Contributing Writer
Italian producer Rhoowax made his debut on Hottrax with his ‘Boogeyman’ EP, continuing to build on a sound shaped by funk, disco, and classic house influences. With a steady run of releases behind him, he steps onto the label with a three-track project driven by instinct and a clear connection to the dancefloor. We catch up with Rhoowax to talk about his influences, creative approach, and how the EP came together.
Hi Rhoowax, thanks for joining us! How are you today?
Hi guys, thanks for having me! I’m good, thanks.. working every day on new music and staying in the studio as much as possible.
How did the Hottrax release first come about?
Well, I’ve always admired Jamie Jones since the very beginning of my musical journey. I still remember being in my bedroom watching videos of him playing at Culprit parties in LA. It’s always been a dream of mine to release on one of his labels, so I started sending him my music and after some time, I finally made it happen.
What’s it been like working with Jamie Jones and the Hottrax team?
First of all, it’s a huge opportunity for me to work with Jamie Jones and his team, and I’m really grateful for the chance he gave me. Everything has been super smooth, the team is very organized, active, and great to work with.
When you’re starting a new track, do you usually go in with a plan or just see where it takes you?
Usually before starting a track, I spend a few sessions in the studio just listening to a lot of music from different genres. I have a vinyl collection in my studio, and every day I listen to something funk, soul, jazz… Once I find the right sample, I start building the groove using my gear like the Digitakt II, MPC, and Syntakt, and then I finish everything in Ableton.
What kind of records were you listening to growing up that still influence you now?
Growing up, I listened to a bit of everything from deep house to techno but the genre that influenced me the most is definitely house music. One track that had a huge impact on me is “From Disco to Disco” by Whirlpool Productions.
When you’re making tracks, are you thinking more about the club or just making something you personally like?
Every track I make has a story behind it. When I’m producing, I love imagining the moment when the track could be played. I picture myself on the dancefloor and think about when I’d want to hear that track. That gives me a lot of inspiration… for example, a track meant for the morning might have very different elements compared to something for peak time.
You’ve had support from people like Marco Carola and The Martinez Brothers – does seeing big DJs play your music still give you the same buzz?
After all these years, getting support from top DJs like Marco Carola, The Martinez Brothers, and many others still feels amazing. Seeing people dance to your music is an incredible feeling, it’s hard to describe. I hope that one day I’ll be out there playing my own tracks in front of a huge crowd, too.
What else have you got coming up over the rest of the year, anything you can share with us?
Right now, I have a release coming out on Blanc in June with my friend Adez. I’m also working on an EP requested by one of the biggest DJs in the tech house scene but I can’t reveal too much about that just yet.
Follow Rhoowax
Instagram – SoundCloud
