Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Gonzalez
Hi Rob, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Started DJing small events in Hollywood / Los Angeles around 1992, making friends and building up my profile within the L.A. underground party scene. Hiphop was my first love but gradually began playing UK Jungle / DnB. Skip to 1999, I helped start Respect Drum and Bass, a weekly club night which celebrates 26 years this March. In February of 2011 I joined Circle Talent Agency, representing some amazing acts in the DnB genre, then in 2018 I started my own booking company called Respect Artist Agency.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There are always struggles in life, work, etc. The pandemic probably being the biggest struggle but we managed to do Dinner and Bass shows during this period, even when live club performances weren’t happening. Livestreams were one of the best ways of reaching our community during this time, something we had already done prior to the pandemic club closures and continue to do today. Producing 52 shows a year as a weekly event isn’t easy but we’re managed to stay relevant through it all. The agency had a slow restart but we are back at it now booking artist tours, navigating the surging interest in Drum and Bass.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Machete is my DJ name and I’ve been playing events around the world for over 33 years. As head promoter and one of the key residents at our Respect weekly, I’m most proud of what’s been happening with our club night. I think most would agree, we set a high standard for talent and consistency since our early days. Running a weekly club night for 26 years is no easy task and I’m pretty sure we’re the longest running club in Los Angeles for any genre, and one of very few doing it this long anywhere in the world. We continue to hold the flag high for Drum and bass music and do our best to support the artists and culture in our city.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is not always easy to define in what we do. Monetarily it hasn’t always been abundant but that’s never been of the greatest importance. Creating lasting memories, curating an event that sticks, bringing people together for the love of music and artistic expression. Knowing you’ve given the most you can of yourself behind the scenes or in the DJ booth and walking away with a smile. Sharing something with likeminded people who love and appreciate what we do, that’s success.
Pricing:
- Weekly cover $10-$20
- Special Events $20+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/RespectDnB
- Other: https://linktr.ee/djMachete
Image Credits
REGAL D PHOTOS
