Lurking in the shadows, waiting, anticipating, a couple of covert operators take cover before their time in the cavernous confines of yet another hot, sweaty basement. The twosome call themselves Ronin and their rise to prominence is unfolding swiftly..

Ronin's diverse yet coherent sets have secured them appearances at the infamous Village underground (Seventh Day/Superstition), Jaded (Corsica Studios), Subterrain (The Bunker), Oval Space, Ican Studios, Fire/Lightbox (Vauxhall) and The EGG (Kings Cross) as well as a weekly slot on Radio Provoque.

Delivering a perfect blend of timeless techno to lift any dancefloor whilst maintaining a deep powerful and melodic tint, from dub to techno and back to house as well as within music itself, Ronin’s knowledge and experience became intertwined in 2012 after meeting through a mutual friend. They quickly realised that they were the only two in their group who had an affinity with ‘stupid repetitive music’ - they formed a close bond and decided to dedicate their lives to music.

Rudi quit a full-time role in finance to dedicate his life to music, while Jena has followed suit, jacking in his day job to focus 100% of his time and energy on making it all the way to the top. With stints in New York, Hong Kong and Japan, Rudi’s vision is very much global, understanding that the universal language of music can both unite and excite in equal measure, regardless of where you’re DJing or who you’re playing to – the key is to adapt and be ready for anything. Likewise Jena’s background also permeates into this open-minded ethos, growing up on heavy metal and playing bass as a youngster before the likes of Aphex Twin turned him on the boundless possibilities of electronic music.

Rudi’s love affair with music came from the very beginning, inspired by his jazz musician grandfather who used to perform with Frank Sinatra, The Ratpack, Elvis and numerous other icons from the past. Initially he took up the guitar and went down the band route, but hypnotic kick drum worked its magic and lured Rudi into its web of 4x4 beats. He was hooked, and regular weekends lost in Berlin’s endless list of dark, techno-filled liberal club spaces, as well as visits to many of the UK’s best electronic venues helped cement his love for the tougher side of electronic music.

Ronin pride themselves on embodying the ethos that the job of a DJ is to entertain and educate. The result of their staunch beliefs and hard work has been regular appearances at one of London’s best-known clubs, Egg, where they have built a sterling reputation. On top of this they hold a residency with London party promoter Troupe, and appear for Running Wild in south London on a regular basis. In tandem with their DJing, the twosome are well aware that a great emphasis is placed on producing one’s own music. An extended period of focused studio action has resulted in the duo amassing a catalogue of their own basement-ready tracks, which they are currently sitting on, waiting for the right label. Their endeavours don’t stop there, as they recently secured slot on Radio Provoque, where they will be appearing on a weekly basis with many special guests already booked in.

It’s only been a short while, but Ronin are already proving to be both dextrous and forthright in their sound. Their dynamism and determination combined with a forward-thinking approach to DJing and a distinct, darker sound means these two are bound to evolve into an unstoppable force…

Raves & Dances

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D'n'B United Vol.2