Patrick Rood, a.k.a. The Captain, is a man of many talents. Vice President and Manager of Trouble & Bass–one of the top labels in the bass-electro arena, DJ, event coordinator, art director, filmmaker, and model; this sober socialite and art school graduate has, over the years, become one of the most prominent figures in the New York party scene and worldwide. On Saturday, May 21, The Captain will be bringing his bass-heavy blasters and boundless energy to NY Deli for the monthly Weird dance party. Here Patrick answers our questions on his life, his projects, Trouble & Bass, his friendship with Drop the Lime, and other random trivia!
Patrick Rood, a.k.a. The Captain, is a man of many talents. Vice President and Manager of Trouble & Bass–one of the top labels in the bass-electro arena, DJ, event coordinator, art director, filmmaker, and model; this sober socialite and art school graduate has, over the years, become one of the most prominent figures in the New York party scene and worldwide. On Saturday, May 21, The Captain will be bringing his bass-heavy blasters and boundless energy to NY Deli for the monthly Weird dance party. Here Patrick answers our questions on his life, his projects, Trouble & Bass, his friendship with Drop the Lime, and other random trivia!
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Westfield, MA, and attended college in Savannah, GA.
How did you end up in Brooklyn?
I graduated with an art degree in film/video from Savannah College of Art and Design and moved to NYC for an art directing internship on the movie Sherrybaby. But they didn’t want to pick me up from Brooklyn to go to New Jersey to the set every day, so they stopped calling me, and there I was with no job and no place to live.
How did Trouble & Bass come about?
Drop The Lime started Trouble & Bass when he was attending Bard College. But it really took shape and began when he returned from his stay in Berlin in 2006, and started the crew with Star Eyes, Math Head and Zack Shadetek. It was started as a label and party to showcase and play out a wide spectrum of bass music, from grime, dubstep, to baltimore club, jungle, and electro all mixed up.
How did you get into DJing?
I started when I was in Savannah. I just wanted to start dance parties and figured I would have to do it myself to play exactly what my friends and I wanted to hear.
How did you come up with the DJ name The Captain?
I lived in a three bedroom apartment with like five kids, and I lived in the same house for three or so years. Over the years people came and went, but I had been the first to live there; I was #1, the captain.
What is your role at T&B?
I’m the Vice President. I basically manage a lot of the everyday tasks, and am a project manager, label manager, event coordinator, art director, and sometimes artist manager. I overlook our new bookings branch, I do all the social media stuff, I produce and direct almost all of our music videos. Lots and lots more. Check the recent music video I directed/produced for Deathface.
What is your favorite type of music to spin? Who are some of your favorite artists?
That’s hard to say. My sets contain everything from heavy bass and tropical to dubstep and hip hop. Some of my favorite artists recently: Kavsrave, Girl Unit, Ursa Major, Flinch, T. Williams, Untold, Redlight, Zombies For Money.
How does the NY party scene compare to other cities?
It’s not as obvious as it used to be, since a lot of the places all over the U.S. have really taken on electronic music to a high degree. You can hear a lot of the same music that used to be kind of underground in NYC on main stages all over [at] clubs and festivals. I still think NYC has a bit of grime and oddness to it. Lots of different kinds of party people intermingling. I think that’s my favorite part of the NYC party scene and what makes it stand out.
What is your favorite place to DJ?
U Street Music Hall, Washington DC.
How did you meet Luca (Drop the Lime)?
He made fun of me for being a hipster at Bar 13, NYC (RIP) in 2005 or so, but I was talking to a girl he was friends with so we were introduced. I booked him for my party (Cut) and we’ve been best buds ever since.
What’s the significance of your matching tattoos? Who has them? (Can you send a pic?)
It’s a friend tattoo we got a while back: me, Star Eyes, Drop the Lime and Michael Cohn, who works at Mishka. All done by Scott Campbell at Saved, and all a bit different. Pic is here:
You’re a known sober socialite in the NY party scene. On a scale from 1-10 how annoying is it to be around wasted people?
Hmmmmm. 7-8 maybe. A lot of people don’t really know I don’t drink since I’m out a bunch and around wasted people so often. Almost everyone I know drinks. It always comes as a surprise. I’ve gotten used to it and there’s always a time limit; after 3 am is when people start to get real messy and more annoying.
Have you ever been drunk?
Nope.
Do you have any crazy groupie/crazed fan stories?
Not yet!
Have you ever DJ’d Richmond before?
I DJ’ed for Cobra Krames and Nick the Dude a long time ago at Nanci Raygun [now known as Strange Matter -ed.]. It was a hot and sweaty good time.
Do you have any projects you’re working on currently?
I’m finishing a Scion AV presents Trouble & Bass Sounds of NYC compilation CD/10″. This will probably be out by the time I play in Richmond. I’m going to start producing/directing a big five year anniversary video for T&B, a second Deathface video and probably a lot more. I just got back from Austin, Miami and two big NYC /DC parties w/ Toddla, T, Redlight, Untold and Canblaster. So I’m a little more open after this!
Are you still modeling?
Sometimes. I just did a look book for Mishka Spring 2011. (Or see a teaser video here.)
What is your animal spirit?
Snake.
Are you sexy?
You tell me.
