These days, everyone seems to be a DJ, but no one is quite like the crowd charmer DJ Reo Mendoza. As the world’s number one DJ Tiesto puts it, “A real DJ is someone who can play for a crowd.” And get the crowd going until sunrise and thereafter is DJ Reo’s forte! Known for his eclectic brand of dance and house music, he inadvertently began his career in Manila back in 2000. At a time when House mu
sic was hitting the world in huge waves, “messing around” on the decks at a local club paid off as crowds took to his infectious jamming and his great potential was shortly recognized. He devoted the next few years to honing his skill on the Manila nightclub circuit until he landed the title of resident DJ at Porch Bar, where he began to build a reputation while playing at other hot venues such as Club V and Mustang. In 2004, Reo made the big move to the tropical island of Boracay, dubbed the Ibiza of the Philippines. A melting pot for free spirits and creative souls, the island vibe allowed him to discover and embrace his passion for dance music, combining his Hip Hop and RnB influences. As resident DJ for the legendary Hey Jude Bar, which hosted the largest beach parties all-year-round, DJ Reo emerged on top of his game. From 2006 to 2007, he had the privilege of opening for some big names such as The Martinez Brothers, Spen, Defected Copyright, Simon Dunmore, Karizma and Quentin Harris, with a few collaborative live sets with percussionists and dancers like Louisito Quintero, Shovell, Tribu Manila and The Body and Soul Dancers. With a thriving career, he ventured off shore, first traveling to Taipei and landing regular gigs at top clubs, which proved to be his electronic phase where he deviated from genre music and progressed into a distinct “feel good” space that is unmistakably DJ Reo. He admits that he is greatly influenced by great DJs such as Lil' Louie Vega, Dennis Ferrer, The Martinez Brothers, Spen, Karizma, Mr.V, Joe Clausell, Onsulade, Quentin Harris, and many more, including DJ comrades Erwin Edralin, Jimmy "Patch" Gustillo, Manster, Kristian Hernandez, Gilbert Yueng, Ivan Sit, Apollo and Red-I, to name a few. He humbly ascribes his diverse sound to this vast influence of creativity, as evident in his live sets that take one on a musical journey from soulful house to funky, to deep and tech. Reflecting his musical range, his set could start with a generous dose of disco, to a good handful of house & deep house, sprinkled with tech house & techno, with a dash of progressive house, and a spoonful of trance. Giving it all a brilliant mix in the hands of a fearless pro, it makes for an unpredictable and exhilarating joyride to the moon! He took this vibe to Hong Kong in 2006 where he immersed in and captivated the club scene, meeting incredible friends for life, playing to the crowd and rocking each and every night, particularly at club luminary Gilbert Yeung’s famous Dragon-i. Following this 2-year sojourn, he returns to Manila with a fresh and inspired perspective, and joins Curv Entertainment – a DJ company comprised of five likeminded visionaries who share a common passion and frequency for life & music. In 2008, he makes his comeback to the party island of Boracay where he continues to breathe new life into the dark night under the watchful stars and ever-present moon. For Reo, a good DJ lives and breathes his music. Admitting that there is no formula to a make a good DJ, his years of experience however, taught him more than a few good tricks. With all humility, he muses, “A good DJ can pump up the crowd just enough to keep them wanting, but not too much to send them home. A good DJ can bring down the music to let the crowd have a breather or a drink, and then fills the dance floor right back up. A good DJ doesn't only play the newest and hottest tracks, but knows how to go back to his roots. Fueled by a passion for music, a DJ is dedicated to his craft and his audience.”
Unashamed of his populist appeal, his raw musical sincerity continues to elevate the crowd’s musical journeys to incredibly euphoric states. When he’s not fantasizing about his musical ambition of creating his own music and performing live before the world stage, you will find him teaching and harnessing the winds at kiteboarding along the pristine white sandy beaches by day, and arresting the Boracay crowds at AREA 51 as a resident DJ, by night.
