Funky News

Roska Talks UK Funky

London producer Roska has given his thoughts on the fast splintering UK Funky scene.

UK Funky's astonishing rise has been followed by an equally quick disintegration. When it emerged in 2008 / 2009, the genre seemed to inject some energy into a flagging bass scene by upping the tempo and adding some soca flavours.

Rhythmically interesting, UK Funky quickly exploded but the enormous hype placed on the scene soon caused producers to backtrack. Perhaps the most high profile artist to emerge from the scene, Roska recently gave his thoughts on UK Funky.

Speaking to Blackdown, Roska mused on his recent Rinse mix before revealing that he attempted to bring the pioneers of UK Funky together.

"You know what it is? Everybody wants to be a leader but no one wants to work together" he explained. "I’ve been there before: you can ask a load of funky producers that went. When funky was popping in 2009 I done two meetings. I tried to get everybody on board, I had everybody there who was involved with funky, first when it was really small. And then after that it started getting really silly."

Continuing, Roska described the disastrous second meeting. "It just fell apart. Everybody was saying “yeah lets push more releases out, do this do that” and throwing all ideas out but after that you just kinda realise that it weren’t going to happen. People started complaining “why wasn’t I invited” and shit, and it just got out of hand."

It seems that the entire situation left Roska deeply alienated from any idea of a unified UK Funky scene. "It worked out like people thought I was blocking them out of the scene and stuff and then I thought fuck it and after that, if that’s the case, I’ll just do what I do. That’s why I’m just doing my stuff and not worrying about a scene."

Looking back on similar ventures in genres such as drum 'n' bass and garage, Roska explained why he believes such unity is impossible. "Nothing changes because what you see in that room is loads of people who just want to control a scene and not really push it forward as a unit. And that’s how it always breaks down."

The full interview is quite lengthy - and quite provocative - but as always with Blackdown's blog it is well worth reading. Put the kettle on and click HERE.

Car News and Reviews: MITSUBISHI MOTORS IN THE UK LAUNCHES 'FUNKY ...

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is pleased to introduce a new web area designed for consumers to visualise a bespoke vehicle from the comfort of their own home. The first vehicle in the line-up available for ‘personalisation’ is the very first mass produced pure-EV available to the UK market − the pinnacle of Mitsubishi Motors’ environmental technology, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Fashion, Technology and the Environment The newly launched programme will give the ability for consumers to make their car truly unique with extensive combinations of interior and exterior styles. In order to assist consumers with these choices, we have put together two option packs, but they are not limited to these choices. The Tamashii proposition focuses on the interior of the vehicle and the Sugata pack will apply to the exterior. Both Tamashii and Sugata have been recognised and identified by CAP and Glass’s Guide from February 2011.

Marketing aesthetics, the strategic management of brands, identity, and image

Artbyte

InMusic

The student newspaper survival guide

New York Magazine