Sandy Rivera

What is your earliest musical memory?

I was a 70's baby in the ghetto's of NYC in Spanish Harlem, so a lot of funk, disco and some rock. My Dad was buying all the new singles and 8 track tapes of various artist albums of that time, so I got to see all the nice 12" covers.

Tell us about your first ever DJ gig/live performance...

When I was a kid in the 80's…it was obviously a house party (an apartment in the projects). I was really nervous and the youngest to play. I guess it was better for me to play so everyone else can have fun! I played bits from Biz Markie, Eric B, Public Enemy. It was great and I never realized what a point it was all making at that time. My first real money gig was in 1996 Paris France for TGVIP (Thank God I'm a VIP, something like that) and it was for about 2,000 people. I played with DJ Gregory and it was the first time I met Martin Solveig also.

Who or what inspired you to start a career in music? 

Empty pockets and not wanting to work for someone else. I felt music more than anything else and I knew I could do it if given the chance. That chance only came by putting out my own music and making my own label. Things are easy these days, but back then you had to deal with some really BIG HEADS.

What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement?

It is still sitting in my computer waiting for me to pull my finger out. It is a full live chill-out album along the lines of Zero 7, Massive Attack and people like that. I am at that stage again where it is something I need to put out independently and viral the fuck out of it and see what comes back. These are songs that I feel are much better than 'Finally' and much better produced also, but it is all on the chill out side of things and that is another world for me.

Any advice for budding young stars..?

Don't let anyone tell you, you can't make it, especially if you are good at it!