Biography

Portland-based DJ and producer Ronak (pronounced RAW-NICK) brings passion, originality, and energy to the world of house music. Inspired by artists like Chris Lake, James Hype, and John Summit, Ronak’s melodically driven tracks combine a solid foundation of tech house with subtle elements of world music to create a spooky and energetic vibe that immediately inspires movement and release. Established as a DJ in the Portland club scene, Ronak has performed at venues like No Vacancy, Holocene, and Tube PDX, among many others. From 2014 to 2019, Ronak worked as an event promoter for Verified, a monthly Portland club party, and has been a staple presence in the Portland DJ scene ever since.

Musically inspired from a young age, Ronak started playing guitar when he was only 12 years old after being introduced to the music of Jimi Hendrix. Entranced by Hendrix’s unbridled sound, Ronak persuaded his parents to buy him an electric guitar, and his journey with music and creativity has been ongoing ever since. Throughout his years as a student, Ronak focused on learning guitar and playing in bands, but when a wave of new electronic music hit during Ronak’s college years, he shifted gears toward music production. Ronak taught himself how to make dance tracks on his computer and spent four years releasing bootlegs on YouTube under a now defunct alias. Eventually, Ronak decided to start releasing original songs under his real name and sharing them to major streaming platforms. His first single, “Sahara,” was released in 2018 and has amassed over 80k plays on Spotify to date.

In 2019, Ronak released his second single, “Bloodstone,” and plans to follow these up with even more single releases this year. With just two releases out so far, Ronak has already amassed thousands of followers online, and it’s not hard to understand why. Ronak’s musical sensibilities are unique and unmistakable. His tracks create a world that feels entirely new even while fitting clearly into the realm of house. With their highly textured sound, visceral percussion, and moody yet driving melodies, Ronak’s tracks are addictive and almost impossible not to move to.