They say good things come to those who wait but if you’re BK Rogers, good things come to those who work hard on their passion. His is house music and 2016 is starting off a startling year for the dj/producer. He becomes a resident at the heralded club in South Yarra, Circus with their Sunday House sessions becoming a staple of Melbourne night life. His EP is releasing with the chill summer vibes we are getting used to now from his producing style, one which he states is heavy on the piano melody. His outlook on the scene is as refreshing as the vibe in his music and Melbournians are turning and tuning in. Take a read through the thoughts and news of BK Rogers below.
How is the music now changing?
I think the music lost its identity for a few years, went through a series of phases that were popular but now the scene is very much focused on that house sound we enjoyed when EDM was an infancy. People have learned to appreciate the many genres but they also now recognize the pure house vibes that were the norm, real music with real melodies and beats. It’s a good feeling around now.
You are now a resident of Circus Sundays as well as a regular in other Melbourne clubs, what can we expect from your sets?
Dance, chill, a bit of everything. I want people to come on a journey of music when I play. I’m playing a two hour set at Pawn & Co this weekend and that gives me the chance to draw the crowd into the set and take them into the music. People should genuinely be happy when they’re at a show, I like to give them something that makes them know they’ve been enveloped by the sounds.
Some people are still caught up in ‘the scene’ so to speak?
Sure, it still amazes me that some just go to party and they party hard but they miss the real depth of what is being played. Don’t get me wrong I’m all for a party but in some cases people push it too far and for me I like to wake up happy and stay that way all day and into the night, when I play I’d hope people choose that vibe over getting wasted.
You said 2016 was a big year, what is happening for you that makes this so exciting?
Well five years ago I went to Ultra in Miami as a raver and said to myself one day I’m going to play here. The next year I did and then the next but this year I’m playing on the last day of Ultra which blows my mind. I had a dream, I worked hard and it does pay off. But that’s only half of the excitement at Ultra for me this year.
That’s a pretty big deal, what’s likely to top it?
(He pauses) Well Hotel1 is a five star hotel in Miami and when I received a phone call to say I was playing a party there during WMC I was pretty thrilled which turned to full blown excitement when I heard that I was sharing the bill with the likes of Above & Beyond, AVB, Robyn Schulz, Hardwell, Deadmau5 and Eric Prydz!
Wow, so that’s a pretty stellar line up!?
For sure, Hotel1 has gotten together the cream of DJ/producers all doing an hour set for free starting at 12 noon until 6pm with Deadmau5 and Eric doing a b2b house set. This is set for the Weds/Thursday and Friday of WMC and I am stoked to be in this company along with so many more it’s hard to remember them all.
Try…
(laughing) Blasterjaxx, Cash Cash, Lost Frequencies, Nora En Pure, Adventure Club, DVBBS and yeah it’s going to be a huge huge party.
Congrats, sounds like an enviable line up
Thanks and yes but it doesn’t end there, I am playing my first MixMag party with Black Coffee to promote the release of my EP and I’m pleased about that one as well. The EP to me is to try and build the connection between house music and a crowd so I’m super excited to expose them to that as well.
Well that’s a big exclusive to hear about those events, what else is happening for the year?
I have a branding coming with an American shoe brand that I can’t name just yet but it will bring with it a tour during May/June/July including L.A/NYC/Marrakesh and Dubai which will see me racking up the flyer miles but it’s always been a dream and now the hard work is paying off. Along with that is some shows in Mykonos at Yacht Club and a cruise or Yacht party where about 10 boats set off with people and DJ’s to play onboard and in the area’s we stop at.
This is making me tired just hearing it but leaving Australia it seems is the way to create waves in a career?
Yeah it’s tough here to build a name and a brand, it’s not that we’re far removed with the likes of social media nowadays but Australia have kind of been a little behind in promoting the artists into prominence. It’s growing slowly but it could definitely be better in the electronic genres. Europe is very lucky in that way because it’s a part of their culture, everyone from 8 to 80 knows this music so they’re far more discerning but Australia is changing due to the influx of overseas DJ’s and producers choosing to do a lot of shows here now and why not, it’s a great place!
I won’t argue that with you, so this is a break-out year?
I guess you could say so but it’s one that I’ve mapped and planned out and worked so very hard on every aspect and it’s starting to pay off, it’s the one thing I tell all producers and that’s about pushing yourself to do the work, learn everything you can about every aspect of it and never stop learning. It’s a passion and about Love In The Music.
Nice promo for the EP (laughing)
Yeah (laughs) well it’s named that for a reason, if there is no passion then there truly is no music worth listening too, crowds who know also know when the music is truly from a place of love and art. I have always tried to do that and I doubt that will ever change.
BK Rogers is a man with a vision of house music, it’s one that the purists will understand and the new fans will be drawn to and I’m a little envious that I won’t be at Ultra 2016 this year to see this blossom into fruition but I suspect next year could be even bigger. Like BK says “Dare to Dream”.