Let DJ Rodge lead you to the music

Have you been to Stereo Arcade on Fridays? Go. This Friday. Thank us later. DJ Rodge brings his incredible 80's night with a twist to Dubai every Friday and we couldn't be more grateful for a unique throwback that will keep us on the dance floor.

Other than being very talented, there are two other reasons we love Rodge. First it's his passion, clear when his eyes lit up as he talked about the legendary Freddie Mercury as an inspiration. Second and just as important, Rodge is incredibly humble for a DJ pioneer in the Middle East.

Rodge started his own radio station Mix FM in 1996 which helped propel his DJ career and amass his current impressive following. Today Rodge is one of our most celebrated DJs with multiple weekly residencies. He's also opened for some amazing international acts which include Sia, Shakira, Sting, Chris Brown, Ellie Goulding, Jason Derulo and Enrique Iglesias as well as playing alongside David Guetta, Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, and W&W. Impressed yet? Well, there's more to come with his latest single Done Looking for Love, released this month with Universal Music MENA.

City Times managed to catch Rodge just before he got on a plane for a performance in Egypt to ask him all about the regional music scene, the Dubai crowd and why music is so important.

The Dubai Crowd
They are so similar like everywhere else especially in Stereo Arcade. I do an 80s night that I also do in Lebanon. The crowd is really up for it, they sing along and it's really a great vibe. I've played before in different clubs in Dubai, like a few years ago and you don't know what to expect. Sometimes, the people are very hip, the crowd is up for it and sometimes they just like showing off.

Regional DJ Scene
It's really moving and it's catching up with the international DJ scene, which is incredible. DJs are now like superstars. If you compare Calvin Harris to any other artist that sings and performs and all of that, you'd see that Calvin Harris is at the same level although he's a DJ and producer. So these days creating music doesn't reflect on the idea that you're a musician and a singer. You can be a creator. Now, in the Middle East ,it is growing, but we don't have big name DJs yet. I'm hoping to be one of them, I'm trying.

Public & Personal lives
In the past I used to be low profile. I've been a DJ for a couple of decades and when Social Media started I used to be very low profile. I didn't like to expose everything. Things have changed. Your fans need to follow you and need to get in touch with what you're doing on a regular basis. An artist or any kind of celebrity in fashion, in music, in movies - they have to keep their news out there. You need to refresh your news all the time. I do expose myself now but of course with moderation. For instance a couple of weeks ago, I was in Cannes, Mikonos, Dubai, Egypt and Beirut in five days. I did the full live feed from each party. You have to do it because its part of your job to share the experience so people understand you more and live the experience with you.
Musical Inspiration
There are thousands out there. I started in the 80s, so I was affected by every single artist from the rock scene like Bon Jovi and Journey and all the legends of rock music. I don't like heavy rock but I like some Guns N' Roses and Queen. I adore, Freddie Mercury, for me, he is the best singer out there. I just remixed Bohemian Rhapsody and it's killing the dance floor but I haven't released it officially yet.

On your playlist?
I listen to everything. I like a good song. A good song, means something. But I wouldn't necessarily follow a certain artist these days.
 
Anatomy of a DJ
You have two parts to a DJ. You have the artist part, the composer, which means the production part and you have the live part. With the composing, you need to create something that people would sing, would enjoy, would dance to, would listen to in their car or home or phone while not thinking you're a DJ, while mixing you up with any other artist. If you do that and you succeed in that, it means you made it somehow. In a DJ set, the main goal is to motivate people to dance and to enjoy the night from the moment they get into the club to the moment they leave the club. And this is the challenge of the DJ.

DJ Advice
So many DJs play from the heart and many do it as a job. I would say for a DJ who does it as a job it's not fun, not for him and not for the people. Love it, if you want to do it, love it. Don't do something you don't love. Don't do it for the money. Some would want to be DJs because they are motivated, they are passionate about music, they love music, to those I would say, do it, but try to have a side job if you're in this region. However, for the guys who think it's cool to be a DJ, that chicks will like them, and all that. No, that's not the idea of a DJ. It takes more than that. Love it before you do it.

Universal Music MENA
This is my first release with Universal Music MENA, and it is a great motivation for me  to have my debut released to the world via a major record label and to start such an international journey. I'm doing everything I can for the track to reach as many countries and as many people as possible, including DJs I know, my music is sent out there and I hope it will get the traction and gets played all over the world.

Local Talent
I already met with a few in the region for my next tracks and I'll be choosing one or two from them. I would love to work with celebrities that are big in the business. Hopefully one day I will get to reach them cause that's also one of the goals. Sometimes with a big artist you'll hear their track, and think 'wow if they just switched that part to that part in the chorus or in the bridge . . .' When you know you have that "thing", you just feel how cool would it be to share it with big names and other people.
Music Power
Music is the only thing that keeps us together. When I do big concerts and DJ events, I'm amazed at people who were arguing and suddenly are united and jumping in the same rhythm in the same second, waving their arms up, forgetting about what they were arguing about. That's music. It's the best thing that can ever exist. People who love music are blessed. If you're sad, you can just put on a song you like and that's it. It changes your whole mood. I escape from any stress or anything by putting on a song. Music is the best therapy in the world.