Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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Watching the Fordinho play a party guarantees many sweet surprises. One of today’s most talented DJs, he plays sets that are selected for fun. In each one, there seems to be something new, or something old that’s new to you, stitched to the tracks you love. And you know, music aside for a minute, the man is one of the best-liked DJs on the scene. That’s more than a sweet surprise. That’s the Fordinho.

The Fordinho is Ryan James Ford. Digging through crates since the early ’90s, he became addicted to this job after some younger years raving and playing warehouse parties, and a few less-young years growing up on either side of Canada. He moved to Montreal for school in sound design, and did little time working in metal factories. But it was an internship at Ninjatune that pressed his interest in vinyl further. When the Fordinho moved back to Calgary, he played a popular weekly gig at the infamously dirty-fun Night Gallery. Opening for local favorites like Smalltown DJs and Pump, he was inspired to push his art to another level, becoming known for bringing fearless musical breadth and a determination to make a fun party every night.
That determination has recently allowed the big guy to play awesome sets in places and with people he’s always respected. The Rub, Cosmo Baker’s long running party in Brooklyn, was a pilgrimage for Ford in 2008 that he’ll play at again this year. That borough is where his musical influences were at work from the earliest days; he describes the opportunity to finally play there as “an amazing feeling. I got to play New York rap in New York; (it) doesn’t really get better than that.” And he’s since worked with an impressive list of artists, representing a wider variety of styles. A peep at it shows international names like Fake Blood, Boy 8-bit, Treasure Fingers, Kid Sister, Flying Lotus, DJ Mehdi, Sinden, Sammy Bananas, Tittsworth and Dave Nada, Alan Braxe, Lifelike, and Kingdom, to name a few.
Recently, the Fordinho’s success has also stepped up to match his reputation. He was chosen as Calgary’s best  DJ in Redbull’s 3Style competition, and represented the city in its national competition in 2010. He is the newest addition to Homebreakin’ Records. And, just wrapping up his Hifi Club Wednesday night weekly “Orange Crush”, with Teddy Celebration then the Longhairs. He’s now created “The Heart Beat” on Fridays with Wax Romeo. The night’s sonic menu reflects the unique style that Ford has grown into. On any given night, you’ll find those three sweet surprises again – fun party, new tracks (from Disco, to Jamaician Dancehall, to dirty south rap), and a likeable guy on decks.
The Fordinho still works admirably hard managing, marketing and promoting the HiFi Club and Giant 45 record shop in Calgary, and getting himself a fine arts degree from Alberta College of Art and Design. Amidst all this, he’s always showing that with hard work, anything is doable. That’s the attitude that packages all of his work, and guarantees good things to come. “Eventually I would like to just dj, make music, travel all over the world, and make and look at art.” And, we’d like to follow you.