Adrian Rodriguez, better known as ARODES, is a Spanish DJ and producer who has made a name for himself in the Afro House and Indie Dance genres. Growing up surrounded by music thanks to his bohemian parents, ARODES was introduced to a diverse range of genres, from reggae to classic rock.
Today, ARODES is well-known in the global club and event scene, having played in cities such as Marbella, Ibiza, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Tulum, Sao Paolo, Los Angeles, and Miami. With releases on labels such as Moblack, Sony, and Universal, and support from industry heavyweights like RÜFÜS DU SOL, ARTBAT, and Swedish House Mafia, ARODES’ melodic and engaging sound has earned him a dedicated following.
In this interview, we spoke with ARODES about his creative process, recent collaborations and releases, his experience playing at Burning Man, and much more.
The Melodic and Sincere Sound of ARODES: Exploring His Afro House and Indie Dance Style | Interview
What first inspired you to pursue a career in music and how did you get started as a DJ and producer?
My life has always been related to music since I was little, it was something that my parents passed on to me, my mother was a piano teacher and at home we listened to all kinds of music. I grew up loving music and that was what made my interest later. stop being a hobby to become my profession. I started my career as a DJ and producer when I understood that what made me really happy was transmitting and sharing my emotions and feelings through music. I discovered that the first time I performed in front of an audience, in Los Angeles, where I started my career, that day I knew I wanted to dedicate myself to it for the rest of my life.
Your parents introduced you to a wide range of musical genres when you were little. How do you think this has influenced your own musical style and tastes?
Of course, it has greatly influenced my taste and my sound, since I consider myself a versatile artist within my musical genre.
How do you approach creating new music and collaborating with other artists or labels? Do you have a routine or do you go with the flow? Are you a hardware or software guy? Or both?
The constant creation of new music is the basis and what ultimately determines your musical career since with it you expose your style, brand and sound to the public. It is also a pleasure to produce music and other artists can take advantage of it. Music is global and made to share.
Regarding collaborations with other artists, they have flowed organically and naturally.
My only plan and goal is to create better and better music and be able to connect through it with more and more people.
What do you think sets the Afro House and Indie Dance genres apart from other electronic music genres and what drew you to these styles in particular?
These genres that you mention, as well as Melodic Techno, which are the styles in which I generally move, are characterized by being music with a good rhythm, powerful, deep, melodic and sentimental at the same time. I like to transmit feelings, I not only want the public to enjoy and dance but also to feel, to be moved.
You recently collaborated with Andrea Oliva on a joint EP. What was the creative process like for this project and what can music listeners expect?
It all started in the Summer of 2022, we shared a stage a couple of times in Mykonos and later in Spain. From the 1st day we had a good of feeling I had started a beat outside my usual sound, I sent it to Andrea, she loved it and immediately we were practically talking about how to improve the song. We met again in Colombia
You are ready to release a new solo EP on RÜFÜS DU SOL’s Rose Avenue Records label. Can you give us any hints on what we can expect from this release?
The truth is that I am very excited about this EP. I will only tell you that it is made up of three of the Tracks that both me and Rufus “in their Dj Set” have played the most during the last year.
You’ve also collaborated with French artist Klement Bonelli on a new track titled “Elevate.” How did arose this collaboration and how was work together?
I have been following Klement for a long time, I really like his productions and his music. In fact, there’s a track of his called Marvinello that I think is a work of art and I’ve played it many times. We connected on Instagram, started talking, and realized that we share the same musical style, vision, and sound, so we decided to collaborate on Elevate. While we were working on the track, I invited him to play with me at my residence in Void Mykonos and we got along very well. then we played again at the closing party of Club Chinois in Ibiza and we finished the night with an amazing back-to-back and the energy was spectacular. He’s a good person and I’m happy to work with him.
Last year you played at Burning Man in Fluffy Cloud. How was this experience and how do you think it has influenced your music and creative process? Was it the first time?
It was my first time playing, in Fluffy Cloud and also in other Camps. It was a unique experience, Burnin Mang inspires you and makes you grow in all aspects.
How do you think the underground music scene has evolved throughout your career and where do you see it going in the future?
The underground music scene has grown a lot in recent years, to the point that what we used to call Underground is becoming Mainstream. In any case, as I said before, for me music is global and should unite instead of separate, so where I think it is directed is to eliminate barriers and stereotypes between genres that still exist.
You divide your residence between Ibiza and Miami. How do these two venues differ in terms of music scene and audience, and how do you tailor your sets accordingly?
For me, Ibiza and Miami are two of the biggest references in the electronic music scene, and I think that more than differentiating, in my opinion, they complement each other. Each of you has the chance to bring new music to audiences on two continents and at two different times in the same year, Miami in winter and Ibiza in summer.
You have played in many different cities and countries around the world. What have been some of your favorite places or events to perform and why?
It’s hard to choose one or the other because I’ve almost always had a good experience wherever I’ve gone or played. I am always grateful to the public for coming to my events, dancing, feeling and connecting with me. But recently, so far in 2023, Space Miami, Buena Vida Beach in Colombia, and Caprices in Switzerland have been very special.
What are some of your current favorite songs or artists that you are listening to right now?
Every day I try to listen to new music, I could say between 20 and 30 new Tracks. You always have to be evolving and updating your musical repertoire. Regarding artists, the well-known Keinemusik, Adriatique, Cassian or Colyn, for example, continue to be a reference. But there are also other very good emerging producers like Fahlberg, Josh Gigante or Beswerda who are doing an exceptional job and I am using their music in my Sets.
What are your goals and plans for the future, both in terms of your musical career and your personal life?
In my personal life, reconnecting with sport. This is something that has always been very present in my life and in recent years I have neglected it because I was constantly on tour. In terms of my career, keep consolidating my sound and doing what I like, which is connecting with more people and making them happy through my music.
