Scientific Sound Asia presents Roots 8

Event Details

After an unforgettable run as a radio series on Scientific Sound Asia and seven successful live editions, Bicycle Corporation and Scientific Sound Asia returned to HAKU Taipei for the eighth edition of Roots. The night continued the established focus on Afrobeat, Nu Disco, Disco and Disco Re-Edits, bringing the warm and groove-led character of the programme back onto a Taipei dancefloor.

By the eighth edition, Roots had developed into a familiar club concept with Marco Mei and Murphy Kin at its centre. The format remained consistent, but each night could develop differently through new records, fresh combinations and the response of the crowd.

The series originally grew through Scientific Sound Asia Radio, where Bicycle Corporation used Roots to explore the warmer side of dance music. Afrobeat, Disco, Nu Disco, Funk, Soul and re-edits gave the programme a distinct identity while keeping groove and movement at the heart of the show.

Italian DJ and producer Marco Mei returned with more than three decades of international experience behind the decks. Based in Taipei, his career has taken him across Europe, Asia and beyond, with sets moving through House, Deep House, Disco House, Nu Disco, Tech House and related underground styles.

Marco is also one half of Bicycle Corporation alongside Italian producer Stefano Ugliano, also known as 6884. While their production work has moved through House and Techno, Marco’s DJ sets allow much more room for Disco, Funk and other influences that fit naturally into the Roots format.

That breadth gave him the freedom to move between classic dance music and contemporary club production without treating each genre as a separate section. Afro-influenced percussion could lead towards Funk, Disco could move into House, and modern re-edits could bring older material into a present-day set.

Disco remained one of the main foundations of the event because of its continuing influence on House and modern dance music. Strong basslines, soulful vocals, percussion and extended arrangements gave both selectors a large catalogue of records capable of working alongside newer production.

Nu Disco provided a contemporary connection to that history. Modern producers could draw on classic Disco while adapting its rhythms, melodies and instrumentation for current DJ sets and club systems.

Disco Re-Edits added another layer by restructuring older recordings for the dancefloor. Extended intros, longer instrumental passages and rearranged breaks allowed familiar music to work differently while retaining the character that made the original records memorable.

Afrobeat brought another rhythmic foundation to the eighth edition and widened the musical direction further. Percussion-heavy grooves and repeated instrumental patterns connected naturally with Funk, Disco and House, making the style an important part of the Roots identity.

Murphy Kin returned alongside Marco Mei with his own long history across House, Disco and regional club culture. Originally from Shanghai and later based in Taipei, he became active through DJing, music curation, record-label work and independent events.

Also known as DJ Lucy, Murphy developed a reputation for broad selections rather than restricting himself to a single genre. His musical interests have moved through Disco, House, Soul, Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock and other styles depending on the setting.

Within Roots, that range could be directed towards warmer and more groove-led areas of his collection. Older Disco could sit beside contemporary House, while Afrobeat and Funk provided alternative routes through the night.

The partnership between Marco Mei and Murphy Kin had become one of the defining elements of the series by this stage. They shared enough musical territory to create continuity while their different backgrounds and record collections kept each edition from becoming a simple repetition of the previous one.

HAKU Taipei remained the physical home of the club series while Scientific Sound Asia maintained the connection with the original radio programme. The venue gave the selectors a space to react directly to the dancefloor while the broadcast series could reach listeners elsewhere in Asia and internationally.

That relationship between radio and events also fitted Scientific Sound Asia’s wider activity across underground music. Its current platform connects events, the radio station, a regional DJ agency and music news.

By the eighth edition, the strength of Roots came from consistency rather than constant reinvention. Marco Mei and Murphy Kin could continue digging into Afrobeat, Nu Disco, Disco and Re-Edits while finding different ways to connect those sounds in the club.

The invitation remained simple: dress cool, dress sassy, dance, feel free and bring a nice smile and attitude. It suited a night where deep record collections and decades of experience were ultimately used for one purpose, keeping the dancefloor warm and moving.

Roots 8 continued the formula that had carried the series through seven previous editions at HAKU Taipei. Marco Mei and Murphy Kin once again brought together Afrobeat, Nu Disco, Disco and Disco Re-Edits for a night centred on classic influences, warm rhythms and groove.