We talked recently with acclaimed DJ Diego Ro-K about his current The Deal EP for MFF co-produced alongside Diego Cid as D+D, his history, and thoughts on the current DJ and music culture.
Welcome to Magazine Sixty, D + D (Diego Ro-K and Diego Cid). Let’s start with how you got into DJ’ing, who were your first influences and can you tell us about some of the early clubs you played in?
I got into DJ’ing and music diggin’ about 10 years old…in my house, the music played was very diverse…from Tom Jones to Gal Costa….tango and pop, and after that Disco was the sound. My sister had Dj friends that always gave her cassettes with Disco tracks. I started to pay attention and managed to squeeze in her parties and always stayed close to the DJ booth…where I noticed the real thing was happening. And it has always the best girls around.
My first influences as I said…were disco and what I called the prev house stuff, the first 12 inches of disco etc.
Regarding the clubs… there were a lot in that late 80s time: Freedom, Rainbow, Frisbee, Manhattan, K2, Hard Rock, Palladium, D;Light, and many more… almost every avant-garde music club in that time I had something to do in them.
How would you describe the impact of Acid House/ Techno when it appeared on the Argentine club scene?
We were already on the run with Diego playing all early electronic dance music around…. from Industrial, post-punk, new wave and synth-pop, after when new beat, acid house and techno came along we spread that as much as we could, always from the underground side and feel.
Magazine Sixty reviewed the excellent D+D – The Deal EP which is a creative partnership between Diego Ro-K and Diego Cid, released on MFF. Can you talk us through the process of how you create music together? Any favourite software/hardware you use in production?
The process is very natural and with no boundaries…we came from the Dj side of the scene…although we started producing in 1991 we never had big studios or expensive gear just fresh ideas and the best influences possible in the genre. We have a humble studio with a few Roland boutique pieces (808, 909 and of course the 303) an old Yamaha CSx1 (ravey sounds), a MInilogue and a Novation bass station, and a little Tascam 8ch mixer. This ep was made in real time. We start looking for sounds and sequences and we go recording and cutting pieces we like. Then to Ableton and start to play plug-ins as well….we do this in a very old-school way. Then maybe master the track with some friends that, yes, they have a bigger studio.
How would you describe the club scene in Buenos Aires? Are there still regular/ weekly club nights (any recommendations) for people to go to, or is it more about festivals now?
Well. The scene in Buenos Aires is not far from other big capitals. A world menu DJ pack that every weekend brings 5 or more international DJs to Argentina…but…underground clubs, parties, and clandestine spots are emerging again, against this obvious and mainstream movement we have to suffer now, and that’s where we are playing again… a return to basics… as they say.
The parties at Share Open Jam to Dune Park, sound great. Can you tell us about them, and about the experience of DJ’ing there?
Dune Park is one of the best underground clubs of the last few years…3 floors with diverse proposals and technologically advanced installations…It’s gonna be D+D’s first time there.
Outside of music what are your main passions (I saw a lot of sailing on your Facebook). Do you have any favourite artists, writers, painters, etc who inspire you?
Diego Cid is a sailor…he was a very good one when he was a kid and he always wanted to get back there…so a few years ago he sold his vinyl collection (imagine that) and bought himself a sailing boat to recover memories and share new ones with Troy, his little kid.
Me, I’m a music lover and collector of old Hi-Fi audio and motorcycles. Old Ones…Enduro ones.
How do you see the future for music and how artists can continue to earn a living from their craft? In terms of the effects of streaming and how club culture is evolving/ changing?
About the future…not very happy at all….things have got a bit out of hand…new generations have to struggle with the sync buttons affair…not mixing…now previously recorded sets…media likes power…genres are getting blurred because new gens don’t give a f…..that techno is not techno. That techouse is not techouse. We should redefine everything…I always say it’s a very good time for clubbers all around the world, the circus is really big….but…not sure about the clowns anymore.
This year I’m 40 with music 1984/2024. And Diego is probably a few years more.
Download/Stream Diego Ro-K and Diego Cid – Deal EP on Bandcamp
Diego Ro-K on Facebook
Diego Ro-K on Instagram
Diego Ro-K on Soundcloud
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