S&S: What’s your style of music? How do you describe it?
Eddie Valdez: I use to do mostly House, R&B, Drum & Bass and some Funk. My sound must be happy, noiseless and also classic. Sometimes I can be harder than that.

S&S: Who or what was most instrumental to you when it came to music?Eddie Valdez: That’s not the tough one. DJ Wilson, a genius from my hometown who really open my ears to music when I was 13, he’s the greatest idol I had in my life. Steve Silk Hurley (the foremost producer ever to me) and Max Mix (Megamixes) DJs, Mike Platinas, Toni Peret and Jose Maria Castels

S&S: What drives you creatively?
Eddie Valdez: When I hear something really out of the box or masterpieces tracks, I think to myself “Hey, you have a lot of job to do. Go ahead and do something to make yourself proud.“.

S&S: How much does your audience influence you and your music selection?
Eddie Valdez: It depends on what kind of audience I’m working with. Sometimes I need to show something different, some of my releases and sometimes it’s really hard to do what I’d like to do. It is what it is.

S&S: What artists or genres do you listen to when you’re not working?
Eddie Valdez: Smooth Jazz, Standards, Brazilian Ballads, Brazilian Folks songs, 70 and 80’s B Sides and a bunch more.

S&S: Do you have any favorite memories of growing up with your family?
Eddie Valdez: Plenty reminiscences. The travels with my family surrounded by music, dogs & food. But most of all are I remember how hard it was starting to be a DJ. I learned by myself on a domestic sound system, named by 3×1 (tuner, tape and phono), pressing phono and tape buttons at the same time and spinning the record to adjust the beats. When the record was faster I used to put part of my school t-shirt beside the record to slow down and believe me, I ran some parties like that. In Brazil we use to say: “Who has no dog hunts with cat.“.

S&S: Is there anything you would like people to know about you?
Eddie Valdez: My remixes and own tracks.

S&S: Are there any charities you are working with or excited to tell us about?
Eddie Valdez: Coming soon… I won’t disappoint you guys.

S&S: Are there any questions that you wish people would ask you?
Eddie Valdez: “What time is it?“ So, I can answer: “It’s time to play better music isn’t it?“ Jokes aside, I’m open to answer any question about my job, anytime.

S&S: And on the flip side of that, are there any questions or references you wish people would stop asking or using?
Eddie Valdez: The people use to be nice to me. I hope next interview still this way (smiles).

S&S: What artist(s) have you been the most excited to work with?
Eddie Valdez: Anthony Malloy, Jameisha Trice, Jorge Vercillo and Lee John (from classic British group Imagination)

S&S: Are there any artists that you dream of working with on a collaboration?
Eddie Valdez: A dozen and the list continues, but a gospel and Latin artist are on my target right now.

S&S: What can we look forward to next from you?
Eddie Valdez: New releases. I’ll always do my best.

S&S: What legacy would you like to leave?
Eddie Valdez: Friendship and some music full of love and happiness no matter what style.

Q&A By: Shannon “Skip” Syas – S&S Chicago

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