Feature: Rony Rex Decodes ‘Dopamine’
Photo Credit: Lumi Hartikainen
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of 'Dopamine?'
During virus times we did this session over Zoom with my friend and producer Niko Mansikka-Aho. Both of us were super stressed and scared shitless of the situation, so we decided to do something new – started the session with a meditation. Turned out to be a good idea. That jump in energy led us to a beat which later became "Ugly", the lead single for the EP. The meditation thing then became a staple, if there's space all my sessions start with that. You get into the room and connect with the moment so much stronger, a no-brainer really.
Can you talk about any collaborations you had while making 'Dopamine?'
I usually do tracks aimed for the dancefloor, a bit more functional and clubby stuff – this time I wanted to push the instrumental tracks to become more songlike and to work with new artists. As mentioned earlier this EP was started during pandemic times so all of the collaborations started online. I do a weekly radio show on Finnish national so I’m constantly digging for interesting artists. I just dm’d a bunch of people I thought things could click well with; Nigerian American Benni Ola who's written for artists like Channel Tres & TOKiMONSTA. He’s got a very special energy which I connected with well – the topline for “Ugly” was finished in hours, it just flowed. I’ve been a fan of Kitty of The Pom-Poms and Teen Suicide, and hyperpop queens Ravenna Golden & LÂLKA for a long time – so happy they jumped on too.
Which track(s) from the EP do you think best represents your artistic vision?
I’m really happy how it all came together but mostly I feel “Ugly” as it was the anchor for the whole thing. It’s a wide thing, from the ultra-naive beat to that long ethereal breakdown which is my favorite part of the whole EP.
How do you engage with your audience during your live performances to create a memorable experience for them?
I prepare minimally and move a lot and, trying to not think just let it come. Music and movement. It’s quite a lot. Might not even be called dancing. People keep telling me that they get me that way. When it works it’s the thing that guides me in the set building. Sometimes it doesn’t and feels super awkward, but there are too many people taking DJing very seriously so I try to to actively counter that.
How do you approach collaborations with other musicians and maintain creative synergy?
Before anything happens, we have conversations about totally unrelated things which often leads to a spark that we then can jump on. It’s all about giving enough time for connection which creates space for idea-flow, but it’s often overlooked in the super hectic music industry. Everyone’s so busy so it usually takes years to finish stuff but It’s important to not try to force anything, no matter the deadlines.
