14 FAKTS INTERVIEW WITH

ROCKY VALENTE

Rocky Valente Socials

Hi, my name Is Rocky Valente, I'm an artist with a big addiction to music and performing... I live between Amsterdam and Lisbon where I raise my family... I believe in the power of music, and people with dreams... I’m a vegetarian, strong, funny, silly and a good friend... But I can't explain to you who I am as an artist: you need to experience that for yourself!

 

Q: Analog or Digital and why?

A Combination... I feel analog is more "real" but Digital is a reality... 

Q: Favorite Club/Venue and why does it stand out from the rest?

I don't have a favorite venue... But I have to say my favorite gigs were when I toured Asia, India or the Philippines... because they have less opportunities than general party people in Europe so when they go out they really commit to it and have an amazing time. They make you feel like the biggest star on the planet too. Lovely amazing people. I can't wait for South America too.

 

Q: What was the driving force that got you into DJing/Producing and when?

Opportunity ... I had friends who DJ a lot and I was doing a lot of TV and presenting at that time, and I was often invited to host parties. I have to confess I didn’t like that side of it, so I wanted to combine my skills with something else in that scene. DJing made sense in that moment. But after a few gigs I loved it so much, I left everything else to focus just on DJing. That’s my story since 2008.

 

Q: If you were to have a superpower, what would it be and why?

Living without the need for sleep. I sleep 5 to 6 hours a day so not a lot, but I would love to not need to sleep at all, then I could do so much more!

 

Q: Favorite Dish?

I’ve been working on a special "production", my vegan risotto... it’s risotto made with loads of tomato, mushrooms and you can add asparagus. Amazing!

 

Q: What’s your biggest fear while performing?

That my gear will have a problem or fail... I was playing at Summer Park festival this year and we lost electricity twice during my set... It was terrible.

 

Q: 1 person you’d dream to have a coffee with?

Ida Engberg ... We are both mothers, artists, and are both doing our best to teach our kids how to preserve our planet... We’d have a lot to speak about, and I believe she is a beautiful soul too. My favorite moment of another DJ’s set this summer was seeing her kids dancing when she was playing ... I know the feeling ... Many years ago nobody could imagine mothers could be doing this, so our times are changing dramatically.

Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score from the past, what movie would you choose and why?

Trainspotting! Because I can give even more flavor to that amazing history and picture of the 90's ... To be honest I finally understood the film when I watched back a few years as an adult and everything makes more sense than it did when I was much younger watching it!

Q: Recommend a Hidden Gem in your Home country

The Old Lisnave. It’s a ship maintenance, repair and conversion site from the 60's that’s been empty for years... But the location is insane, it doesn’t get more techno than that.

 

Q: 3 Tracks that got you into electronic music

So Get Up (Underground Sounds of Lisbon)

Jaguar – DJ Rolando

Jeff Mills  - The Bells  

Q: Tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for this year.

I’ve got my ELEVATE EP dropping this Friday! ‘Rebirth’, it’s a four tracker. Then I’ll have another new EP in 3 months on ELEVATE with two tracks and 1 or 2 remixes from some of my favorite DJs…Then another a couple of months later. My agenda is getting super busy, so I’ll be visiting South America, Canada and Asia. I’m doing my radio show Rocky Valente ‘In Session’. I started a few weeks ago, and its syndicated across the globe, with very good numbers. It’s always published first on My Mixcloud Select.


Q: Tell us a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners don’t know.

I’m a blue belt of jiu-jitsu ... And I love to watch MMA.

Q: Last but not least, do you have any questions for us?

Rocky Valente: How is the party vibe in Beirut now ?

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