Me just ripping it up over a Phat tune which my lovely sister Jenni filmed. Thanx Sis, Love you XxX!
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Richard Ellegard otherwise known as Rich-E, is a 25 year old dj born and raised in Southend, Essex. He is very passionate about music and unlike most dj's is interested in the technical side of things as well as the mixing. All this is made clear in his dj sets where he brings a unique style which stands him out from the rest.
Here's what he has to say about being a dj.........
WHY DID YOU BECOME A DJ?
I've always been interested in music and a good friend of mine had a set of decks. I had a go and instantly knew this is for me. Among other things i love the idea of taking two tunes i like and being able to weave them together to create a whole new tune.
WHO INFLUENCED YOU AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A DJ?
One of my biggest influences is actually down to a good friend of mine, Maimon. He was the first person i met who had decks. I used to sit there and listen to him mix and got thinking, i want to be that person behind the decks controlling peoples emotions. The same applies really for inspiration, going to the clubs and seeing the dj's and how the crowd react to the tunes and the mixing just made me want to do it more.
HAS YOUR TASTE IN MUSIC CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED DJING?
Not really, but i will say since i started i'm more open to different genres. I was heavily into Trance when i started off and still am now, but since djing i'm quite keen on breaks too, and funky house, and hard house, in fact pretty much anything, if it sounds good then i'll like it!
HOW DID YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM THE BEDROOM TO THE CLUB SCENE?
It started at my friend Pete's bbq. His brother Dave had the decks set up and needed a break, so i volunteered. It was the first time i'd played out of my room as i'd only had my decks a few months, so i was pretty nervous. Luckily for me i seemed to be ok at it and a local club promoter Steve Coops was there too. He asked me if i wanted to play out, and from there it took off. Right time right place i guess!
HAS ANYTHING EVER GONE WRONG WHILST DJING?
Yeah things have gone wrong, it happens. From needles breaking to tripping out systems but the one that stands out was a New Years Eve night i did. I was playing the midnight set and brought with me a MD player with Big Bens 12 o Clock chimes on it. It was all planned out to perfection, so with 10 seconds to go i switched off the deck that was playing, let it wind down and hit play on the MD player. It all sounded great on the headphones but what i didn't realise was the club was silent. As soon i realised this i started up the next tune which was Robert Miles Children and to this day i think everyone still believes those few seconds of silence were planned. Luckily it went down well and no one suspected anthing had gone wrong!
WHAT NIGHT HAVE YOU ENJOYED PLAYING THE MOST AND WHY?
Every set i play i enjoy. Its the reaction from the crowd that really gets me going. The main one being my first set out of Southend to London playing @ the Fire Club for Mata Boo-Boo's first birthday. We managed to hire a bus and fill it with mates who were up for a good night. Once in there, everyone was jumping around to my set and it felt great. It really moved me and i think it showed in the way i was jumping around behind the decks. The vibe in there was so welcoming, it really was a definate one to remember.
WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES YOU STAND OUT FROM ANY OTHER DJ?
As any dj will say, what makes them different to other djs is their style. I like to challenge myself. Having a set of decks is not just about the mixing, it's about expressing yourself in a way that others will enjoy. There's a technical side about djing that has really got me hooked at the minute and i like to express this when i play like adding scratching samples and beat chopping. It opens new doors when confronted with two decks and a mixer.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE DJS?
As for the technical side of things i would have to say QBert. The skills that he possesses are unbelievable, i'm hypnotised by his technical abilties. Its just ridiculous. As for the mixing side of things a couple of djs that stand out to me are Sasha and Tiesto. The quality of mixing from these guys is exceptional and pretty much every record they put out amazing too.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE RECORD AND WHY?
For me its got to be Sasha's Xpander. It's such a beautifully made tune, even now when i hear it, it still manages to give me the tingles. I loved it before i had decks and love it even more now that i have decks. And the fact that everytime i hear it i seem to be enjoying myself at the time!
PUTTING DJING ASIDE, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST CLUBBING EXPERIENCE?
It has to be going to Ibiza, 2006 was my third year in a row i've been there for a holiday. The whole vibe on the island is an experience. Everyone's so friendly out there and the clubs are some of the best clubs in the world with the biggest djs in the world playing there night after night. I couldn't say what the best one was though, they're all brilliant for their own reasons.
DO YOU CONSIDER DJING A HOBBY OR A CAREER? AND HOW FAR DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE IT?
It started off as a hobby but then it quickly became a passion. I wouldn't say it's a career just yet, i've still got a long way to go yet. As for taking it further, it would be great to play some of the clubs i've visited as a clubber in Ibiza. Playing to some of the most up for it crowds in the world, it couldn't really get much better than that!!! I'm also proud to be a part of the Realmadclubbers team aswell as Mata Boo-Boo also. They've both got dedicated good guys behind them, so watch this space.Mata Boo-Boo is a breaks night hosted at The Royal Hotel Complex in Southend. For those of you who don't know, Mata Boo-Boo has been running for over 2 years, with resident Dj's and special guest Dj's/Producers playing new material on the nights. Its Launch night started out at Club Fire in London Feb 05 and since then has built up quite a following and reputation for fresh, funky and down right dirty ass breaks......For information and bookings contact [email protected]..
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