Today we’d like to introduce you to Rafael L. Rodriguez. Them and their team share their story with us below:
You will find DJ Vertigo compilations of quality and hopefully with some encouragement. Rafael ‘DJ Vertigo’ Rodriguez is one of those DJs that are to be reckoned with. With him it’s the strength of his mixing style. Very much an ‘Exhibition DJ,’ Rafael has been into electronic music genres’ since the ‘Synth Pop’ era. Being born in Boston, MA and moving to Florida when he was very young, he returned to MA around ’94 to pursue DJing, He was successful in the underground scene playing at outlaw parties and private get-togethers, also being a resident Disc Jockey at the MIT College radio station. The show was called, ‘Transition Radio,’ being hosted by Pistol Pete (a.k.a. Peter Worden) – Bolt productions – [www.cybercom.net/~bolt/bolt/productions.html], from 4-6am Sat/Sun mornings.
Rafael started spinning records at age 15/16 around ’92 in Melbourne, Florida; listening to the likes of, Andy Hughes, Chris Fortier and many others from the local scene at the time and meeting some well-known DJs. Also spinning in house parties alongside those that spun in places like ‘MARS’ and ‘BRASSY’s.’ DJ Vertigo was looked at as a prodigy so he took it seriously and moved to MA, as I mentioned above. The rave culture sucked him in, but now he spins for Gods’ purpose., being born again in ’99. He is back in FL now and a Christian DJ spinning in the Central Florida area with top quality sounds and mixing.
We overcome by the Blood of the Lamb (washed us white as snow. past present and future sin), the word of our testimony (how we came to believe in Jesus Christ our Lord, the Holy Son of God), and not loving our lives even unto the end.
Jesus Christ the Lord, the only begotten Son of God, died for my sins and His blood has cleansed me of all my sins and reconciled me to God my Father., forgiving my sins and washing my robe white as snow.
I lived in Bloomington, Indiana.. got arrested because someone heard me and my girlfriend (at the time) arguing. I was in jail and John Melencamp was giving a show, apparently right in front of the jail…. so as I was in the jail cell, I was crying out for God to get me out. I don’t know whether someone heard me but God got me out. So before dawn, with no one around,.. (having a garbage bag with a bit of little clothing), I looked up in the sky and said, “Jesus, I don’t have anything, You are all I have, I want to seek after You.” He led me to call my dad.. after a few things happened, my dad brought me back to my hometown of Melbourne FL USA, I went to Calvary Chapel of Melbourne, went up and accepted Jesus Christ the Lord into my heart and was filled with Love, Joy, the Holy Spirit, and Thankfulness. Then I went on ‘Found Tour’ a Christian electronic music ministry tour around the US where I met other fellow believers in Christ Jesus, even going to ‘Cornerstone Music Festival’ in Illinois. Later, I returned and was Baptized, and I’m thankful to Jesus for that too. I was saved in 1999.
I will confess: “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, He is my God in whom I trust, my friend. Jesus is LORD God Almighty, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the I AM.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been many oppositions to what I want to play and what some permit in venues and the like, mainly because those particular venues or locations want to make money but are not open to the ‘taboo’ of ‘Christian’ electronic music that mentions Jesus, repentance and salvation.
Funny, that they approve of other religions ‘type’ or ‘topic’ music.
So it’s hard to get hired, even though my skill and the music is good.
Though, I do believe that all things work together for the good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. God will turn it around for His good will to be done. He is for me, not against me.
I’m not giving up on doing what God put in me to do. He does give us the desires of our hearts, it’s a promise.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been blessed with being able to play skillfully when I’m mixing, with rhythm. I use rhythm like playing a drum through the mixer, hopefully that will make sense. Mainly, I like to spin energetic Hard Minimal Techno records, sometimes other genres, but I always try to do my best. Many that have heard me know me for ‘tweeking the eq’s,’ ..too much though and it will not sound right. I’m very thankful to the Lord for giving me a purpose with the music, to be a ‘fisher of men.’
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite (maybe not then) childhood memory is after I got ‘whipped’ for doing something wrong, I went to my bed crying and was asking God why I got whipped. I remember vividly having my eyes closed and seeing something BIG, but not so big that it scared me. I just knew it was God.
Contact Info:
- Email: DJ_Vertigo@mail.com
- Website: djvertigo.bandcamp.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thedjvertigo
- SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/thedjvertigo
- Other: nbcbrevard.org
