Today we’d like to introduce you to Eduardo Ruelas.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I go by Urbanite, I’m a multi-genre producer and dj, based in Orange County, primarily focused on underground dance music. I got my start back in high school, playing in various metal bands, before falling in love with electronic music around 2014, when an old friend (An Expresso) introduced me to underground house.
I slowly started to pick up production, and we eventually went on to start up our own house music record label, 12 Inches Deep, in 2016, and then Hot Dime Recordings, in 2018, when I took over the primary managerial duties. The labels originally began as a platform to release our own music and has since grown to include a modest yet respectable roster. While 2020 hasn’t exactly been a stellar year for most when it comes to music, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with artists, and labels, from all over the world this year, and also released the very first digital record from my labels after a string of vinyl only releases.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I consider myself blessed, though things were not always easy. Aside from the normal struggle to balance art, with real life, work, family, etc, along the way I’ve encountered my fair share of bumps in the road. There’s been plenty of projects that did not end up holding water or ultimately had been to be abandoned due to lack of traction. I remember in my earliest residencies, 2014-2017, house music wasn’t quite as popular, or accepted by the masses, as it is now, and it always felt like an uphill battle trying to take the music into any sort of public space. People would ask us to change it or play something they could dance to, waving money in our face, things of that nature.
Thankfully, most of that lack of familiarity is now gone, and it seems like our particular flavors of dance music are starting to become more recognizable and viable, I would say partly due to the resurgence of 90’s/2000’s aesthetic, as well as the natural progression away from the more commercialized forms of electronic, such as trap, and big room electro house. Coincidentally, I’ve noticed that many artists from that era have begun to transition over into more house and techno-oriented styles, i.e.: Diplo launching Higher Ground, Deadmau5 as Testpilot, Afrojack returning as Kapuchon, Calvin Harris as Love Regenerator, to name a few.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
These days, I mostly spend my time going back and forth between putting together releases on my own labels and working with other labels that I respect and admire. I’m mostly known for my classically influenced deep house sounds, heavily influenced by the traditional Chicago and New York styles of house music, though I really enjoy a wide variety of genres, as is reflected by my catalogs. While I’m proud of all of my accomplishments, a few that stick out are my deals with Juno Records and the latest release on my labels, “In My Eyes.” To elaborate, back in 2018, I launched Hot Dime Recordings, as a sub-label of 12 Inches Deep, meant to focus on the very distinct UK Garage sound. For our first release on the label, I was able to link up with UK’s Juno Records, who is the world’s largest dance music and DJ equipment store. We were able to work out a distribution deal, and they produced the record for us in Europe and distributed it to shops all over the world. They were also kind enough to pick up our latest record on 12 Inches Deep, and I hope to continue working with them in the future.
I’m also quite proud of “In My Eyes,” our latest release on Hot Dime Recordings. This is actually a collaboration between myself and vocalist, RoseBud, who is also a good friend of mine, and was the very first digital release from my labels that was available on the major streaming platforms. Previously, all releases between both labels were on vinyl only and not possible to stream or buy anywhere digitally. The release included a series of remixes, and an acapella, which has received a ton of support from all over the world, especially in Europe, as well as a beautifully shot music video to add some visuals to the project. Had covid not been an issue, there would have also been a record release party, which I do for every release, though we may still have a makeup one when it’s safe to do so again. While I don’t think I am especially unique, I don’t know of many underground dance music labels who are actively operating out of California, working to make tangible connections across the globe.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We love connecting with other fans of the underground. You can find us on social media for updates on current/forthcoming releases, mixes, streams, parties (pre/post covid), and if you haven’t already, check out the latest release on Hot Dime Recordings, “In My Eyes,” by RoseBud & Urbanite, at: https://fanlink.to/HOTDIME002G
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: linktr.ee/_urbanite
- Instagram: @_urbanite, @12inchesdeep
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djurbanite, https://www.facebook.com/12inchesdeeprecordings/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/djurbanite
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0rD-3RNvLofYAWW4iBpFKQ
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/dj_urbanite, https://soundcloud.com/12InchesDeep
Image Credits
Jessica Magana, RedHeart Media
