Music / roni size
Roni Size: ‘D’n’B is the new rock’n’roll. It will never die’
Roni Size needs little introduction.
The St Andrews-born producer who began his journey in a Sefton Park youth club became a household name when his drum and bass collective won the coveted Mercury Prize in 1997. Their record New Forms redefined the genre by incorporating live instruments and vocals, and a jazzy-hip hop feel.
He went on to work with artists as wide-ranging as Rage Against the Machine’s Zack de la Rocha, Wu Tang Clan’s Method Man and Beverly Knight, taking his live show to the world’s biggest festivals and DJing across the globe.
is needed now More than ever
Yet Roni remains proud of his Bristol roots and is still as deeply connected to the city as he is the scene.
In 2009 he appeared with an orchestra and choir to reopen the Bristol Beacon (then Colston Hall), sparking the orchestral-electronic music crossover still popular to this day. And next month he’ll join the lineup for Ashton Gate presents BS3.
Ever-busy, Roni talks to me following a photoshoot wrap party at the Forge, and before setting off for a Friday night DJ set in Exeter.
Can you share a Bristol memory from when you were coming up?
Oh, absolutely. Lots of memories. I’m Bristol born and bred. I grew up around Ashton Court, we used to go for walks and bike rides through the forest; it’s such a beautiful landmark. I still do Park Run when I get the chance. My personal best is something like 21 minutes.
We played at Ashton Court free festival way back in the day. Such an amazing festival. And I’ve DJ’d in Ashton Court mansion for Radio One. It’s my stomping ground.
At a time when community resources, festivals and music venues are taking a hit, in Bristol and countrywide, how can we support the live music industry?
The way I look at it, every era has its time and its locations. Nothing is set in stone.
Clubs, they come and go, and get redefined in different ways. Nightclubs are a thing of the past, nobody’s going to clubs dancing round handbags and all that anymore.
Nobody wants to go to the same club every day, every week, sticky carpets, the same bar staff. Now it’s like, ‘okay, so what are we going to do.’
Now it’s pop-up venues, shows in houses, places where you can be creative. The infrastructure is spontaneity. I think we’re living in a pop-up era – like that gigantic car park rave down in Quakers Friars.
Trying to hold on to one building where maybe the roof will leak, or the staff will change, or the building is old and cold – that’s all changed now. And it’s exciting. It’s a different format. It’s the way I believe Bristol works at its best.
What can we expect from your show at Ashton Gate presents BS3?
First and foremost, being asked to do anything on this scale in Bristol is something I’ll always agree to. Ashton Gate is an amazing stadium. It’s no secret, the Bristol majority know that I’m a Blue.
Regardless, I’m Bristol united in all respects! When Bristol does well, that means that we’re all doing well. So I’m going to honour that stage with all my musical ability.
I’ll perform some catalogue stuff, some classics, stuff that I’ve done with Reprazent, new music. I’ll be bringing Dynamite MC on stage with me as well.
I’m honoured to get up there – Krush and I are the only two repping Bristol on the lineup. We always put on a show and make sure we do the best job possible.
How do you feel about the drum and bass renaissance?
Since the day I’ve been involved in dance music, drum and bass, jungle, whatever you want to call it – it’s never disappeared.
It may not be as dominant in England, or maybe – let’s break it down – it might be quiet in Bristol, but if you go to Manchester or London, it’s riffing. If it’s not really happening in the UK, you go to Hungary, Japan or Russia, it’s popping off. If it’s not happening there, you go to South Africa…
Just because it’s not in front of your nose doesn’t mean it’s not happening. There’s no such thing as a renaissance. This is the renaissance.
The terminologies – ‘drum and bass is dead, jungle is dead’ – don’t exist anymore. If it’s not happening here in the UK, it’s definitely being represented in other countries and cities worldwide.
It’s called hand-me-down music. The parents who used to go out in the 1990’s have handed it down the generations to their children.
It will never go away because it’s an original tempo. It’s the new rock and roll. Drum and bass, jungle and most forms of dance music will always be around because they’re championed by those who love them, and their roots are built on culture and an original format.
You’re a pioneer, you’ve paved the way many times over. What’s next for you?
I’m currently managing and representing myself, and for the last two years have learned so much about what I’m capable of – I’m very excited about the next part of my journey. I’m surrounded by a group of talented people who help keep that energy moving forward. I’m making music, getting ready to put out some new Brown Paper Bag remixes. It’s all positive.
And I just want to let everyone in my corner know that we all have to do this together. No person is an island. The more bridges we build, the further we can get.
Ashton Gate presents BS3 takes place at Ashton Gate stadium on June 22. Find more information and tickets at bs3live.com
Main photo: credit Roni Size
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