Bringing Back Timeless Beats

By Thomas Dachik

Evan Rodriguez, also known as “Ersounds,” is one of the most experienced Disc Jockeys (DJs) at Purchase, and is set to host the Stood’s Halloween Party at 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 1.

Evan Rodriguez started DJing at the age of 5. Under the wing of his DJ father, Raul Rodriguez, and godfather, Efrain Chiclana, Evan Rodriguez watched as they made their way through the Bronx, Spanish Harlem, and ultimately up to bigger stages, working awards shows and other formal events.

Evan Rodriguez is now a sophomore following in his family’s footsteps, taking on gigs at Edison Ballroom in the Bronx and high-energy house parties and festivals, most recently New York City’s Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Evan Rodriguez performing at one of his shows. (Photo via Raul Rodriguez)

Evan Rodriguez came into his freshman year in 2022 with a hefty load of experience with networking and booking his own gigs. He learned how to set up lights, as well as electrical wiring for his turntables and speakers working with Raul Rodriguez and Chiclana.

As he grew older, Evan Rodriguez always worked on his craft at home in the Bronx. Whether it was for five hours after school or entire days over the weekends, he never stopped.

A young Evan Rodriguez practicing mixing beats on his turntable. (Photo via Raul Rodriguez)

On top of his work ethic, Rodriguez also inherited his father’s love for ’80s house music and hip-hop.

“He’s my inspiration,” Evan Rodriguez said. “He founded me in being disciplined, straightforward, and, when it comes to music, making sure you knock it outta the park.”

Evan Rodriguez (left) and his father, Raul Rodriguez (right), at the East 111th St. Old Timer’s Day Parade in 2019 (Photo via Raul Rodriguez)

Raul Rodriguez described Evan Rodriquez as an “old soul.” Evan Rodriguez's son has strong aspirations to return to the ’80s club culture and bring a new energy to the party scene.

“My goal in life is to bring that scene back,” Evan Rodriguez said. “To really make people feel good on the dance floor again.”

Raul Rodriguez and Chiclana grew up in large families that loved music and parties. When they were 16-17 years old, they began booking gigs and working their way up with the help of some family, mostly Chiclana’s cousins.

In time, they founded Cousin’s Incorporated, a family-run DJ organization that has been in business now for close to 40 years. Despite not growing up in the same era, Raul Rodriguez and Chiclana introduced Evan Rodriguez to the '80s disco, house and hip-hop of their time.

Raul Rodriguez (second from left), Efrain Chiclana, (far right), and other members of Cousins Incorporated in the early '80s. (Photo via Raul Rodriguez)

With an inherited love for these genres of music, Evan Rodriguez became involved in the group at a young age, learning how to handle electrical appliances, lighting and sound working numerous smaller jobs alongside Chiclana.

Chiclana admits that at any moment, he could give Evan Rodriguez a well-paying job if he wanted to. However, he feels school is what Evan Rodriguez needs. It is for this reason that Raul Rodriguez encouraged Evan Rodriguez to attend Purchase.

“Later on in the future, Evan’s gonna have his work cut out for him,” Raul Rodriguez said. “For right now, we’re molding him.”

“I’m just trying to show him ‘don’t get stuck with one entity,’” Chiclana said. “Be a person with different skills. Just in case one door opens, you know can open that door because you have other skills.”

Now a sophomore arts management major, Rodriguez reminisces on his first semester at Purchase last year, which was highlighted by his performances at the Stood. He recalls the fear he had coming into the Halloween weekend last year when he hosted one of his first parties at the Stood. He feels Purchase is a much “slower” atmosphere than the more “fast-paced” environment of the Bronx.

“Coming in as a freshman, it is pretty scary,” Evan Rodriguez admitted. “You come [to Purchase] and it’s a whole different culture, different environment. I question what other people are gonna think of me.”

"When I think of it like that, I tend to think. . . OK," Evan Rodriguez continued. "Push that aside, and let me show them what I can do. Let me show them I know what I can do, and I know I can put on a show and make people enjoy themselves.”

Evan Rodriguez performing in the Whitson’s room during Halloween weekend in 2023. (Photo by Thomas Dachik)

Evan Rodriguez also expressed appreciation for Bernie Manzolillo, former general programming coordinator at the Stood, in his efforts to help him book his first gigs last year. Manzolillo and Evan Rodriguez met during orientation last summer.

Manzolillo booked Evan Rodriguez for last year’s jump-off party, the very first Stood event of the year. He admitted that he would not have reached out to Evan Rodriguez initially if it were not for the fact that no other DJs were available. However, despite knowing Evan Rodriguez had never performed at Purchase, Manzolillo was pleasantly surprised.

“I was like, ‘I’ll give this kid a shot,’” Manzolillo said. “I contacted him, and he took the gig immediately. He was just so eager to play, and his set was really good.”

Evan Rodriguez’s “fluid” approach to performing Manzolillo says is something to be admired. Manzolillo is learning to DJ himself and finds difficulty in sensing the crowd and knowing when to switch the beat.

“Every DJ is different about how they wanna play and interact with the crowd,” he said. “A lot of DJs go in and are gonna play what they’re gonna play.”

This is sometimes the case with Evan Rodriguez.

“When I play, I try to hit every aspect,” Evan Rodriguez said. “But [sometimes] I’m at the Stood, I wanna do my thing. Because I know if I do my thing, I can resonate more.”

“It’s a very great skill to have,” Manzolillo said. “He’s able to do his own thing, but to also switch it up if the crowd is not feeling it. He’s really able to work with the crowd, and I really appreciate that.”

Evan Rodriguez values crowd engagement, a skill he learned from his father and Chiclana. He and Raul Rodriguez taught Evan Rodriguez to be a DJ who interacts with the audience. Rather than looking down at the table, Evan Rodriguez’s eyes are always moving between the turntables and the people in front of him, navigating the reaction of his crowd, and actively making changes accordingly.

“Don’t just look down on what you’re doing,” Chiclana said. “You’ve gotta look up and move with the crowd, dance with them, and entertain them.”

Chiclana recalls the most recent Old Timer’s Day Parade in New York City, where he sensed the crowd losing energy during the set. “You’re losing them, you’re losing them,” he said to Rodriguez. Chiclana feels that many DJs have their heads down and are “in another world” when performing, keeping them from seeing the crowd’s reaction.

Raul Rodriguez (left) and Efrain Chiclana (right), at the 111th Street Old Timers Day Parade in 2019. (Photo via Raul Rodriguez)

“If you see you are losing them, you’ve gotta change your whole schedule,” Chiclana said. “You’ve gotta change it around to get them back up. And I show [Evan] that.”

Raul Rodriguez is Evan’s right-hand man during most of his sets at the Stood, standing on stage with him as he plays his music. With an extra set of eyes on stage, Raul Rodriguez helps Evan Rodriguez navigate crowd responses to the music, and actively communicates with him on stage.

One common motion Raul Rodriguez makes to Evan Rodriguez is to twist his wrist, which he describes as a “signal” to Rodriguez to “switch it up.” He feels Evan Rodriguez may focus too heavily on hip-hop and R&B when performing at Purchase, and that he must maintain “balance” when performing, knowing when to keep hitting the crowd with the same music, but also knowing when it's due for change.

“In this era, you can’t please everybody,” Raul Rodriguez said. “But, as a DJ, you have to entertain and put on a show.”