Marko Marincic
21 Aug 2018
Between mentoring younger artists through his RSK label and pushing the envelope in his own productions, Roska is still a central figure in UK Funky
There are a few figures in every field of music that are constantly trying, with absolute sincerity, to push the scene forward. For UK Funky – a genre characterised by bouncing percussion and an insatiable groove – Roska sits firmly in this bracket. With his new album, Perception, out in September, we decided to catch up with the veteran DJ and producer to discuss UK Funky as it stands today.
It takes only a matter of seconds from chatting with the RKS headhoncho for it to become clear how down to earth he is and how appreciative he is of the position he now finds himself in:
And who better to act as a mentor than a man who’s more than a decade deep in the game?
The UK Funky ecosystem is incredibly fertile at the moment and there’s no denying that RKS’s tireless devotion to new releases is a critical part of the resurgence.
Because of this, Roska is in a unique position in that, if a new UK Funky artist enters the fray, he's almost always the first to know. With that in mind, the conversation turns to some of his favourite up & comers and the new breed of producers championing the genre:
Although Roska certainly isn’t solely responsible for these successes, he’s definitely a catalyst. It's inspiring to see; after all, this is how successful movements really come to fruition – through guidance and solid direction. Something, Roska says, that was missing during the first wave of UK Funky.
The genre was rapid in its emergence, electrifying London summers with a vibrant melting pot of House, Grime, Garage and Afrobeats. But, even alongside its commercial successes, there was only ever a relatively small group behind it, one still new to the wider landscape of UK dance music. Although the music was there, the plan was far from fully formed.
To anyone with at least a little knowledge of UK Funky it’s clear that the genre never really “died”, as many like to proclaim. Whilst it fell from the forefront there were still many producers doing their thing and slowly gaining more and more plaudits, but Roska is undoubtedly one of a select few producers in the genre who has risen to a truly elite status.
A prime example of how incredibly infectious Roska’s productions can be is the 2017 smash hit “In My Zone” featuring Serocee on the vocals. It was one of the standout tunes of the summer, whipping dance-floors across the world into a state of frenzy. The track also proved hugely successful over the airwaves:
Indeed, with Perception Roska is intent on showcasing a broader spectrum of UK Funky, something slightly lacking in today’s world of in-the-face bass and straightforward bangers.
It’s a project 3 years in the making, one made all the more special as the release comes on his own label and is crammed with features from the likes of Donae’o, Newnham Generals and more.
The album, like much of Roska’s music, is extremely well rounded. It might come as no surprise that in order to pioneer a new genre, it's imperative to have a working knowledge of the genres around you, and Roska shows off his versatility as producer by drawing on Garage, DnB, Jungle, Dancehall, Grime and early Dubstep
As our conversation comes to an end, the focus turns to his headline appearance at Patterns on the 24th of August - a joint venture from Foundations and Tropicalé.
The night showcases a genre that is exciting, inherently danceable, and, most importantly, owes so much to the man who will be behind the decks.
£3 tickets are available on Dice