Interview with John Roman

With his track “Petrified” landing #18 on the Beatport Tech-House Charts and Tiesto recently playing his remix of “Plex” on Club Life 282, there is no doubt that the sounds of John Roman will soon be noticed on every dancefloor across the globe. This 23 year old producer from Toronto, Canada has been compared to some profound artists such as Proxy, Crookers, Sinden, and Harvard Bass. Pitchfork claimed “Petrified” as a “footwork siren” and Sinden describing it as “an absolute techno monster.” We were excited to learn a little bit more about him.

How long have you been producing/DJing?

I got my first production software, Reason, when I was about 13 – so almost a decade now. DJing came much later, about 4 years ago. Before then I had only been producing hip-hop, but the idea of DJing as a way of performing my instrumental work inspired me to create more dancefloor-oriented work.

What inspired your new EP Monitor?

Both “Monitor” and “Fragment”s were part of my Reclusion 2 mixtape I put out earlier this year. I wanted another big-room banger to accompany “Petrified” at the centre of the mix, so I wrote “Monitor.” It might be one of the most straightforward techno tracks of the mixtape, but most effective as well. The lead is an 808 distorted and the other static stabs and glitches are modulated parts of this main pattern. I also liked the double meaning of the word Monitor – as a reference speaker/screen or as someone who watches, supervises.

In August, BBC 6 Radio’s, Tiga stated “In my recent DJ travels, this has been the biggest bomb of all…” for your track “Petrified”. That must have been huge for you! Can you tell our readers a little about it and your reaction?

That was a huge moment. Tiga is one of the reasons I got into dance music, and has since been one of the most consistent influences on my work. I had a feeling he might play it on his BBC6 show as it was signed to Twin Turbo, but I didn’t expect that comment at all. I definitely re-listened to it a few times that day, haha.

You have just ended you Petrified Summer 2012 tour. Can you tell us about any exciting experiences during that tour? Things you have learned or that have inspired you?

The whole tour was awesome, so many exciting venues and great people. Playing at Voyeur in San Diego sticks out as one of the best shows, such an enthusiastic crowd and professional club. Being at the WeDidIt Boiler Room LA takeover was really inspiring too. Jerome of LOL Boys, Groundislava and RL Grime all played amazing sets, and the energy there was really special (and rare).

What are some great artists or tracks that you’re into right now?

Blawan – Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My Garage? [Hinge Finger]

Daphni – Ye Ye [Jiaolong]

Airhead – Black Ink [R&S]

Midland & Pariah – Untitled 2 [SHEWORKS]

Decibel – Miss [Tectonic]

Arca – Blunted 2 [Uno NYC]

In regards to your article about music production on Earmilk.com, you talk about how easy and accessible it is now with the advances of technology to create music however the need to be inventive is not as strong as it once was. How do you feel about the art of DJing and the different tools that are being used to create a sound and vibe on the dancefloor?

I don’t think anyone really has the performance side of things figured out. We’re still waiting for that tactile, breakthrough product that lets us do more than beatmatch and add a few FX. I’m still not sold on using a laptop and MIDI controller either, to me it doesn’t have the reliability or expressiveness of an instrument, which is what technology should be aspiring towards.

I think as far as the “art of DJing” goes it’s really dependent upon expectations. As DJs are being taken from dark booths and onto concert stages, the idea of doing 8-minute mixes and searching through your crate, having a drink or talking to your friends doesn’t quite work anymore. Stages are meant for engagement and performance, so that’s what we need to be doing when we’re there. Crowds are really focused and interested in what the DJ is doing, and I think instead of criticizing how this has affected the traditional performance technique we should be looking at this as an opportunity to innovate and entertain.

What advice would you give to aspiring producers/DJs?

Be an individual. Imitating trends makes you dependent on trends. Make your own product, create a demand for it, and always be your own worst critic.

Are there any new and exciting side projects/tours you are working on that we can reveal to our readers?

REVISIONS is a 10-part EP series that is currently on its fourth release. You can download all the EPs for free here:

https://www.soundcloud.com/johnromanrevisions

Basically, the concept is that I take a Rap/R&B album from the past 15 years and by sampling only that album I create a modern dance track. So far I’ve gone through artists from DMX to OutKast, from Aesop Rock to Ashanti.

There will also be a REVISIONS Europe tour this Fall, and you can check here for more details soon.