Beta Nightclub

The Music Ninja - Robbie Rivera

POSTED THU.MAY.03.2012

We recently headed down to Beta Nightclub (shocker, right?) to catch a set from the legendary Robbie Rivera. The Puerto Rican born DJ/Producer has a long, and storied career, and we were honored to have a chance to sit down with him. There are a few names that are synonymous with dance music, and he is most assuredly one of them.

Robbie is currently on a huge US tour promoting his new album, due out May 7th, appropriately named "Dance or Die". He has DJ/Producer duo Peace Treaty along for the ride. We watched Peace Treaty's set for a while, which was absolutely banging. Before they had a chance to finish up though, it was time to head down and talk with Robbie Rivera.

TMN: Welcome to Colorado, Robbie. What are your thoughts on playing here at Beta Nightclub?
RR: Beta is always a great place to play. I love the club in general - the room is very dark, the lighting is great, and the sound is amazing. I like the way the booth is too. I have a couch behind me, so my assistants can sit down, or I can sit down. It feels like home.

TMN: How does the crowd in Colorado compare to other places?
RR: It's a really good crowd here. They really know their music, and every time I play here they're always in my face, getting rowdy and crazy.

TMN: What's one venue that's still on your bucket list of places to play?
RR: Creamfields in the UK. I�ve never done that event.

TMN: So how is Juicy Music going? Do you have any artists on your label you'd like to give a shout out to?
RR: The label is doing great. We've been doing this for 11 years, or more now. We've had so many releases and so many artists in the past 10 years - a lot of artists that are really known right now. We're releasing two singles a month, sometimes three, some compilations.
< The only thing that's crazy is there's so much music out there now that sometimes they get lost. And there's a lot of good music out there.

TMN: Do you have any up and coming artists we should be paying attention to?
RR: I think a lot of people should pay attention to Dereo. He's been around - he's like the king in Argentina - like the Pete Tong down there. His radio show has over a million listeners.
We just a track together called Moocher. It's being released in a few weeks.

TMN: Speaking of your music, your new album, "Dance or Die" is coming out May 7th on Black Hole Recordings. Tell us about it.
RR:The album is going to be two parts. Part one is called the Album, Part two is called the Deluxe Addition. Part one has a lot of vocal anthems, like "In the Morning" with Wynter Gordon and "All We Are" featuring Blake Lewis. There's a lot of vocal anthem style tracks, and there's a lot of few underground tracks too. Like "Miami" and "Dance Your Ass Off" are very funky, electro-y, bouncy tracks.
The second edition of the album will come out pry towards the middle of summer and will have more collaborations - me and Bassjackers, me and Tocadisco, and I can't remember the rest right now!

TMN: After listening to the previews, the album seems really driven by vocals. Talk to us about the vocalists you worked with.
RR:Blake Lewis, that track, "All We Are", the vocals were written by my wife and Blake. I love Blake's voice. And the Wynter Gordon track is really good. We're doing a really cool video for that too.
I always like to release the vocal tracks because more people listen to it, and more girls listen to it.

TMN: On the other hand, your melody progressions are always beautifully composed. Were you classically trained?
RR: No. I call myself a melody maker. I sit down in front of a piano or a keyboard, and I just start playing melodies. They just come to me naturally. When I need a little extra help, I call a friend of mine to help me out. But 90% of what I do is myself. I do mostly everything - start the track, and also master it myself.

TMN:You're style of production is uplifting, happy and energetic. Does that translate into your personal life?
RR: Good question. Yeah. I like a melody that touches you. It has to make you think about something happy or even something sad. But I also like melodies and beats that are right in your face. Where I grew up in Puerto Rico, I liked all different styles of music. I grew up listening to Latin music, but also listened to a lot of bands like the Cure. But I also listen to a lot of Metallica and a lot of Nirvana. You know, banging tunes.

TMN: Alright, last question, and it's a little bit off the wall. Name one random thing about you that people aren't aware of yet.
RR: You know, I�m a very homey guy. I freakin' love to be in my house, and just sit down with my dog and wife. We like to just cook something, and sit down to watch TV. I�m out every weekend of the year, so I like to be at home.

TMN: So, what�s your favorite show?
RR: Dude, lately, it�s been Big Bang Theory. I freakin� love that show. I could watch it all day.

Download the official press release in PDF format