38-year-old French producer Franck Roger is a favoured crate digger and has a deep connection to the historic roots of house music. The first time he heard ‘Promised Land’ by Joe Smooth he became desperate to find out everything he could about house music. Too young to go out at his age back then, he found solace in visiting record shops in and outside his hometown Paris. A long-lasting relationship with the wax was initiated.
Now, he says, he still lives in Paris and still buys up to 15 bits of vinyl a week. But these days, he’s actually the one making the house tunes that get played in clubs: ‘Who Knows The Truth’, ‘No More Believe’ and ‘After All’, to name just a couple. But it all started with his very first release “Tamashi” – inspired by the sound of veterans Kerri Chandler and Blaze – that got initiated Franck’s musical career. His style has developed into something that could be described as somewhere in between soulful garage and deep house.
His two labels, co-owned Real Tone Records and new label Home Invasion, has built up a respectable back catalog. It has seen the likes of Santé, Ian Pooley, Ralph Lawson, DJ T., Mihai Popoviciu, Burnski, Subb-an, Santé, Fur Coat, Geddes, Darius Syrossian, Rodriguez Jr., Chris Carrier, Pirupa, Burnski, Dennis Ferrer, Michael Mayer, Rampa, MANIK, &ME, Rodriguez Jr., Burnski, Steve Lawler, Boris Werner all releasing on them. Although all unique on their own, these artists all share one common denominator: a skill for laying down an undeniable groove.
Franck Roger has kept busy regarding his own productions too, with two albums and a multitude of EPs. On his home turf, he’s currently got a residency at Badaboum in Paris. With two albums already under his belt, Franck’s in no hurry to record a third.
Listen to the French selector’s weapons of choice in this exclusive one-and-a-half hour mix.
