Get up and get down, it’s time to unleash the funk! Rising star of Chicago House Nicky Roland is back with another blazing funky summer banger, FunkBox.
FunkBox gets its name from the seminal drum machine that became the defining sound of Sly Stone’s groundbreaking album, There’s a Riot Goin On. FunkBox fuses tongue-in-cheek vocals with a John Taylor(esque) bassline with influences ranging from Midnightstar to Bootsy Collins and even a touch of Daft Punk.
As one of only a handful of new artists to be signed to legendary Chicago House record label DJ International Records for its 2021 relaunch with the Jackmaster 7 compilation, Nicky’s Latin House premiere I Lose Myself featured as one of the focus tracks, alongside new songs and remixes from house pioneers such as Frankie Knuckles, Joe Smooth, Chip-E, K-Alexi Shelby and Tony Loveless, and Anthony Thomas and Chuck “The Voice” Roberts, is the second biggest track on the album, beaten only by Loleatta Holloway.
Following on from Feel-It, FunkBox moves into a deeper funk groove, featuring Nicky performing vocals along with another killer bassline. Originally from London, England, Nicky moved to the US to follow his career, hopping between LA, Chicago and Denver where he currently resides. Nicky’s music carries the stamp and sound of the original Chicago House groove, mixed with his unique fusion of Funk, Latin Jazz, Reggae, and Techno.
Watch out for a slew of new tunes over the coming months, including remixes of I Lose Myself and Feel It on DJ International Records. Nicky’s just getting started so strap yourselves in, 2022 is set to be one hell of a ride. We had the awesome opportunity of interviewing Nicky and you can find out more here: https://ufo-network.com/2022/08/26/interview-nicky-roland/
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About Nicky Roland
Born and raised in London, England, Nicky first started making music in his early teens, locking in his first studio session with Pinky and Longsy D at age 14. Five years later he signed to a major label under the name K-Lory, and was briefly managed by Snob, the then president of the London chapter of The Hells Angels. For a while he worked with various underground DJs, most notably with Travis Edwards from Satin Storm, especially during Travis’s shift towards UK Garage.
After spending several years working with Nick, Maddie and Julian from Coalesce Sound and Vision, orchestrating parties labeled “London’s Best-Kept Secret” by the likes of mixmag, The Face, ID and TimeOut, Nicky moved to the US to launch an online music company (helping to establish some of the earliest frameworks for digital royalty distribution), and focused his life on developing his tech business.
Seeking an outlet from his father’s deteriorating health, he relaunched his music career in 2019 and was immediately signed to legendary Chicago House record label DJ International Records for its 2021 relaunch with the Jackmaster 7 compilation. Nicky’s Latin House premiere I Lose Myself featured as one of the focus tracks, alongside new songs and remixes from house pioneers such as Frankie Knuckles, Joe Smooth, Chip-E, K-Alexi Shelby and Tony Loveless, and Anthony Thomas and Chuck “The Voice” Roberts, was the second most streamed track on the album, beaten only by Loleatta Holloway.
NICKY ROLAND – ‘FunkBox’ is out now!
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