opportunity to perform my first gig in Paris. I believe that learning piano first has greatly influenced the way I approach mixing and scratching, and exponentially increased the rate at which I have advanced my technical skills.
People in my life fully supported my decision to work as a DJ, and I am always thankful for them. I credit Cobra Don with showing me proper mixing techniques, and getting me interested in general. Financially, I appreciate all the odd jobs and gigs people offered me at the time. Those jobs allowed me to gradually upgrade my equipment.
so what tracks are on your turntables at the mo? which musicians are doing it for you rufio?
There are so many tracks in my crate at the moment so it's difficult to specify any particular songs, but there are plenty of musicians I appreciate.
In classical music, I am still captivated by Maurice Ravel and his collection of incredible compositions. I've been a fan of him since my work on his Gaspard de la Nuit for the piano. In recent years, I've accumulated a massive amount of hip hop ranging from Jeru The Damaja to Korean rappers such as Mr. Gae and more. I just love hearing about great music from anyone I meet in life, and connecting everything I discover.
but let's say, what are your top five tracks that you've been spinning of late?
Again, it depends on the event, but the following songs cover a broad range:
A Tribe Called Quest - Check The Rhime
Avicii - You Make Me
DJ Fresh - Earthquake (feat. Dominique Young Unique & Diplo)
Empire Of The Sun - Alive
Of Monsters and Men - Dirty Paws
and so when you're not making music or scratching records, what does rufio rouge like to get up to on a nite out in nyc?
On a typical night out in Manhattan, I really enjoy being in the company of family or friends. I love exploring new food, and doing something fun like karaoke in K-Town . As long as the food is decent and the people I'm with are happy, I know I'll have a great time. Some of my favorite places to eat include El Porton on the Upper West Side, New Wonjo in K-Town, and most restaurants in Chinatown.
so you've dj-ed at the willamsburg fashion week. what's that event like? how do you like mixing it up in the fashion world? are you fashion minded?
The event was a lot of fun, and the place was packed! I provided the music for Brittany Erb's segment so it was awesome to see her latest designs. In terms of the fashion world, I have had the fortunate opportunity to DJ for a number of clients in China, and have definitely enjoyed my experience working with them. I'd say that I'm not so much fashion minded as I am into either collecting clothes by brand, or sporting non-branded clothes I got while I was living in London - the city definitely has the best high street in the world!
ok, you've been the dj for a number of fashion clients in china and you've also been playing at the clubs in shanghai. how do you find china? what do you like to get up to when you're there? which are your favourite cities and what is the nightlife like in shanghai?
China is great, and definitely worth the experience of living there. When I was there, I really enjoyed exploring whatever city I was in, and visiting neighboring cities. One place I enjoyed traveling to was Sanya. It is an island in China that is similar to Hawaii in the U.S. I also loved Beijing for the food and landmarks such as the Great Wall. My favorite city would definitely be Hong Kong even though people always make a clear distinction between Hong Kong and mainland China.
In Shanghai, the nightlife is as good as any other major city. It offers extraordinary diversity in terms of venues and people. I would highly recommend the city and its nightlife to anyone living around the area.
so which pianists influence you and which dj-s? besides them what other aspects of culture impact upon your creativity?
The most influential pianist (more known for being a composer) for me would be Maurice Ravel. His piano works provide a perfect balance between poetic content, and technical challenge. I would highly recommend the Gaspard de la Nuit for listeners who are unfamiliar with Ravel's music. The third movement, Scarbo, is considered one of the most difficult solo piano pieces ever written (see Charles Rosen's "The Brilliant Music of Ravel"), and definitely exemplifies what I described; I will never forget about the amount of time I spent working on it! In terms of DJs, some of my favorites include DJ AM, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Spinbad, Tony Touch, DJ Cobra Don, and DJ Rukas from Uniondale. I respect all these DJs for their creativity, and technical skills. I think that besides all of these influences, all the different people I have met from around the world have had a strong impact on my creativity. Whether I met someone at a local music shop just messing around with equipment, or discovered new music through a friend, people have definitely shaped my approach to thinking and creating.
lastly, how has twenty fourteen been for you so far? and what projects do you have coming up for the rest of the year?
So far, 2014 has been awesome! I've already met a lot of new people, and have collaborating on some new and exciting music projects. One of these projects includes exploring the possibilities of blending Chinese-based harmonies with electronic instrumentation while another project will showcase the mixture of jazz and classical music structures in piano works.
so rufio rouge, it's been a pleasure chatting with you and thanks for taking the time out to speak with powder. we look forward to getting down to the beats your playing next time we catch you in a club...
It's been a pleasure speaking with you as well, and I would like to thank powder for having me. I hope to catch you all one day in the states!
check the rufio rouge site
