Cardinal Copia

Interview with a DJ: Cardinal Copia

In this installment, we had the pleasure of sitting down with CardinalCopia, another powerhouse in the 3DX DJ scene. Known for his unique style and dynamic sets, CardinalCopia opened up about his journey both within 3DX and beyond.

A self-proclaimed “music bipolar”, he takes pride in his ability to fluidly switch between genres, moods, and feelings. His sets are a rollercoaster of sound, reflecting his eclectic taste and deep passion for music.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into DJ-ing? Was it something you always wanted to do?

I started DJ-ing in real life a long time ago, back when DJ’s used vinyl still (yes I’m old) and did that for a few years at a club until my life took a different route.

I had not touched DJ-ing stuff again until joining 3DX and I wanted to play some music in a room with my first in-game wife. I figured out how to stream and play music but mostly rock and metal music. 3DX opened my ears to a variety of music and I started to practice mixing, got a DJ controller and software, and became addicted to it.

I also found rooms that featured different music that I loved and wanted to start to play some EDM and then found Techno and Hard Techno and fell in love with that sound. I DJ rock and metal on occasion, but these days it’s mostly Goth music and Techno/Hard Techno. Since I started 6 years ago, I have upgraded my gear and went “all in” on DJ-ing a lot and love it.

How long did it take you to learn DJ-ing, and what was that process like? Did you pick things up on your own or have guidance along the way? 

I used my previous knowledge and was amazed at how nice it was to be able to use software to mix! DJ-ing is something that I feel I will never be an expert at. Kitty and I often push each other. It’s a constant learning process and having someone to point out my mistakes is a good thing, while I can point out hers as well without anyone being angry. As with anything art related, having an honest critique is always good in my opinion. It’s almost a game with us in a way: if I mess up a mix, I will pm her and say “FAIL”, trying to preempt her PM saying “hmmm” which I know will be followed by “bad mix.”

I had a bad set a few weeks ago and she was like my coach “CC WAKE UP, this is not like you!”..lol. I was just having a bad day and it was showing up in my mix too.

You have mentioned a few already but what other software and equipment do you use for your sets? Are there any tools or plugins you’d recommend for aspiring DJs?

I use Virtual DJ and I use a Traktor controller and an Akai midi pad. I recommend Virtual DJ just because I’ve used it for a while now and know it very well so I can assist friends if they are just learning the software. There is other DJ software out there and MIXXX is one that is free that I know others use. It is personal preference really.

DJ Controllers are also personal preference and something you should start off small and work your way up with. Personally, I started off with a under $100 controller. As my skills grew and my need for more advanced equipment came, I upgraded 2 more times over the years. 

In real life I do concert photography. I see guys out there with $10k + gear that still do not know how to do a great photo. It’s not always the gear, it’s how you use it. It’s so funny, there is always someone in the crowd that everyone rolls their eyes at, coming in with all this flashy gear and then you see their photos and scratch your head. Like HOW? You have a $10K camera and lens dude! I think that relates to a lot of different things.

How would you describe your music style, and what influences your track selection? Any genres or artists that particularly inspire you?

I’m a music bi polar: I enjoy doing metal music and metalcore/hard rock but I rarely DJ that these days. I would say it’s a 50/50 split. My sets lately are Techno/Hard Techno and on the other side of the spectrum Goth/Cybergoth/Aggrotech music. I grew up playing industrial and alternative music at clubs and still love that style of music so the Goth stuff is at my roots. The techno/hard techno music was a total surprise to me and I fell in love with it.

Performing in a virtual space like 3DX must be unique—what’s been your most memorable gig so far, and how do you keep your audience engaged?

I think the most memorable one was DJ-ing at the very first 3dx/Lovense official party because I had not seen that many people in a room before. I’ve been lucky enough to DJ for a few of them now and watch them grow. I think that the last one I did was for Halloween and had 444 people or something crazy!

I keep the audience engaged by trying to do silly things, mostly when I’m playing Rock/Metal because I have more time to interact. When mixing it’s difficult to interact as much with the audience. That first 3dx event was wild, such a cool build by Redji.

It keeps getting bigger each time. I think that 1st time we had like 350 people, which was a record at the time. Redji is one of the 3dx developers actually. I think he started just as a builder and got hired by them.  

Outside of DJing, what does music mean to you on a personal level? Has it played a significant role in your life beyond performing?

Of course! When I was 7 I started to play the guitar and played all the way through to age 19 or so. I still pick it up but rarely. I also learned some piano as well. I was in a rock band in school and music has always been important. From playing it and DJ-ing to just how music will bring back memories or set moods. Live music is a big passion of mine, since 2015 I’ve been a concert photographer so going to live shows has always been a big deal. My real job involves music, so I am always surrounded by it.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring three tracks to listen to forever, which ones would you pick—and why?

This will take me all day to answer, just a heads up:

• Tool – Eulogy

• Deftones – Around the Fur

• The Cure – Disintegration

These are some of my favorite artists and songs that I would never get tired of. Three different vibes of music that would keep me company and remind me of moments in my life. They have both good and bad memories attached. Something for every mood I might have.

Talking with CardinalCopia felt like chatting with someone who truly lives and breathes music. From spinning vinyl in real-life clubs years ago to diving back into the scene through 3DX, his journey is all about passion, curiosity, and constant growth. He is clearly not afraid to experiment, to make mistakes, or to switch things up, something that really shows in his diverse sets. What stood out most is how open he is about the learning process. Whether it’s calling out his own mixing slip-ups before anyone else can or pushing his bestie Kitty to level up too, there’s a real sense of humility and humor in how he approaches DJ-ing. It’s not just about the gear or the perfect playlist, it’s about having fun, connecting with people, and sharing something real.

With special thanks to Cardinal Copia.