Courtesy of Henry Rovillard

After forming the DJ group Dos with his identical twin brother, Henry Rovillard ’26 has performed alongside such figures as Steve Aoki, Shaquille O’Neal and John Summit. Dos, which plays bass house style electronic dance music (EDM), has been on the rise with recent shows in states across the Northeast.

Henry Rovillard and his brother Jack, who attends Skidmore College, have always enjoyed EDM and first fell in love with DJing while stuck at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“All [my brother and I] would do is lift in the gym, in the house, run all around and play this music,” Henry Rovillard said. “My mom said, ‘You guys listen to this music so much, why don’t you learn how to make it yourself and learn how to DJ?’ We were like, ‘Wow, that’s a really good idea.’”

Henry Rovillard and his brother began mixing every day using a DJing phone app, then sharing their musical creations with other family members. This got the attention of their grandmother who, excited by their passion, bought the duo their first mixing deck. The brothers’ mom, Annie, noted the immediate impact this had on her sons.

“It really got crazy. I didn’t realize, if they actually had what they needed, what would occur,” Annie Rovillard said. “Then, it turned into kids calling for songs and them being asked to play at parties once Covid was over.”

Much of EDM’s appeal to fans centers around the immense energy that builds inside a venue ahead of a beat drop, which brings a thrilling release. Henry Rovillard emphasized that leading people to this place of joy is a core part of his love for DJing.

“The feeling is something I can’t even describe, because it’s the most freeing and amazing feeling there is,” Henry Rovillard said. “There have been times after shows where people have come up to us and been like, ‘I had a really hard week, but that one drop, that one song, just made all the pain go away.’ The ability to use music to interact and bring people into one place of happiness is the most amazing thing ever.”

Dos, or @dosofficiaal on Instagram, has found success, transitioning from an opening role into more headlining spots. However, Henry Rovillard noted that finding its flow has not come without hard work and stress.

“The first couple shows were very nerve-wracking,” Henry Rovillard said. “You look in front of you, and you’ve never really been in front of this many people before. They’re all looking at you, and the party’s in your hands.… But I would say that my evolution has been easier than most people because of preparation.”

Henry Rovillard also expressed gratitude for being able to DJ alongside his twin brother.

“I have someone to look to on the right of me at all times. If I’m nervous, he calms me down. And we also have this connection where I know what he’s going to do and bring to the table, and he knows what I’m going to do and bring to the table,” Henry Rovillard said. “We always think back when we play. We look at the people in front of us, but we imagine we’re just in our bedroom, like when we started.”

Despite the pair being separated at different colleges, Annie Rovillard emphasized that her sons have continued to develop their art.

“I think they’re starting to get into what they like and what they want more, and I’m watching aspects of their flavor rise to the top,” Annie Rovillard said. “What it’s going to be in the end, I’m not quite sure.… But I never thought this was going to be what it is today, so I can’t wait to see what it will be tomorrow. They surprised me every step of the way.”

The future is bright for Dos, which has no plans to stop the music after the twins graduate.

“This past year has been pretty big for us, and now we’re traveling from state to state,” Henry Rovillard said. “This is really only the beginning, and the more music we put out, the more we work at it, the more content we share, it just is going to continue to grow. I think it has been an amazing experience for both of us.