A moment with ‘Feels Music & Entertainment’

ABIA meets DJ Robbie Rommers of this celebrated live music and wedding entertainment agency based in Alexandria

Will Salkeld

According to Robbie Rommers, of Sydney-based Feels Music & Entertainment, not all DJ services are equal.

“There aren’t many deejays who can go straight from the hottest bars and clubs in town to a wedding, and manage the night and dancefloor impeccably, but we can,” Robbie points out.

The highly-experienced live entertainment professional knows what he’s talking about, having played events around Australia and internationally, and has expanded Feels Music & Entertainment to offer vocalists, Master of Ceremonies hosts, cultural performers and musicians for weddings, including saxophone players, trumpet players, drummers and percussionists.

ABIA stepped behind the deck with Robbie to find out about his record collection and his thoughts on good first dance songs, and to discover more about the service that makes Feels Music & Entertainment stand out.

Image courtesy Feels Music & Entertainment

Tell us about your business and wedding entertainment services.

We're a small team of musicians and deejays who think a little differently. We’re focussed on curating one-of-a-kind setlists to suit every moment, and we know there's no bigger moment than a wedding. Our approach means our couples’ input is our inspiration.

We’re equal parts ‘look’ and ‘feels’. We’re obsessed with our craft and our presentation, and we truly believe success is dependent on a shared vision. We offer a range of wedding entertainment — from DJ services to musicians, like saxophonists and trumpeters, guest vocalists or a combination of all these — and if it’s not to our standards, it’s not a part of our business.

How did you get started in the wedding industry?

I started my journey as a Sydney club DJ, I was then lucky enough to travel to places like Ibiza and Mykonos to play tunes for thousands of partygoers. When my friends started getting married I realised just how bad most wedding deejays were (back then) and made it a mission to bring good music to weddings. I've personally been deejaying since I was 16, and I was a record collector before that. I haven't stopped collecting records since and I'd argue that musical taste, and your music collection, is far more valuable than technical ability when it comes to being a DJ. Luckily I'm good at both!

Pat Stevenson

Where are you based and what locations do you service?

We’re based in Sydney, so cover New South Wales mostly playing popular destination venues up and down the coast, as well as in the Southern Highlands and Hunter Valley regions. We've also played at weddings in Victoria, Queensland, Byron Bay, Hawaii, Bali, Italy and Greece.

What types of wedding entertainment do you offer?

We can take care of almost anything music-related, from the wedding DJ to guest vocalists, headline acts, MC hosts, cultural performers and musicians, including saxophone, trumpet, drums and percussion. We offer the works and know everyone in Sydney but, most importantly, we know who's talented.

Images courtesy Feels Music & Entertainment

At what point in their wedding planning should couples consider their DJ and wedding entertainment?

At the very beginning. Aside from knowing what music works, we can give guidance on the best way to structure a wedding and the flow of the night to ensure maximum dancefloor satisfaction, and we can provide an unbiased view on the best way to do things.

What should couples look for in a good wedding DJ?

Experience! General deejaying and wedding deejaying are two different games, with different rules, that just happen to use the same equipment. As a DJ, the ability to observe and react to what's happening in front of you, whilst still being technically perfect, is a skillset that takes years, even decades, to master. Weddings combine a wide range of people in one room, so it takes someone with the right repertoire, ability and artistry to get the dancefloor pumping.

Images courtesy Feels Music & Entertainment

Do you see certain wedding entertainment trends? What’s popular with couples at the moment?

The ‘Profile DJ’ — a celebrity or someone trending on social media — is making a comeback, but I advise couples to exercise caution with this. It can be good for a 'moment', but relying on a TikTok superstar to manage the biggest day of your life can lead to disappointment.

What are the most common song and music requests that you get at weddings?

A lot of what we do is bespoke — our consultative approach is truly our point of difference — which means we don't often have the same requests. What I would say is that all of our couples want really meaningful entrance and first dance moments.

Image courtesy Feels Music & Entertainment

Is there any music you won’t play?

Not really, but if a couple is after the Nutbush, Macarena, Chicken Dance or YMCA, we're probably not the DJ for them.

What makes a good first dance at a wedding?

I encourage couples to choose a first dance song that’s meaningful, organic and succinct. I suggest they don't overthink it, or spend thousands on dance lessons and choreography, but pick a song that means something to them, hold each other close, stay in the moment and then let everyone else join in and have a party. We regularly edit first dance songs to shorten them for our clients.

What makes your DJ service unique?

We're not wedding deejays, we're deejays that play at weddings. There aren’t many deejays who can go straight from the hottest bars and clubs in town to a wedding, and manage the night and dancefloor impeccably, but we can. Our consultative and bespoke approach to every wedding is also something we do differently.

Pete Karlstrom

What was your favourite wedding?

We're really lucky that, just by virtue of our approach to weddings, most of our clients are amazing. One wedding that stands out though, was a wedding we did for a couple in the music industry where we deejayed to a room full of deejays and music superstars.

How would you describe the couples you connect with the most?

I meet and connect with couples from all walks of life, but my favourites are the ones who love music. When clients talk to me about how important music is to them I know we're in for an amazing party. Music is the most important part of a wedding and I'd argue that point with anyone — an average wedding with good music becomes exceptional, an excellent wedding with average music gets forgotten the next day.