Roland Leesker is these days best known as the managing director of Get Physical Music and offshoot Get Digital, but his love affair with electronic music dates back to the late 80s, and his first DJ performances in Frankfurt.
He became a resident at clubs like Wild Pitch and Dorian Gray while working at Delirium Records, opening Delirium’s first international branch in New York in the mid 90s. Following a brief hiatus to study international finance and law, he took on marketing duties for Ministry of Sound and Virgin Music, before taking over as Get Physical’s head honcho in 2008.
His latest release is Searching For Peace, which despite his many productions over the years, is his first full-length album. It’s released on 30 August on Get Physical Music, and you can download/stream it here.
After spending much of his career managing other artists, “I thought it could be nice for a change to produce a few new tracks myself, focusing on what got me here in the first place: music and the joy it brings, creating it,” Leesker says of the new album. “So this is me, Searching For Peace.”
For this week’s #MyRecordBag, Roland Leesker serves up his choicest gems from the Get Physical vaults. Over to you, Roland!
Nôze – When Tiger Smoked
“The French pair Nôze released two albums on Get Physical: Songs On The Rocks and Dring. They also compiled and mixed a Body Language compilation. To me, the sound of Nôze has always incorporated that rebellious vodka polka dancing feeling, which you can still find somewhere at a wedding or funeral party deep in the wilderness of the Balkans, where honesty and emotion rule the world.”
Eagles & Butterflies – The Secret Garden
“From his album Abstract, which we released in 2015. Helsloot, who recently joined our artist family, did a brilliant remix of another track from this album called We Get High, which you can hear exclusively in our June 2024 edition of Get Physical Radio.”
Kris Wadsworth – It’s Time
“Kris released his album Life & Death with us in 2012, and it still gobsmacks me with its rawness and honesty. Fjaak just recently used It’s Time in one of their DJ mixes, and it’s definitely time to play it out again!”
Phuture – We Are Phuture (Ricardo Villalobos Phutur II Remix)
“House music history!”
Andre Salata – Symbols (dubspeeka Version)
“I met Andre during an A&R listening session at the Rio Music Conference a few years ago. I was one of the jurors, and we had to give feedback on different tracks being played to us during that panel. When one of Andre’s tracks came up, I was delighted and signed it on the spot. We have become very good friends since then.”
Azari & III – Extinction Event (Robert Hood Remix)
“Azari & III did a mix compilation for !K7 Records, but the label refused to release their final selection (for reasons I am not aware of). That’s how we got the chance to release it instead, turning it into a Body Language compilation. The selection included this brilliant Robert Hood remix. Robert Hood also contributed a remix to my very own new single, Respect.”
BLOND:ISH – Wa Is Da We (Monkey Safari Remix)
“Another good example of the excellent A&R skills of our main A&R boss, Philip ‘Forever’ Jung. He has always had the knack of finding these special acts at an early stage, such as BLOND:ISH. Monkey Safari remixed this single for their Body Language Vol 24, an album full of DJ weapons—check it out!”
Reboot – 0.5
“This track stems from another beautiful album in our back catalog that deserves your ear: Alive by Reboot. He is a brilliant producer!”
Bruce Loko – After Hours
“Bruce Loko wasn’t really well-equipped when he used to produce for us, and that’s when the real quality of an artist shines through: to create something beautiful out of nothing.”
Francesco Tristano – Place On Lafayette (Thomas Gandey & Radio Slave Last Communication Remix)
“Francesco Tristano is one of those rare human beings and musicians that make me believe humankind still may have some hope. If you have not heard him playing the piano live yet, please do yourself a favour and do so! This track was featured on Francesco’s Body Language album he did with us in 2015 and shows Thomas Gandey and Radio Slave at the height of their remixing skills.”
Thanks Roland for your selections. Searching For Peace is released on 30 August on Get Physical Music, and you can download/stream it here.
About Post Author
