It’s been two years since Get Physical Managing Director Roland Leesker has released on the label.
This month, he returned with a new track, as well as Cardopusher remix, on the seminal dance imprint, though still one he himself selectively releases on. Over 15 years, Roland’s Get Physical output has come by way of releases under his given name, as well as DJ Carrera, and as part of R&R with none other than Ricardo Villalobos. Here, Roland Leesker celebrates the label and release with 10 milestones of Get Physical.
Be sure to catch Roland Leesker in London with M.A.N.D.Y on 25 November, as XOYO celebrates 15 years of Get Physical (details below). So, what are your favorite Get Physical tracks?
Sophia Saze feat. Iro – Fall
The first moment we heard this track from Sophia Saze we were totally blown away. I am hugely influenced by Massive Attack, so this one hit straight to my heart. We originally released “Fall” within our “Words Don´t Come Easy” album compilation series a few weeks ago. Sophia is an outstanding musician and multi-media artist living in Brooklyn, New York but her roots go back to Georgia. She runs her own label Dusk & Haze. If you get a chance to hear her, go and check her out! I am totally convinced that she will have a great career.
Audiofly feat. Fiora – 6 Degrees (Tale Of Us Remix)
Sir Martin Reeves once said: “All the atoms we are made of are forged from hydrogen in stars that died and exploded before our solar system formed. So if you are romantic, you can say we are literally stardust. If you are less romantic, you can say we’re the nuclear waste from fuel that makes stars shine.” Whatever you may think: “Six Degrees“ is one of our biggest classics to date and it reminds me of the fact that we all do relate to each other. We are all brothers and sisters!
M.A.N.D.Y. vs Booka Shade „Body Language“ (Danniel Selfmade Version)
“Body Language“ is THE defining track of our label as well as the foundation of a 15 year long journey which is still getting better everyday. It is the track that propelled the careers of the boys as well as a lot of other artists since then, just recently a huge pop hit kindly borrowed it´s bass line 😉 So 15 years later Danniel Selfmade made this edit and he simply reached out to us by email. When we heard it the whole gang was:“ Yes! Thumps Up! Let´s put this one out right now!“. So here it is again. Cheers to another 15 years (at least)!
Who Made Who – Hi & Low (M.A.N.D.Y.´s Higer & Lower Remix)
Who doesn’t love Who Made Who? One of the best live bands I’ve ever heard and seen, I love their ease in switching characters and musical worlds. Their new album will be out early 2018.
Ryan Murgatroyd – Something Said
Ryan is our man from South Africa. Although still in his early 30ies he is one of the most influential figures and leaders of the electronic music production scene down there. The singer on this tune is currently in the studio producing her new album with Rick Rubin. I am not allowed to tell you more, but be assured, she is a star! Remixes by Ian Pooley and Superflu are coming out soon.
DJ T. feat. Cari Golden – City Life (Maceo Plex Remix)
My personal history with Thomas Koch aka DJ T. (our walking encyclopedia of Electronic music) goes way back into the early 90ies when I was a young DJ and record sales guy at Delirium Records in Frankfurt/Main. If you would have told me then and there that we would still be discussing and releasing music together almost 30 years later I would have not believed you… Well, here we are and without doubt T. is one of our most valuable artists and certainly one of our most succesful A&R managers. Ever.
Francesco Tristano – Place on Lafayette (Guti Remix)
I love Francesco. I Love Guti. Here we have them both together in one place. Perhaps one of the best Jazz records we have ever released J
DJ Pierre – What Is House Muzik (Roland Leesker LoveMix)
I got my first DJ gigs in the 90ies in a club called Wild Pitch Club. The club´s name was inspired by DJ Pierre´s Wild Pitch sound, mainly released on Strictly Rhythm – so when Pierre reached out to me to start working together about 2 years ago I felt blessed and thanked the lord for giving me the chance to be part of his game. This remix is actually the first studio production I did after a studio break of almost 20 years. Pierre will release his first ever artist album “Wild Pitch: The Story“ in November 24 on Get Physical including a limited edition 2×12“ vinyl. I have never been prouder about a release and the whole team working for its success than with this one.
Black Coffee feat. Toshi – Buya (Da Capo Remix)
Finding this record was another important step in my career as an A&R manager: I was actually hunting for a completely different tune from Africa but for many reasons this did not work out; so through the kind help of Valentino from Bridges for Music I met Jarrad Traeger who manages Ryan Murgatroyd and many other great talents from South Africa and they introduced me to this tune and the team around Black Coffee. We licensed it for a re-release (as it was already big in South Africa) and commissioned further remixes by Loco Dice and M.A.N.D.Y.. The money from our sales goes to Bridges for Music http://www.bridgesformusic.org/webapp/home and if you haven´t bought it yet: do it now! You won´t regret it: I still am in tears when i hear it, everytime.
Er + Er – L´essentiel
Ricardo and me started producing music in his parents living room in Darmstadt in 1992 or 93 and everything we did in those days we did under the R + R (Ricardo + Roland) moniker including some legendary parties… This one was one of the very first tunes we finished recording live on a 4 channel Taskam mixer we still do own. Ricardo studied law at that point but I was a DJ. Ricky decided to stop his studies to become a full time DJ (a great decision looking at what he has been able to achieve since then…) whereas I decided the opposite and stopped DJing in order to study Finance and Law in the UK. 20 years later we met again and renewed our friendship as if no time had ever passed and decided to finally release „L´essentiel“. Since we produced some limited vinyl copies only, it quickly started selling for more that 500$ at Discogs. We kind of disliked that as we both do believe that music should be there for everyone. Hence I re-released it digitally on my Ibiza Gets Physical 2016 DJ mix compilation as well, as I decided to get back into producing and DJing again. “L´essentiel“ samples from a French vinyl recording of the famous book „The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
25 November | XOYO Loves: 15 Years of Get Physical | Tickets | XOYO
