Building Dolfo

You can feel it when an artist is ready to outgrow the lane everyone expects them to stay in. I’m joined by my brother-from-another-mother Rudy to introduce “Dolfo,” his tech house and house music alter ego, and we get honest about why a second name can be the cleanest way to evolve without losing your core audience.

We dig into Rudy’s roots in early-2000s house, the reality of being known for harder circuit and drum-heavy sounds, and the step-by-step way he brought Dolfo forward by testing tech house leaning mixes on SoundCloud. He also breaks down the branding side in plain terms: when fans see “Rue-D,” they expect one thing, and when they see “Dolfo,” they should immediately know what kind of night they’re walking into.

From there we talk San Antonio nightlife, getting connected with Sundown Social, and what a daytime dance floor changes in your mindset as a DJ. Rudy shares what he’s learning from other artists in the scene, why reading the crowd matters more than showing off, and where Dolfo is headed next, including a residency at The Eagle and a first Houston booking with Evolution. We even slide into after-hours stories that prove DJ life can get surreal fast.

If you’re into tech house, house culture, DJ growth, and real talk about artistry, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves the dance floor, and leave a review, what’s your take on DJs using alter egos?

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Why am I friends with the DJ? Because life is more fun when you’re friends with the DJ.

Transcript

AJ the SilverFox 0:07

This is I'm Friends with the DJ.

Season Two Kickoff And Guest

AJ the SilverFox 0:14

Welcome back to another episode of I'm Friends with the DJ. We are starting season two with a bang. And of course, joining me is a very familiar face. My brother from another mother, my dear close friend Rudy. And he's here to kind of talk about his new alter ego, Dolfo. So uh please, Rudy, tell me a little bit about this chameleon experience and this change, and and tell me about Dolfo.

Dolfo 0:46

Thank you so much. Well, first of all, congratulations, season two. Thank you so much. And thank you so much for inviting me as your first episode. Absolutely. I'm really honored for this... Uh well, Dolfo is has always been there. I feel like Dolfo is the foundation of Rudy, you know, because when I started DJing back in 2000,

The Birth Of Dolfo

Dolfo 1:03

2001, um, house music is what I fell in love with, you know. And so when I became uh DJ as Rudy later, um I didn't start off with house. It was more tribal, guaracha, hard, you know, the cha-cha and the drums. So I I fell in love with that, you know, and I always wanted to go back to to the foundation, which is tech house, house music, you know, and it Dolfo just was there peeking, you know, trying to come, make it, you know, trying to show itself. So I said, you know what, I'm gonna do it because it's a harsh transition from what I play to Dolfo. So I didn't want to confuse people, first of all. You know, if they see my name, they think it's gonna be heart, you know, tribal, and it's not, it's more tech house. So, and um, yeah, that's how Dolfo came about.

AJ the SilverFox 1:55

Came to be. Came to be. Came to be. And you know, I think that um, you know, I was very surprised when um when I first heard of, you know, surprise in essence, because I think that I've known your music to be very um forward and and very like like I said, I've called you a chameleon several times. And you know, I think that it's it was it was bound to happen. And I I I'm it's such a great sound. And I actually was listening to um your Eagle promo on the way over here, and um, you know, I and I always got little teasers that were still very rude in essence with your um eat the bass um um sounds that you would do on SoundCloud. Um take it, check it out, and listen. Um, but you know, I I what okay, what was able, what what how were you able to transition or or bring Dolfo forward?

Dolfo 3:01

Um the love that I have for especially for for tech house and house music in general. Um I thought about

Testing The Sound Without Confusing Fans

Dolfo 3:08

it, you know, starting off with some, like you mentioned, eat the bass of some of the volumes that I have in Songcloud with Rue-D, and it was very tech housey, very techno. And um that was my first take and see how people reacted to it, and a lot of people fell in love with him. And so that gave me a little push to be like, you know what, I'm I can do this, you know, I can do a harsh transition to Dolfo, you know, and um and I wanted to explain a little bit about the name as well, because um a lot of people ask me, what is what does Dolfo mean? I said, Well, my name is Rodolfo, you know, my real name is Rodolfo. So when I was a kid, everybody um would call me Rudy, and that's where Rue-D came in. Rue R-U-E dash D. And um, and so how can I tie in the same name? That's still me. Well, it's Rodolfo. I just took off the R-O in the beginning, just kept Dolfo. So that's how there's there's still me, you know, even though it's a different name, a different sound, it's still me.

AJ the SilverFox 4:06

And such a great sound, you know. I it's it's great to have that circuit hard bass guaracha, which I fucking love. You know what I mean? I just I can't get enough of it.

Dolfo 4:19

Exactly. Exactly. I love people dumb, but it's okay.

AJ the SilverFox 4:22

But who are they? You know what I mean? But but you know, I I with with this sound, I think it's it's opened up a lot more new listeners who aren't, you know, they like dance music, but they're not about that like call it pots and pans.

Dolfo 4:40

It is pots and pans, you know, and I play them loud and and pride for you know with pride because that's what I what I love, you know. I love the heart, the the top the pots, the pans, the bells, the cowbells, everything, you know, and it makes people dance, it makes people happy, you know, and and that's all it's all about. What I what I like, what I love doing is to make people dance and and and have a good time. And that that music is fun, you know, and absolutely it's not for everyone. Same thing, tech house is not for everyone, you know. Same thing, house is not for everyone, right?

AJ the SilverFox 5:10

Everybody has a taste of music, but you know, I think with with tech house, disco house, um, which uh was is really, really fun. Really, I love that vocal that you bring in, but I really, really love that you are are expanding your fan base. And, you know, um uh with that, you know, how tell me how you got to be one of Sundown Social's um um uh player, what what what do they call it creators or or artists? Artists, yeah. Artists. How did you become connected with Sundown Social? Because I um I remember constantly um talking to um um

How Sundown Social Connected

AJ the SilverFox 5:56

the boys uh um um and and and telling them all about you and and they were kind of you know, oh that's not that's not our sound, that's not that's not sundown, it's more house. And you know, I sent them all your eat the bass um um sound clouds, and I was like, Roger Isaac, you have to listen to this, you have to check him out. He's a chameleon, he's not just circuit and and that hard drums that you're so scared of. You know, there's there's so much more. How how did that introduction meet? How did tell me tell me about that?

Dolfo 6:30

Um well, I kept going to Sundown because obviously you would invite us there, and I get to meet the boys and everything. And one one Sunday, uh Roger asked me, like, Do you play, do you play Tech House or any that yeah? I said, Of course I do, you know, and there's I have several podcasts on my on my SoundCloud that are that sound, and so I said, I'll send them over to you and check them out. So he did, and he actually invited me to be part of the artist lineup, and I that's where I said, you know what? I think that's where Dolfo came out, came about, you know, with him. And I said, you know, Dolfo is new, and and um you're yeah, you're gonna be the first one that's gonna feature Dolfo. So um we were excited about that. Very, very excited.

AJ the SilverFox 7:12

Listen, if there's anything that Roger loves, he's he loves being the the first, the the the initiator of of it, and and so I'm sure as soon as he heard you say that, he was like ding-ding ding. Like, yes, I got it. Um, you know, and so so tell me about a couple of your experiences with with Sundown Social that you've you've got. Tell me about the energy you feel. Tell me about the different vibes, because it's so different.

Dolfo 7:35

It's so different, yeah. But the main thing about it is having a good, you know, having a good time and loving it and people enjoying it. It's all about the music, you know, and I think every any any anywhere you go, if you love music, you're gonna have a good time. So Sundown Social is is amazing, has been great to me, and um I love doing it. It it's it's a a way to like have a good time and relax and and not have so much pressure, and it's enjoyable, it's fun, it's daytime, it's it's it's it's great. You know, we love a daytime dance. We all do, yeah.

AJ the SilverFox 8:07

We love that because then we end early and get to go to sleep early. Yeah. You know what I mean? Um so and and aside from sundown, what what other where else has Dolfo been able to to play at?

Dolfo 8:21

Well, I have a residency now every second Friday of the month at the Eagle here in San Antonio, and that's also

Eagle Residency And Houston Debut

Dolfo 8:28

has gotten a great turnout, a great, great, great, great feedback with the owners, and um that keeps that's hot and heavy on every second Friday of the month. And recently I just got asked to DJ in Houston with a brand called Evolution as Dolfo. So that's the first time I've done that because I am part of the residency of Evolution as Rue-D, which is after hours. But he's like, I wanna, you know, I want to do, I want to hear Dolfo now.

AJ the SilverFox 8:54

Amazinggg!

Dolfo 8:55

So that's my first time going out of San Antonio as Dolfo.

AJ and Dolfo 8:58

When is that? When are when is uh your Houston Dolfo debut? June, June 21st, I believe. Perfect. Everyone, June 21st is where we want to be. Um in Houston. Do you know where the venue or I don't have the details on that yet, but um yeah. Hush, hush, everyone. It'll be gonna keep secrets for now. Um, but that's amazing. You know, I I I just you know, I I I'm just always in awe by by your your talent and your artistry on on your creations that you get to make. And um it I and what I love most, and I I'm gonna say it again, is the how you're uh expanding your fan base and introducing um um people to get to know you. Yeah. Uhm not just not just Rue-D or Dolfo, but Rudy. Yeah. You know what I mean? And and you know, you're um a uh from the outside, if they don't know you, uh a very quiet, introspective um um person that's just uh taking everything in and and uh doing everything, but then when you're behind the decks and doing it all, you you come to life. And and tell me a little bit about that.

Dolfo 10:18

It's it's just uh an amazing feeling to be behind the decks, you know. If you you gotta be up

Curating Sets And Reading Crowds

Dolfo 10:24

there, you know, at least once and and experience it because um it's it's an amazing experience. Uh I love it. Uh just seeing people, you know, you work hard to put on these sets together, you know, you etiquette this the music, put it all together, you know, for the night or the evening or the party or whatever. And um you project that energy to them, and so you play that music. And so you you see it you know in them, how they feel the music, how they're dancing, and everything. And it's all about you know the the the vibe that you create for that party, you know. Anybody can be a DJ, but not anybody can curate to the people that are dancing. So that's that's something that it takes time to to learn and to to understand and to read the what the those DJs say read the crowd. You gotta read the crowd and see how the crow crowd is reacting to what you're playing. You know, just because you you love this song, you know, you might love it, but they might not. You it might be not be the perfect song for that party or that moment or that minute that you're playing it. And so you gotta switch it up and find out what is how people react into what you're playing. Um, and keep that vibe going, you know, and keep that energy going and keep keep them engaged because that's that's what is important.

AJ the SilverFox 11:38

So, you know, I I know that and um when I last interviewed you um introducing uh it was episode one, season one, um I I you one of your inspirations for Rudy was um you know your mother. Um and so with with aside from um um her

Inspirations And Why Names Matter

AJ the SilverFox 12:04

and uh um that that hard music tell me a little bit about your inspiration and and your your idols for um your house side for Dolfo.

Dolfo 12:16

Well it's still the same because my mother Nina Flowers, she um has the alter eagle, George Flores, which is Alfro House. And that's new too. And that is new, and same thing with Eric Ibiza, he has Mr. Strings, you know, which he produces a lot of tech house underground, and it's amazing, you know. And so I'm I'm very fortunate to have them in my life, you know, as inspiration too. So when Dolfo came out, they were very supportive too, as well, you know, and so it's still the same, you know, as it's still us, you know, but it it's a different side of us that you know we're able to, you know, show the world and show the people, you know. A lot of DJs can be like, well, I didn't have to change my name. Well, that's fine, that's that was you because you evolved your sound with years of experience, you know. I'm harsh separating it right then, right now, you know. It's like like I said, I don't want people to see Rue-D and show up and be like, what is this? Why is he playing this? You know, exactly. So Dolfo is this, Rue-D is that.

AJ the SilverFox 13:17

Yeah, but and you know, I think it's it's a big part of evolution, like you said. It's it's a big part of like uh, you know, music and and you as a person, you as an artist, just constantly shaping and and moving forward and evolving. So, you know, I I love that uh you you have the the two separate um personas, you know, I and and that's how it should be because at the end of the day, you're still very passionate about um Rue-D's sound. Um and now you're just touching something else because, like you said, it's always been there.

Dolfo 13:57

Yeah.

AJ the SilverFox 13:58

Um, but now you wanted to bring it to the forefront. It's it was it's about time. It's about time. Dolfo's but he's like, I've been here this whole time.

Dolfo 14:07

He's been there the whole time. I'm here, you know. And I with Dolfo, I get to explore a lot of different genres and as far as house music, tech house, Afro

Exploring Afro House And New Directions

Dolfo 14:16

house, you know, house music, disco house, techno, you know, and so I get to explore a little bit of each one, you know, some of my performances at the Eagle and see how people react to it and and see what really resonates with me too, as well, you know. And so um my next project was is a little bit of Afro. So I'm I'm meddling to that too, and and I I'm I'm actually loving it a lot.

AJ the SilverFox 14:42

I love it.

AJ and Dolfo 14:42

So because Afro House has a lot of drums as well, you know, it's got it, it's got that that but without that harsh harshness of it, you know. It's more chill, but you can still feel the drums in Afro.

AJ the SilverFox 14:53

So Well I can't wait. Yeah, that's gonna be so exciting. Um, you know, I I I want to go back to, you know, Sundown and and the Eagle, and and as you said, you're gonna be um going to Houston. Um where else do you want to see Dolfo go?

Dolfo 15:13

Um, you know, it's it's I can't I can't say, you know, I anywhere the where it takes me, because you know, life is all about you know the unexpected, you know. Yeah, I wasn't expecting to be a part of sundown social or part of the eagle, you know. When it first opened, I wasn't even thinking about that, you know, but there I am, you know, and and things just happen naturally and then they evolve, you know. And for a reason. And for a reason, you know. For a reason.

AJ the SilverFox 15:38

It was it was going to happen because that was in your cars in the in the stars, you know. Um and to touch base on that, because you know, we always we always like to um you know touch on on um with the stars and how it aligns and and everything happens for a reason. Um do you feel that um the stars aligned at this time for for Dolfo to come?

Dolfo 16:06

And yeah, everything, you know, you know in your heart when something is right, you know, and and when you feel it and you're like, okay, now it's time, you know, and and you just do it, you know, and and it it might take some time, you know, to people get used to it, you know, and and and and and follow it, but a lot of people are reacting to it, you know. And as long as you get a reaction, you you get momentum going, you know, and and you just gotta keep going. That's exciting.

AJ the SilverFox 16:33

You know, I I just um I'm one of your biggest fans, obviously.

Dolfo 16:39

You know. No, you're not.

AJ the SilverFox 16:42

I'm my own biggest fan. But no, you know, I I just I can't stop just behind your back saying how proud and how you know uh uh talented you are and and thank you, you know, I'm so glad that after bitching and bitching and telling and telling Roger and Isaac, like, listen, I'm sure, I promise you it's gonna be great. And you know, you've played several times now um um with with Sundown Social and uh you know I'm Roger is Roger and Isaac with Sundown Social and now Sunrise Social are really bringing more um they're bringing more attention to house and and the sound to San Antonio and and just the way you did, you know, with Bexar Haus and and the circuit and and it was always San Antonio is always missing something, it's it feels like. And and it's only gays that live circuit or whatever, um your your fan base expanding with in the straight world with sundown social and all of that. Um tell me about some of the other DJs that you've met through Sundown and have you gotten any takeaways from that?

Dolfo 18:16

I've met um a few DJs that I I um connected with. Um

DJ Community And Scene Growth

Dolfo 18:23

Miss Um Discotherapy. I've you know, she's great. I always get quite little chat before she goes on. Or she was the first one I met, you know, and so she always we I have a connection with her in that sense. Um Juliet Star too. Yes, um, she's amazing. Um, she actually um convinced me to buy a uh a controller that I never thought, you know. Okay, and so I bought it, you know, because she she's like, I she's like it's great, you know, you should get this one at this website, and blah blah blah. So I ended up getting it. So yeah, I mean I I I'm slowly starting to have connections with them too, as well. And so yeah, everyone's really great, you know, so far.

AJ the SilverFox 19:00

You know, I and that's one thing that I think uh one music in a whole, no matter the genre, just brings people together. Yeah, exactly. You know, and that definitely um, you know, it it's the harmony, it's uh it's the love, it's the the the appreciation that um the the artists have for each other. Um and and again, the people who just love dancing to it that are also um appreciative of what you guys bring. And um I'm I couldn't be happier to uh and I'm gonna say it, I connected uh you and and Roger and Isaac with Sundown Social. So thank you. I yeah, no, of course. No, you're welcome. Um uh but you know, I I I just I'm just so um ecstatic of of Dolfo and and where he's going and and and where do you see him going outside of of you know Houston and and wherever, like where where would you like to see Dolfo go?

Dolfo 20:10

Um maybe I don't know, the same as as Rue-D, where Rue-D has been, you know. I never thought Rue-D would be you know in places like New York, LA, Miami, Chicago, you know, and so hopefully Dolfo, there's a spot for Dolfo there too, as well, you know. So it'll take time, you know. Yeah, like same thing with Rue-D, but if Rue-D can do it, so can Dolfo. That's fucking right.

AJ the SilverFox 20:31

That is fucking right, because at the end of the day, there's still Rudy. You know what I mean? Yeah. Um you know, I I think touching base on all of those things, and I just I I love to just um well one, you could talk about yourself so much, and and so can I. Um, you know, I I last last season when we first interviewed, um, you know, I did my um you know quick mix, but we already did that, and everyone already knows all those questions and everything. So um I'd kind of like to change it a little bit different since um you're here for a second round with me. Um I kind of want to do um I'm friends with the DJ AFTERS . Okay. So,

Afters Stories And Party Culture

AJ the SilverFox 21:16

you know, it's it's a little it's a little different, it's a little dark. It's it's after all everyone's asleep in bed and and only the only us. Only us that are out. So tell me about some kind of like tell me some of your crazy stories. Tell me something uh about um that that Rue- D has experienced, um, you know, being a DJ and and um going to all these events and going to these after hours and everything. Tell me something, tell me something. Oh my god, I don't know.

Dolfo 21:48

You you want some tea. I do want some tea, I love some tea. Uh I don't I don't spill tea, you know, but I I I I mean I can tell you, um I've been to very many um unexpected. At places that I've never thought I would be. Um, like high-rise in New York one time and and at noon, you know, that was the after hours, you know. It was daytime outside with windows surrounding. I can see is a big city around you. And I and a friend of mine was DJing in a sm in an apartment, high-rise apartment, and I I remember standing in there and thinking, like, how did I get here? I took the train there, you know, and everything. But uh, that was the first time I DJ'd in New York, and uh it was in after hours as well. So my my gig started at I believe at five or six in the morning. Holy crap. And ended like at nine. And so the after continued later into the mid noonish afternoon, whatever. And um, I mean I didn't stop there. I went there and then I went later to the Eagle, and so I didn't get home till like late at night. So yeah, that was a crazy night. Yeah. I mean, it cannot, it can be, it can be crazy because it was my first time, but after that, it's like I want to go home. I've didn't I've been there, done that.

AJ the SilverFox 23:06

I I just want to go home. Right. Yeah, you know, I think that that that's more Rue-D's scene versus Dolfo's. Oh yeah, yeah. Um, you know, I actually um I I went to I it used to be 800 Live Um and now it's uh Club Infinity. Okay is what it's called now. Um it's it's the same bones, but it's it's pretty different. Um the crowd obviously is very different. And it was um, I went, Roger had I think his uh post-birthday event their afters. And um the the straights are very different with their afters, um but still very....... you're right, I don't I don't spill the tea, so I won't say anything. Um but you know, I mean I think there's there's afters for everyone and everything. You know, a lot of the DJs that I've met through Sundown Social, they do their afters as well. And um, why while it might be a little bit different than everybody loves an after. Why not? Why who wants to stop? I never want to stop. Let's just keep on going and going and going.

Dolfo 24:18

Going until your body says no, and then you're like, you know what? You start getting hungry. I just can't walk, you know what I mean? Yeah. I mean, it doesn't matter who what you are, you know. If if you're having a good time, keep having a good time, you know. That's what it's all about, you know. And the afters is there for you. If there's an after, go for it. You know, never been to an after, go to one, you know, check it out, you know, experience it. You know, I know Bexar Haus throws really amazing afters.

AJ the SilverFox 24:40

That's right. And PS, by the way, we are live on location at Bexar Haus. Um, so everyone who, if you know, you know, it's one of those things. So um but what is how that's gonna go. Um, you know, I I just want to, I'm I'm so excited and and look forward to um what's what's becoming and and your continuous evolution and and you know, Rudy being a chameleon and and just I don't care if you have a hundred alter egos. I'm gonna I'm gonna show up for every single one of them. Um any any last closing words for um our listeners out there?

Dolfo 25:29

Um just keep following your dream, you know, and uh don't take no for an answer,

Closing Advice And Sendoff

Dolfo 25:35

you know, within you. Yeah, because you can do anything you want to you wanna do. As long as you put your heart and your soul and everything to it, you can make it happen.

AJ the SilverFox 25:46

The truest words from uh my dearest friend Rudy... Dolfo. Um again, thank you so much for joining me. Thank you. Um, it's been an absolute pleasure, and um uh, you know, we'll we'll have another afters and I'll I'll I'll get something out of you eventually. Um but listeners, thank you so much for joining me for episode one of season two. This has been I'm friends with the DJ. It's me, your host, AJ the Silver Fox, with again my dearest friend Dolfo. Um, we'll catch you next time. Bye guys.