Roger that!
One of Europe’s most influential DJs is about to play his first show on Leeside in over a decade.
Renowned French DJ and producer Franck Roger will be performing at The Pav in Cork city this Saturday from 9.30pm.
With a career stretching back to the late '90s, Roger is an artist whose dedication to his craft has established him as one of the leading lights in Paris. As both a DJ and producer he has proven himself to be a remarkable talent, remaining relevant and contemporary regardless of the latest trends. His music has a timeless quality, acquired from staying true to the roots of house music.
As head of one of the most influential French labels, Real Tone, he helped to nurture new talent and supported many of the nation’s best- known artists. He is currently taking a new direction by reinventing himself.
Roger started out as a DJ in 1997 and began making his own music soon after in 1999. Like many, he grew up on a diet of great music thanks to his parents, from Motown and disco to reggae. He would record his favourite songs from the radio onto cassettes and 'edit' them by hand. Most inspirational was a radio show broadcast on Radio FG called A Deep Groove Radio Show hosted by the legendary DJ Gregory, DJ Deep, and Alex from Tokyo. Franck recorded every show, writing down the track list and using it to go record shopping. This formed the foundation of his entire career, and his ethos today remains staunchly dedicated to maintaining the values of those early days.
By the age of 19 Franck had his very first studio, a humble set up comprising an AKAI 2000 sampler, a midi keyboard, and an Atari computer. He began by sampling from his turntables and mixer, learning everything by himself with no outside help. This formed another core element of Franck’s style – sampling, something which is still an intrinsic part of his production process today.
Inspired by local hero DJ Deep, as well as US pioneers like Kerri Chandler and Jovonn, Franck began to immerse himself in the world of production, while also becoming a regular face on the Paris club circuit. By 2004 he’d gained worldwide recognition with his track ‘No More Believe’.
His most recent project, ‘Home Invasion’, has a simple concept and harks back to a time before information technology dominated society. Before the internet, when music lovers would peruse the shelves of their favourite record shops to discover priceless gems, to chat with other music enthusiasts and spend time appreciating music in the real world. ‘Home Invasion’ represents a raw, analogue sound with a distinctly human touch.
Pre-sale tickets for Roger’s Cork show at The Pav on 12 October (this Saturday) cost €12 plus booking fee on eventbrite.ie, or €15 at the door.