Ora Recordings Q10: Rod V

Ora Recordings Q10: Rod V

3 June, 2009 | 3.49AM

• Written by: Ora Recordings
• Filed under: Music News : gabriel batz, guatemala, ora recordings, q10, rod v

Every week an Ora Recordings artist will answer questions part of the Q10 interview.

This week: Rod V.

1) Tell us more about yourself. Where are you from?

I am Rodrigo Valdes, also known as Rod V, in some releases as “Rod Valdes”. I am from Guatemala, a beautiful tropical country located at hearth of Central America. I was born here as well, the 24th of May 1985.

2) How long have you been involved with music?

Well, it’s been a while, I started studying piano at 9 years old at the National Conservatory, but it was until 15 when I came in contact with my first synthesizer and my first music programs, it was more experimenting with sound and trying to create something from there. Maybe about 8 years in electronic music.

3) How did you get started in music?

Well when I was a child I started listening to my dad records involuntary, he used to play old vinyl’s from bands like pink Floyd, Santana, the doors, Eric Clapton, Bebu Silvetti, Bach, Beethoven, Jean Michael Jarre, so I got used to listen many types of music. Also at 9 years old I started studying at the National Conservatory, classical piano (still studying by the way), from there it came my interest for playing instruments and through the pass of the years my interest in electronic music.

4) Who are your influences or your favorite artists?

Well as I use to listen many types of music there’ s a lot of people I admire on each genre, but to mention a few on the electronic scene I would mention Jean Michael Jarre, Vangelis, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Madonna (lol), Sasha, John Digweed, Chris Fortier, Lee burridge, Magda, Ritchie Hawtin, Deadmau5, Guy Gerber, Eelke kleijn, Gui Boratto, The Prodigy, Anthony Pappa, Hernan Cattaneo, Sander Kleinenberg, Speedy J, Francis Davila, Damian Lazarus Simian Mobile Disco, Terry Lee Brown Jr., The Timewriter, Kerry Chandler, and many more…

5) Tell us about your relationship with Ora Recordings.

I know Gabriel Batz from his productions, some podcasts he has done, also some friends of mine released in the past some material on Ora Recordings. Then a friend of mine told me to send him my material, I decided to send him some of my tracks, then I got signed for my first EP with Ora Recordings, from then until now I have been working more music for the label.

6) What studio gear do you use in order to create your music?

Well my main DAW I was using Ableton (which its one of greatest programs ever, still one of my favourites), Cubase and Wavelab but recently I have moved to Pro Tools for its capacities, combining it with Ableton. Also I used a couple of Korg synthesizer, midi controllers, and external effects processor, studio monitors and all that kind of stuff you need on your studio to make things flow gently.

7) Do you rely on software or hardware?

Well I actually would like to use as many hardware as possible (but as always budget doesn’t allow everything you wish), even do now technology does miracles the sound you got from an analog synthesizer and the feeling of playing it can’t be compared. Anyways I have discovered many interesting aspects in software, like editing and automation process, something that analog sometimes can’t do, but I’m in love with both of them, lol.

8) In what direction do you see the music industry?

Well that’s something even the industry can’t predict, but with the advantages of technology I think industry will need to get adapted to the digital era, make more quality and accessible music for their costumers, right now the cd’s and any physical format is tending to disappear, getting transformed into digital market for the costumer where you can take what you like. Vinyl’s are becoming an exclusive for the collectors and quality sound fans, maybe a few djs, but they aren’t affordable for any label. But as any business everything evolves with the market, so labels, distributors and stores will have to propose their own solutions taking in count their costumers needs, making sure also to support their artists. Of course as a producer I wish everything evolves on the right way and get the necessary support to continue creating good music and buying my little toys, lol.

9) What are your views and opinions on downloads and file sharing?

Well that’s a difficult question, but there it’s two sides of the sword, on one side as an artist your income decreases, even you put your ass on your productions to make them better and better, it limits any artist in a way that you can’t afford to get more hardware and stuff to improve your sound and brought your audience a more sophisticated production, anyways software its now making miracles, buts it limits you in some aspects. Otherwise, there it’s the possibility to get recognized and become known in every part of the planet by freesharing, there’s a big chance of free promotion (mouth by mouth); as a matter of fact some bands like the prodigy, nine inch nails have gone through that kind of promotion, releasing free tracks or parts of their albums, and being more focused on the gigs, and the tour (of course I m not Madonna to do that, lol).

10) What are you future music plans (gigs, radio shows, releases, current projects)?

Well I’ m planning to get back to djing and trying to play live some of my stuff again, but by the moment I’ m just focused fully on production, working on some new material and in a near future release my LP. Right now I’ m getting more and more support from some djs, producers, and other people, let’ s hope everything evolves in a good way.

Rod V’s new release “Intuition EP” is out now on Ora Recordings and available on Beatport.

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