DJ Rolando

Real Name:
Rolando Ray Rocha
Profile:
Rolando grew up in south west Detroit, a Hispanic district, he was heavily influenced by his cultural Latin rhythms and percussion. Inspired from an early age by his musician father, he pursued his own interest in music and became well known and respected within the community. It was later when he heard Jeff Mills in 1985 as "The Wizard" that he discovered the innovative sounds of Techno. Through a mutual friend he was introduced to Mike Banks and joined Underground Resistance in 1994.

In 1999 'Knights of The Jaguar' although not Rolando's first release on UR turned perceptions of Techno on their head, breaking into other genres of dance music and becoming a classic in the boxes of DJs such as Tenaglia, Morillo, Oakenfold, and Gilles Peterson. The track has a long legacy of reworking and lives on fifteen years later inspiring audiences from all genres.

As of November 2004, Rolando left both Underground Resistance and his Los Hermanos project behind.
2014 Rolando has launched his own label R3 (Roland Rocha Records) and will exclusively release his own music on his label.
Rolando now a Dj for almost thirty years continues to work internationally as a Dj and continues to hold a residency at the notorious and enigmatic Berlin club Berghain.
Sites:
Aliases:
Variations:

Artist

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Singles & EPs

UR-035 The Aztec Mystic — DJ Rolando DJ Rolando The Aztec Mystic(12") Underground Resistance UR-035 US 1996 Sell This Version
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UR-015, 4W-291 Aztlan / DayStar Rising — DJ Rolando Mad Mike* And DJ Rolando The Aztec Mystic* / Octave One Mad Mike* And DJ Rolando The Aztec Mystic* / Octave One - Aztlan / DayStar Rising Underground Resistance, 430 West UR-015, 4W-291 US 1998 Sell This Version
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UR-049 Knights Of The Jaguar EP — DJ Rolando The Aztec Mystic A.K.A DJ Rolando The Aztec Mystic A.K.A DJ Rolando - Knights Of The Jaguar EP (EP, Single, Maxi) Underground Resistance UR-049 US 1999 Sell This Version
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none Jaguar / Welcome To The Pleasuredome / Music — DJ Rolando DJ Rolando / Frankie Goes To Hollywood / Madonna DJ Rolando / Frankie Goes To Hollywood / Madonna - Jaguar / Welcome To The Pleasuredome / Music(Acetate, 12") masterpiece none UK 2000 Sell This Version
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73dsr/rld1 Hiatus EP — DJ Rolando Rolando* Hiatus EP (EP) Delsin 73dsr/rld1 Netherlands 2008 Sell This Version
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SVALB02A The Afterlife EP — DJ Rolando Rolando* The Afterlife EP (EP) Saved Records SVALB02A UK 2009 Sell This Version
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SAVED074 The Test — DJ Rolando Nic Fanciulli & Rolando* Nic Fanciulli & Rolando* - The Test Saved Records SAVED074 UK 2011 Sell This Version
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o-ton43 5 To 9 EP — DJ Rolando Rolando* 5 To 9 EP (EP) Ostgut Ton o-ton43 Germany 2010 Sell This Version
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SAVEDLTD005 The Lost Mixes Part 2 EP — DJ Rolando Nic Fanciulli & Rolando* Nic Fanciulli & Rolando* - The Lost Mixes Part 2 EP(12", EP, Ltd) Saved Records SAVEDLTD005 UK 2012 Sell This Version
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o-ton66 D & N's EP — DJ Rolando Rolando* D & N's EP (EP) Ostgut Ton o-ton66 Germany 2013 Sell This Version
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R3002 Wheesht EP — DJ Rolando Rolando* Wheesht EP (EP) R3 Roland Rocha Records R3002 UK 2014
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R3003 FGR EP — DJ Rolando Rolando* FGR EP(2xFile, MP3, EP, 320) R3 Roland Rocha Records R3003 2014
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R3001 Juu EP — DJ Rolando Rolando* Juu EP(3xFile, MP3, EP, 320) R3 Roland Rocha Records R3001 2014
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R3004 Hot Box EP — DJ Rolando Rolando* Hot Box EP(2xFile, MP3, EP, 320) R3 Roland Rocha Records R3004 2014
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R3005 Undercover EP — DJ Rolando Rolando* Undercover EP(2xFile, MP3, EP, 320) R3 Roland Rocha Records R3005 2015
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R3006 Time To Jack EP — DJ Rolando DJ Rolando Time To Jack EP(3xFile, MP3, EP, 320) R3 Roland Rocha Records R3006 UK 2017
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DJ Mixes

SVECS-1 Somewhere In Detroit Presents Techno — DJ Rolando DJ Rolando Somewhere In Detroit Presents Techno(Cass, Mixed) Submerge (3) SVECS-1 US 1995 Sell This Version
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HSCS-1, CS-001 The Mix Of Happy Soul (It's A House Thang) — DJ Rolando DJ Rolando The Mix Of Happy Soul (It's A House Thang)(Cass, Mixed) Happy Soul, Happy Soul HSCS-1, CS-001 US 1995 Sell This Version
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URCD-049 The Aztec Mystic Mix — DJ Rolando DJ Rolando The Aztec Mystic Mix Underground Resistance URCD-049 US 1999 Sell This Version
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UR-3000 CD Vibrations — DJ Rolando DJ Rolando Vibrations(CD, Comp, Mixed) Underground Resistance UR-3000 CD US 2002 Sell This Version
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NRKMXV016, NRKMX016 Nite:Life 016 — DJ Rolando Rolando* Nite:Life 016 (Comp) NRK Sound Division NRKMXV016, NRKMX016 UK 2003 Sell This Version
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URLE 001 Live @ UR Party 2002 — DJ Rolando DJ Rolando Live @ UR Party 2002(CD, Mixed) Underground Resistance URLE 001 US 2003 Sell This Version
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SWEATCD-01 Sweat Volume One — DJ Rolando DJ Rolando Sweat Volume One(CD, Mixed) Sweat Records SWEATCD-01 US 2003 Sell This Version
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NRKCD 025 From There To Here And Now — DJ Rolando Rolando* From There To Here And Now (Comp) NRK Sound Division NRKCD 025 UK 2006 Sell This Version
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FR018-6 Field Recording 018 — DJ Rolando Rolando* Field Recording 018(File, MP3, Comp, Mixed, 320) Field Records (3) FR018-6 Netherlands 2010

Reviews

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jonathan_armstrong

jonathan_armstrong

June 26, 2003
Rolando will probably always be known for his "Knights of the Jaguar", which is definitely a good track. All of his other work on/as Los Hermanos is very good as well. Check out his remix he did for Kraftwerk's "Expo 2000" for a good example of his sparse, lush, melodic sound.

But can he DJ?

Hell f---ing yes... I was lucky enough to catch his set at the last Detroit Electronic Music Festival and I can't say enough good things about this guy. After being into this scene almost twelve years I've seen hundreds of DJ's, and I'd easily place him in the top five, easy... he played tons of classics, doubled up two copies of "Strings of Life" and staggered the piano break perfectly before dropping in all sorts of minimal techno classics - "French Kiss", "Red 2", etc. Only a skipping record towards the end marred this otherwise perfect set. 90% of DJ's who try to mix on more than two turntables have no business doing so. This guy is in the other 10%... if he continues to throw down like this I don't think there's much stopping him in the years to come. Highly recommended for either techno or house fans.

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