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Interview with Roosta Reported by Tanya Daly / Submitted 13-03-03 07:10 Roosta, real name Dion, has been DJ-ing since his teens and now is one of London's favourite DJ's. This is how I described him in a recent review: "the fuse that sets off any night with a big bang." If you see him play, I think you'll agree. Firstly, of course, I had to ask him where the name Roosta originated. "Well, it was given to me by Skol and Wayne. I won't go into too much detail but it has something to do with trying to impress girls." But after a while, more not too surprising details emerged. The name originates from the days when long time best friend, Skol, and he where djing at Taco Joes and Roosta was strutting his cocky teenage bravado around in front of a couple of girls. No pun intended. Guys, eh! DJ life began at the tender age of 16. "Or 17. Those were blurry times. I just love music. I started listening to Hardcore and drum 'n' bass then to house and decided that's what I wanted to play." First piece of vinyl? "One of those compilations, Deep Heat." "I think volume 2." Skol and Roosta were partying at an underground club and a clubbing friend who DJ-ed at a Mexican restaurant called Taco Joe's got him his first gig there. "I got a real big buzz the first time I played but after that it was downhill for a while afterwards. I used to play the afternoon slot on Sundays at Club 414 and it was totally empty. It picked up when a girl Jackie and her friends happened to come in and then I don't want to sound arrogant, but every weekend they would bring their friends just to come and hear me play." And was it relatively easy to break into the DJ scene back then and get those first precious gigs? "Yes. There was less competition." "I got the 414 gig by clubbing at Freshly Squeezed where we became friends with the promoters. It started at the 414 before i was dj'ing then we got involved in promoting it and it left the 414. I got my gig at the 414 cos the owners carried on doing Sunday nights and kept me and Skol as residents. We then went into partnership with them and moved it to Grays and then later to the Chunnel Club." "Club 414 is still my favourite place to play. Even if I went and didn't get paid, I would still have a great time." Er, don't tell the promoters that. What was your maddest or most memorable night out? "Playing at Helter Skelter in Manchester to 3000 people, driving 6 hours there and back to London and then playing to another 3000 people at Sunnyside Up at Brixton Academy." And the track that is your piece de la resistance: "Flutlicht's remix of Marc Dawn's Expander." I agree, that definitely is the light for the fuse. Does he ever get bored? Emphatically, "NO!" Producing life began when his manager, Kylie, introduced him to Mick Cree from Dynamic Intervention. "Mick Cree really taught me a lot." The track that he worked on was forgotten about in Mick's studio until one day when Mick was cleaning out his studio and Billy "Daniel" Bunter happened to pick it up and give it a listen. Good fortune smiled on Roosta that day because Billy liked it so much, he signed Roosta immediately. My theory is that with so much competition around at the moment, is that you have to get involved in producing to get your name out there. "It's hard to do it off your own talent if you are not a good talker. Producing gives you more profile and it also helps because labels do parties in conjunction with promoters." And would you believe that he listens to mainstream chart music at home, and not under duress. "Mainstream music gives you production quality ideas from big studios. These guys have millions so the music is well-produced." Who'd have thought. "It took me a while to learn all the technical stuff. Before, I used to go into a studio and just tell the engineers what I wanted. I just knew what sounded good to me but I didn't know how to make it. Now I have a studio in my bedroom." How long does it take to make a track? "6 to 12 hours on average." "Wow, really, that's all?" "It keeps the rawness and the spontaneity and it's in your face. Just go with it, don't smooth it over. You could constantly change it trying to make it perfect but you could do that forever because there are always things you can change in a track." Yeah, I'm surprised too! "The most rewarding collaboration, knowledge-wise, has been "Outta Space", produced with Jon Doe." On other DJs, Roosta had this to say: "A lot of people DJ and Produce just for the status. I won't name any names." "Ah, go on!" "No! For me, passion is the driving force." The person who has really contributed to his success: "Billy Bunter has really helped me a lot. He knows how to make great tracks and where the scene is heading." The DJs and Producers he admires most: "Jon Doe. He's so innovative. I don't think he has got the respect that he is due. The sound today is a lot like what he was producing two years ago." "Bunter and Skol also have real attitude, in a good way, and they project it behind the decks." Oakey (In response to: "is he a gifted pioneer or over-rated cheese-monger?"): "My mother would be able to answer that question better than me. She listens to all that kind of music, she even buys the Nukleuz Trance compilations. He's got to be doing something right, but I don't know what. I don't really pay attention to what's going on in that scene." No mud slinging here, I'm afraid. The curse of being a nice guy As for the future, well his mother is not nagging him to get a real job so he is not going anywhere yet. "My mum is so supportive. She bought my decks for me. She doesn't moan about me coming in late and banging beats all day long. She even comes to my gigs." "Do you want to switch mums?" And what about getting older? "I am definitely moving more towards producing. I am starting my own label in conjunction with Honey Pot. Hopefully as I get older I will still be making music, hopefully I will move with the times" Watch out for Roosta's personal favourite yet to be released track, "Realise", out in May. Thanks Roosta. Roosta plays the Tasty Homecoming at the Rocket on Saturday 29th March - for full details click here. With thanks to mrbicgit, pink kitty and tom for the use of their photos Share this :: : : : Follow HarderFaster :: Other Features By Tanya Daly: Interview with Tomcraft My dog's a DJ - The John Askew Interview Heat:Evolution - Review Euphoria@Heaven - Review Swamp @ Bagleys - Review The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable. Comments: From: LOULOU(umustdoya)LINES-SCRASE on 13th Mar 2003 16:08.47 nev!barry!tel! ya giddy giddy...... never tell neville to level his nevils...... lou x From: Norris123 on 15th Mar 2003 15:10.56 @ lou lou. ya get me? From: Maria on 17th Mar 2003 20:00.46 Roooooooooooosta! My favourite! From: Norris123 on 17th Mar 2003 20:13.20 he is a true bad boy and has rocked my world at 414 for time. From: Nishhh.....! on 17th Mar 2003 21:55.01 ROOSTA IS ROOSTA......... HE IS SIMPLY AWESOME! From: Vivacious on 18th Mar 2003 12:33.28 Roosta blew me and my friends socks off at the last Tasty, we can't wait to see him at the next one! From: LOULOU(umustdoya)LINES-SCRASE on 18th Mar 2003 18:21.14 lash em up nev x u got the biff baff pow

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