DJ Herrera never won Champions League. But he could.
Dj Herrera, aka Helenio, aka Joel, aka Black Snake, or simply Rico. His aliases are infinite, constantly increasing, as well as his records collection, and his taste in music that makes your booty shake on the dance floor, when the deejay’s playing. That very same gusto makes your head nod when you listen to a beat produced by Herrera the champ. He’s one of the turntables’ best kept secrets in Italy, since back in the days of the super jazzy group known as I Maniaci dei Dischi. It was only right having him with us for a special Wood’d Vibes selection, isn’t it? Enjoy!
Ciao Herrera, who are you?
Hi guys, my name is Herrera, a DJ, music producer and MC based in Pisa, Italy.
How did you start with music?
I’ve started very very young, around 5 o 6 years, when my parents offered me a small drum set. It was a past time, but it begun immediately to take me more and more time. I remember spending the days listening to my parents’ old records. A lot of Italian music from the Sixties, but also the Beatles, and much more. Then came the Nineties, and the Hip Hop culture. From there, the first parties and early jams, my passion for the records and everything about underground music just took off. And here we are.
What are the main influences on your sound?
My biggest influences come from Hip Hop, from people like Pete Rock, Lord Finesse, Diamond D, J Dilla, Madlib. Different producers from different eras. Being a DJ and a producer, I dig for records very often, I buy a variety of genres, hence over the years I’ve come across core genres such as Funk and Jazz, but not only. I’ve discovered a lot of soul and disco music, tv and cinema soundtracks, experimental electronic music and progressive rock. Lots of stuff, my friends!
What are you currently listening to?
I still listen to a lot of Hip Hop stuff coming from various nations, plus old and second-hand records I find and collect for my dj sets and productions. It is varied a lot, from a jazz-type type thing like The Modern Jazz Quartet to industrial style and throbbing electronics to modern productions. Too much to mention in detail.
Where you draw your main inspirations for this mix?
When I was proposed to do this mix I thought that Wood’d uses a natural material like wood to dress up modern technology objects, and so I tried to combine percussive stuff with tunes that also use synthesizers and more uplifted technology.
What you have prepared for Wood’d?
For this mix I’ve selected lots of funk from the mid 70’s, along with different things like Simonetti’s band Goblin or again Vigon from Morocco. Hope you’ll like it!