Bicycle Corporation presented guest DJ Bert Bevans for the fourth edition of Roots, Roots 60, 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 the Italian collaboration between DJ and producer Marco Mei and musician Stefano Ugliano, who also performs as 6884. Their partnership brought together Marco’s experience as a DJ and producer with Stefano’s instrumental background and interest in electronic music.
Marco began his musical work in the early 1990s, when Italy’s nightlife and electronic scene were expanding rapidly. He organised and hosted nights through the Urban People collective, taking his selections to cities across Italy and building connections with audiences seeking new music.
Urban People established Marco within the local scene and led to a residency at Pacha, as well as international DJ bookings. Those opportunities took his work beyond Italy and strengthened his focus on creativity and connection through music.
Raised in Torino, Stefano showed an early aptitude for music and studied classical piano, percussion and drums. Chopin’s compositions and the rhythms of West African djembes were important reference points in the musical foundation he developed.
Stefano was drawn to the communal energy of DJ performance and to electronic sounds that mainstream Italian radio often overlooked. His friendship and collaboration with Marco led to Bicycle Corporation, whose work combines their Italian roots with influences from electronic music internationally.
Formed in 2009, Bicycle Corporation has released more than fifty productions and remixes spanning Deep House, Tech House, French House and Techno. Their releases have appeared on labels including Alchemy, Miniatures, WL77, Suka and GrooveTraxx.
Marco is based in Taipei and works across a wider South East Asian network. He is available for bookings through Scientific Sound Asia’s DJ agency and broadcasts weekly on its radio station.
Guest DJ Bert Bevans.
This week, the guest DJ is Bert Bevans. Bert Bevans, a DJ originally from British Honduras, began his career by playing at "Block Parties" in Hollis, New York (NYC), and later performed at other iconic NYC venues like Studio 54, Paradise Garage, Xenon, Electric Circus, Bonds, and the Playboy Club.
Bert's family moved to New York on July 27, 1969, initially settling in Jamaica, Queens, before relocating to Hollis, Queens, where he spent his teenage years. After high school, he pursued aviation studies but didn't complete his education. As he explains: "If I had graduated, I would have been drafted to Vietnam, so I dropped out. I still have a passion for flying though!".
Bert describes becoming a DJ as a sort of "Natural Progression." He began with "Block Parties" in Hollis, and from there, everything unfolded naturally.
He had no intention of becoming a DJ, yet while working at Melody's Record Shop, numerous NYC DJs visited to purchase the latest releases. They took a liking to him and started inviting him to their clubs, and the rest is history.
In April 1977, the legendary club Studio 54 opened its doors in New York. It wasn't long before Bert hosted his first private party there, and it certainly wasn't his last at '54'.
DJ Richie Kaczor from Studio 54 was dispatched to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands to establish a '54' location there. After several months, he was recruited to launch another '54' in Barcelona, Spain. Upon departing St. Thomas, Richie handed over the Studio 54 residency in the Virgin Islands to Bert.
After spending 2 years in the Virgin Islands, Bert returned to New York and shortly thereafter received an offer from Steven Hatter for a residency at his club, The Embassy, in London, UK. This opportunity led to another residency at Xenon, another new popular venue in London.
He navigated the London club scene, performing at Camden Palace, a venue owned by Rusty Egan and Steve Strange [of Visage], where he DJ'ed alongside Colin Favor and "Evil" Eddie Richards. For many years, Bevans traveled between London, New York, and various other cities worldwide.
In 1991, he reconnected with his old friend Justin Berkmann, who was constructing a new "Paradise Garage type sound system" for a club set to open in London in September, known as the Ministry of Sound. Bert continues to travel extensively worldwide, performing at different venues and nightspots.
In recent years, he has assisted Santeri in developing "Seduction" in Phuket, which hosted the Ministry of Sound and Hed Kandi tours and has just finalized a deal with Café del Mar Ibiza. He also recently helped launch Ice and Spice Bar in Ho Chi Minh City, and we are excited to have him join our radio station.
Bicycle Corporation’s Roots 60 with Bert Bevans opens with T. Markakis’ Marvin’s Touch on Little Jack, setting a measured Deep House foundation. Daniel Rateuke and AWEN follow with Gold on Madorasindahouse Records, bringing Afro House into the opening stretch alongside Louie Vega and George Lamond’s David Morales mix of Woman on Vega Records.
Jakatta featuring SEAL’s My Vision in the Vision Remix on Z Records provides a vocal-led change before Quentin Harris and Jason Walker’s Stronger on Glitterbox Recordings brings in House Music. Michelle Shapa and David Morales’ Let It Go on DIRIDIM leads into Jimpster’s Echoes in My Head, with the Freerange Records release returning the selection to deep house.
Melonie Daniels, Tiger Wilson and David Morales contribute Show Love on DIRIDIM, followed by Toshi and Timmy Regisford’s Yiza on Quantize Recordings. The Salsoul Orchestra’s Demarkus Lewis mix of It’s Good for the Soul on Salsoul Records then brings the original recording’s Funk character into focus.
Tracy Hamlin’s DJ Spen and Thommy Davis Original Mix of Macarthur Park on Quantize Recordings keeps the set centred on vocal house. Barbara Tucker and Lil Louis’ Beautiful People on Strictly Rhythm follows, before Elle Cato and David Morales offer And I’m Telling You on DIRIDIM.
Namy’s DJ Spen Remix of From Now On on King Street Sounds adds another vocal-led passage, while Marcos Barrios’ Triballe on BeatFlow Records changes the rhythmic emphasis. Jocelyn Brown’s Believe on Subliminal gives the latter part of the programme a further shift in tone without breaking its club-focused flow.
Janice Robinson and David Morales bring Freedom on DIRIDIM into the final section, returning to an expressive vocal performance. Brooklyn Friends and David Morales close with Evolution Pt.1 and Evolution Pt.2 on DIRIDIM, ending the programme through a paired finale.
Roots episode 60 with Bert Bevans
T. Markakis - Marvin’s Touch [Little Jack]
Daniel Rateuke & AWEN - Gold [Madorasindahouse Records]
Louie Vega & George Lamond - Woman (David Morales Mix) [Vega Records]
Jakatta Feat. SEAL - My Vision (Vision Remix) [Z Records]
Quentin Harris & Jason Walker - Stronger [Glitterbox Recordings]
Michelle Shapa & David Morales - Let It Go [DIRIDIM]
Jimpster - Echoes in My Head [Freerange Records]
Melonie Daniels, Tiger Wilson & David Morales - Show Love [DIRIDIM]
Toshi & Timmy Regisford - Yiza [Quantize Recordings]
The Salsoul Orchestra - It’s Good for The Soul (Demarkus Lewis Mix) [Salsoul Records]
Tracy Hamlin - Macarthur Park (DJ Spen & Thommy Davis Original Mix) [Quantize Recordings]
Barbara Tucker & Lil Louis - Beautiful People [Strictly Rhythm]
Elle Cato & David Morales - And I’m Telling You [DIRIDIM]
Namy - From Now On (DJ Spen Remix) [King Street Sounds]
Marcos Barrios - Triballe [BeatFlow Records]
Jocelyn Brown - Believe [Subliminal]
Janice Robinson & David Morales - Freedom [DIRIDIM]
Brooklyn Friends & David Morales - Evolution Pt.1 [DIRIDIM]
Brooklyn Friends & David Morales - Evolution PT.2 [DIRIDIM]
Listen on Mixcloud here.