If you’re into Deep House in South Africa of course you know who Rocco Rodamaal is, and you’ve almost certainly jammed out to the ‘Rodamaal’ (AlexS, Rocco, Manoo, and David) 2001 sliver of gold titled Love Island. The inspiration for this track was in part thanks to American Soul singer, Jill Scott’s He Loves Me believe it or not.
[one_half last=”no”]This French Deep House Producer/DJ breathes brilliance into empathetic, storytelling house music that combines a medley of European, American, and local South African palettes. The kind of Deep/Soulful house that you know… just irrevocably hits the spot.
I play and hear more and more productions in South Africa which are a mixture of these differences [European, American, and South African] which gives a ‘Hybrid Deep House’.”
Rocco shares an opinion… “My music is honest. I talk about life, love, and lots of love because we need it. This must be one of the reasons why it is so popular in South Africa. It’s instinctive and appeals to emotions that I try to pass through. When goose bumps go through me I think that the audience will love that!” he implies emphatically.
Now hold onto your headphones house junkies, Rocco is all set to tour South Africa through December [5th – 17th 2013]. Glorious.
Despite the fact that House music is a global phenomenon, distinguishing regions across the world have of course each developed their very own identity. Rocco takes a moment to reflect on the distinct differences between European and South African House.
“In Europe, Deep House is much more electronic and minimal due to our techno culture influence which is very present here. In South Africa I feel a more soulful and very musical influence from USA. I’m quite sure we also had this American influence in Europe, but we can clearly say that we have a more ‘Techy’ sound. Today things have changed because there’s recognition of the Deep House produced in South Africa. It’s very popular thanks to artists like Black Coffee and Culoe De Song to name a few, who have exported this Afro Deep House that many are trying to produce and release on labels around the world. I play and hear more and more productions in South Africa which are a mixture of these differences which gives a ‘Hybrid Deep House’. I love the mix which is very positive for me and promising!”[/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”]
To celebrate the interconnectivity between House in Europe and South Africa, and American R&B/Soul sounds, Rocco’s latest album Bridges ties in these enveloping sounds into one sensory pleasing body of work. For his many devoted fans Bridges pushes all the right buttons and has the potential of converting any sceptics.
The overall spec of his sound has a really good atmospheric quality, and metaphorically slips the listener into a scene created within the track. He elaborates on this…
“Historically music has afforded me great feelings and this has increased since I produce my own music. As a child I was influenced by my mother who did not hold her tears when listening to [a] singer and Algerian poet who told of this wave of immigrants who arrived in France in the 60’s. This is part of my experience and I absorbed the feeling of sadness that I love and found a lot in my music. There must also be a groove in my sound that you physically feel. It is for that reason that my drums are punchy and my bass down low in frequency. Deep vibrations! Indeed, there is a story or photograph behind every production which everyone is free to invent. This can result in a feeling, an image or even history as a video clip. For example Revolution, which I produced and released on Freerange Records, is for me a scene of Cathar knights running down a plain before invading a kingdom!”
So why at this point in his career did he feel compelled to release an album of this nature?
“Thanks to my background in music and all the artist connections that I have accumulated over the years, I had this idea to make an album that looks like me. This is why it’s composed with pieces of Soulful, Deep House and a Deep Afro touch, along with my own personal edge,” he concludes.[/one_half]
Rocco Details
Rocco Facebook | Rocco Soundcloud | Rocco Twitter
