About this episode
In this Loud & Unfiltered ADE special, Inside Amsterdam, Benny Rodrigues joins Alex Jukes and Grego O’Halloran for an unguarded conversation about authenticity, artistry and the evolution of dance music culture. A true Dutch electronic music icon, Benny discusses the early Rotterdam record-shop days that shaped his career, the lost art of crate-digging, his resistance to social-media pressure, and why he still refuses to use a smartphone. From DC-10 to Bret Amsterdam, from record stores to residencies, Benny reflects on three decades of keeping house and techno honest - with humour, perspective and heart. What You’ll Hear: How Benny Rodrigues built his career from Rotterdam’s record-store scene Why he still DJs without a smartphone The hidden lessons from the vinyl era and club residencies The effect of social media on creativity and innocence How ADE changed over the years - and why the best meetings still happen on the dance floor The importance of staying pure to your sound and community Benny’s advice for young DJs trying to build a long-term career Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/ Key Moments: 0:00 - Introduction, Guest Welcome & Podcast Overview 0:52 - Who is Benny Rodriguez? Dutch DJ’s Background & Achievements 01:34 - Amsterdam Dance Event: Importance, Culture & Experience 04:13 - Early ADE Memories & Social Networking in the Music Scene 06:15 - The Role of Spontaneity: Meetings, Dance Floors, and Artist Connections 09:14 - Preparing for Gigs: Discovering and Categorizing New Music 11:49 - Social Media’s Impact on the DJ Scene & Artist Authenticity 17:46 - The Loss of Innocence: Social Media, Crowds, and Club Culture 23:01 - Offline Lifestyle: Benny Rodriguez on Not Having a Smartphone 25:35 - Organizing Music: Genres, Playlists, and DJ Methods 26:54 - Influences & Beginnings: DJ Career Origins in Record Shops 34:23 - The Record Shop Era: Stories, Lessons & Scene Development 36:07 - Advice for the Next Generation of DJs & Artists 39:50 - Benny Rodriguez’s Favorite Amsterdam Clubs