Bicycle Corporation presents Roots 031 on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an Asian electronic music radio station, DJ agency, promoter and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Bicycle Corporation is an Italian duo comprising DJ and producer Marco Mei and Stefano Ugliano, also known as 6884. Together, they have released more than 50 original productions and remixes across House and Techno.
In the early 1990s, Marco began his work as a DJ after being drawn to emerging electronic and Afrocentric music. He subsequently hosted events across Italy with the Urban People collective.
His work behind the decks led to a residency at Pacha in Egypt. The residency brought international recognition and bookings, taking him to audiences around the world.
Stefano was born and raised in Torino, Italy, and showed musical ability from an early age. He studied classical piano, percussion and drums, while developing an appreciation for Chopin's work and the West African djembe.
As his musical interests broadened, Stefano became particularly interested in the role of the electronic DJ in energising a crowd. The electronic beats that were difficult to find on Italian radio in the 1990s opened a new chapter in his life.
The tracklist below traces the roots of their sound and the genres that have informed their electronic releases. These influences include Funk, Disco, Soul, Afrobeat, Electro, Rare Groove, Hip Hop and Afrocentric music.
Bicycle Corporation is available for booking through our DJ agency in Asia. Roots 031 brings these influences together through records from several decades and musical traditions.
Bicycle Corporation's Roots 031 episode opens with George McCrae’s Don't You Feel My Love on Milestone Records, a Disco opener with an immediate, melodic pull. Underdog Edit’s In Need Of That Phone follows with a record-edit sensibility before the programme settles into its next groove.
Uptown Funk Empire’s Boogie, released through Bombstrikes, brings a modern Nu-Disco touch to the early sequence. Booker T’s Melting Pot in the Lego Edit and Vito Lalinga V version then turns towards Funk, keeping the emphasis on rhythm and instrumental detail.
Airto Moreira’s Brazil on CTI places Funk in a Brazilian setting, while the Mushrooms Project edit of Paraná extends that percussive atmosphere. Astrud Gilberto’s Aruanda on Verve Records and Giulio Camarca’s Manha on Shirak introduce Brazilian colour through melodic lines and percussion.
Brooklyn Express’s Street Man returns the selection to a Nu-Disco pulse before Dom Um Romao’s Ginga Gingo in the WoodyBraun edit brings Brazilian rhythmic character back into view. A.Mislayene’s El Fen in Stefano Ritteri’s Versione Spaziale is approached through Funk, its edited form sitting naturally beside the records around it.
Earth-Wind & Fire’s Sun Godness in the Lego Edit keeps the Funk focus intact, before Fela Kuti’s Felas’ groove in the Mendes Edit introduces Afrobeat rhythms. James Brown’s Don't Tell It and Jorge Ben’s Apareceu Aparecida, issued through Universal Music Ltda., maintain the set’s emphasis on groove while shifting the palette between American and Brazilian sources.
King Sunny Ade and His African Beats lead into Edwin Starr’s Get Up Whirlpool on SRI Records and Rose Royce’s Do Your Dance on Rhino/Warner Records, where R&B and dancefloor Funk meet. Ludovic Navarre, also known as St Germain, brings Percussion from Warner Music France and Parlophone before Nazaré Pereira’s O Chero Da Carolina closes the programme with Brazilian folk vocals.
Bicycle Corporation Roots 031 Show
George McCrae - Don't You Feel My Love
Underdog Edit - In Need Of That Phone
Uptown Funk Empire - Boogie
Booker T - Melting Pot (Lego Edit & Vito Lalinga V)
Airto Moreira - Brazil
Airto Moreira - Parana’ (Mushrooms Project Edit)
Astrud Gilberto - Aruanda
Giulio Camarca - Manha
Brooklyn Express - Street Man
Dom Um Romao - Ginga Gingo (WoodyBraun Edit)
A.Mislayene - El Fen (Stefano Ritteri Versione Spaziale)
Earth-Wind & Fire - Sun Godness (Lego Edit)
Fela Kuti - Felas’ groove (Mendes Edit)
James Brown - Don't Tell It
Jorge Ben - Apareceu Aparecida
King Sunny - Ade and His African Beats
Edwin Starr - Get Up Whirlpool
Rose Royce - Do Your Dance
Ludovic Navarre aka St; Germain - Percussion
Nazaré Pereira - O Chero Da Carolina
Listen on Mixcloud here.