40 Questions: Rex The Dog

Rex The Dog has had a particularly fruitful and storied career that’s seen him conquer several genres of club music across multiple decades. From his work as JX, to Rex The Dog, he’s amassed millions of plays on his high quality studio productions and played to crowds at venues like Panorama Bar and Nitsa.

The British artist is known for taking an analogue-heavy approach to his studio sessions, and has even went as far as putting together his very own custom built modular rig – giving his sound a tailor-made touch which you won’t find elsewhere.

Rex The Dog releases have come on record labels like Kitsune, Konichiwa Records, Hundehaus Records, and Kompakt over the years, and he’s still keeping things fresh in 2023, three decades on from when he first broke through as JX.

We welcome him to our 40 Questions series this week, where we talk about him playing after The Prodigy, his obsession with tea, his aspirations surrounding MDMA, and more. Read the full 40 Questions with Rex The Dog below.

1. Where are you right now and what are you doing?

I’m at my kitchen counter, baking a potato the old analogue way and it’s taking ages (the microwave is broken).

2. What year were you born?

1974.

3. Do you have a nickname?

No, I’ve always wanted a nickname. It’s kind of validating to have one isn’t it? I can’t claim it’s ‘Rex’ because I chose that myself.

4. What’s the coolest thing in your house?

I have an old TEAC reel to reel tape recorder, the same one Depeche Mode used to use in the early 80s. It’s dope.

5. How would you describe yourself?

Neurotic, conscientious, goofy.

6. Worst experience as a DJ?

Getting told “the resident is coming back on in 5 minutes” halfway through my set because I was playing totally the wrong stuff AND clanging all over the place. It wasn’t long ago.

7. Best experience as a DJ?

I played live immediately after The Prodigy on a Spanish festival stage once, it was some lucky scheduling, but I have never had such a hyped audience and it was a big buzz.

8. Favourite record label?

Too many! Public Possession? Kompakt? Diynamic? All time favourite would be Mute.

9. What’s your biggest weakness?

Nostalgia.

10. First record you ever paid for?

Human League – Don’t You Want Me.

11. What’s your morning routine?

Tea, Wordle, tea, tea, tea, exercise, shower, tea, studio.

12. Your dream collaboration?

Christine & The Queens.

13. Tell us something we shouldn’t know about you?

My dog is imaginary.

14. Who’s your biggest inspiration outside of music?

Calvin & Hobbes.

15. And in the industry?

I don’t really feel part of an industry. I have a long term manager, Eric, and he’s been influential on me across all my projects. I suppose that’s quite an industry thing isn’t it, to have a manager?

16. Ever smoked?

Not really.

17. Ever done drugs?

Only the occasional joint. I’m so curious to experience MDMA but I never did. I’m too wary of knocking my mental equilibrium out of balance. If I could do it under medical supervision I would.

18. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

A Casio CZ230S keyboard in 1986.

19. And the best gift you’ve ever given?

I made an illuminated fairground type sign for my friend once, and she liked it a lot I think. I cut it out of MDF and wired up all the lights.

20. What’s the coolest place you’ve ever been to?

I really like Berlin, especially Teufelsberg, the site of the old Cold War listening station.

21. And one place you want to visit?

I want to go on that train that goes across the Rocky Mountains.

22. If you weren’t in the music industry, what would you be doing?

Scraping a living with illustration or graphics maybe. Maybe animation.

23. Worst job you’ve ever had?

I’ve been very lucky not to have had a real job yet.

24. Favourite record right now?

Today it’s Ken Doh – I Need A Lover. Yesterday it was DYAN – Looking For Knives.

25. And the best record ever made?

‘Blue Monday’ obviously. Oh no, hold on, it’s Yazoo – Only You.

26. One thing you couldn’t live without?

Tea.

27. Your favourite food?

Biscuits. I can’t have any kind of biscuits in the house. I eat them all within 3 minutes.

28. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

I haven’t really eaten anything weird, I’m a bit of a baby when it comes to eating brains and stuff.

29. Who would you want to play you in a movie?

Young me: Elmo. Grown up me: Oscar The Grouch.

30. What’s something you’re passionate about besides music?

Nostalgic technology. My favourite YouTube channel is Techmoan.

31. Favourite club you’ve played?

Panorama Bar.

32. Favourite festival you’ve played?

Creamfields Andalucia.

33. Craziest story of being on the road?

I haven’t really got any that I can own up to. There was one in Amsterdam with a potted plant but I can’t tell it while the other participants are still alive.

34. Weirdest request as a DJ?

“Stop playing all this techno shit, no one likes it.”

35. If you had one super power what would it be?

Beat match flawlessly.

36. Late sleeper or early riser?

Early riser. Not by choice.

37. Strangest video you’ve watched on YouTube?

The same one as everyone else. Eeew.

38. The top thing on your bucket list?

Sleep in a cozy lighthouse in a storm.

39. Most memorable moment of your life so far?

I went on The Wide Awake Club (kids TV show) when I was 12 to talk about my hobby which was drawing Birds Of Prey. I met Timmy Mallet and Michaela Strachan. Timmy Mallet said ‘crap’ off air about something or other and I was appalled someone off the TV would use that word.

40. Will you ever be done with music?

Of course not.

Find more 40 Questions HERE.