Mike Rukus has long-strived to kick the bucket from underneath run of the mill music. From a young age Rukus developed a strong distaste for mediocre music, and as a toddler his penchant for [milk] bottling other children with poor musical taste became widely revered in the Sydney pre-school scene. After serving a significant period of time in the naughty corner, Rukus soon realised that a taste for The Wiggles was no reason to assault other children, so in order to subvert dominant musical paradigms, he would have to exist as an antithesis to musical norms.
A profound involvement in piano training from a very young age was the beginning of an impressive symbiotic relationship between Rukus and music. As Andre Segovia once suggested, ‘the piano is a monster that screams when you touch its teeth’, and it was this monster that Rukus chose to straddle and ride with the passion and fervor of a semi-professional Dungeons and Dragons player. A musical bond with his newfound instrument was to ensue, resulting in a coexistence of love and joy that would inevitably culminate in Rukus beginning his first foray into the DJ world. In an industry where true talent is clouded by an over-saturation of masqueraders, Mike Rukus’ musical talent and understanding has allowed him to hone his skills, thus creating a harmony with the turntables comparable to a Mississippi gospel choir.
Humble beginnings on the decks soon progressed to residencies at Candy’s, Ruby Rabbit, Sobar and Cabana, where Rukus was able to refine his skills and his understanding of crowd dynamics in a live setting. In 2010 Mike Rukus made his biggest steps up the DJ ladder, gaining recognition from his peers and crowds alike, which helped him to a spot in the epic 2010 Future Music Festival line up. Residencies at Sydney clubbing hotspots Empire and Soho soon followed and like a cumulonimbus cloud and/or X-Men comic, Rukus took the nation by storm.
The widely diverse array of big name DJ/producers that Mike Rukus has supported is testament to his varied musical appeal. Having played alongside David Guetta, The Prodigy, Stephan Bodzin, Switch, Sebastien Leger, DJ Falcon (Daft Crew), Stupid Fresh and Roger Sanchez, promoters have been able to rely on Rukus to get parties started and keep them going long into the night with his eclectic style and interchangeable flavour.
Like an incompetent serial killer Rukus has managed to leave his footprint on the Sydney music scene. In supporting Australian acts such as The Aston Shuffle, Hook’n’Sling, Tommy Trash, Tom Piper and Sydney stalwarts Ben Morris, James Taylor, Matt Nukewood, Brendan Fing and Ember, Rukus has become an accomplice to the formation of a sundry Sydney dance music scene, which is gaining new styles and genres every week. The relevance of different styles to Mike Rukus’ musical ethos is indisputable. No sound gets the cold shoulder from Rukus, and it is this approach to music that has aided him in achieving his all-encompassing DJ ability.
His musical aptitude will in no sense be restricted to the ones and twos. Production is his current call of duty, where he is putting his musical dexterity and understanding of crowds to good use when he crafts massive bombs to drop on Australian dance floors. If you’re lucky enough, you might just be caught up in the explosion(and laboured pun) that is Mike Rukus!