Bert Bevans joins Bicycle Corporation for episode 46 of Roots on Scientific Sound Asia, marking his second appearance on the programme. Scientific Sound Asia is an Asian electronic music radio station, DJ agency and promoter that also operates as a music-news platform for audiences across Asia and internationally.
Bicycle Corporation is the Italian collaboration between DJ and producer Marco Mei and Stefano Ugliano, who is also known as 6884. Together, they have produced and remixed more than 50 original tracks across house and techno.
Marco began his DJ career in the early 1990s, inspired by the rise of electronic music and Afrocentric rhythms. He subsequently organised house music events and techno parties under the Urban People name in different parts of Italy.
His work as a DJ led to a residency at Pacha in Egypt. That role brought international DJ engagements and established his career beyond Italy.
Stefano, who comes from Torino, Italy, showed musical ability from an early age. He studied classical piano, percussion and drums, with an admiration for Chopin's compositions and the rhythms of the West African djembe.
As he grew older, Stefano became drawn to the image of an electronic DJ energising an audience. The electronic rhythms that were rare on Italian radio during the 1990s introduced a new phase in his life.
Marco and Stefano later revisited some of their earlier tracks and created a Bandcamp page to distribute them. Through Roots, their house music and Afrocentric music radio show, they highlight key artists from the Asian region and present a range of musical perspectives.
Guest DJ Bert Bevans.
This week’s special guest is Bert Bevans, a DJ originally from British Honduras whose career became closely connected with some of the most important clubs in New York and London. He began at block parties in Hollis, New York, before going on to perform at venues including Studio 54, Paradise Garage, Xenon, Electric Circus, Bonds and the Playboy Club.
Bert’s family moved to New York in 1969, initially settling in Jamaica, Queens, before relocating to Hollis. After leaving school, he began studying aviation but did not complete the course, later explaining, “If I had graduated, I would have been sent to Vietnam, so I left. I still love flying.”
A career as a DJ developed naturally from the block parties he played around Hollis. Although he had not originally intended to become a professional DJ, his musical knowledge and record selection quickly brought him into contact with established figures in New York nightlife.
A major turning point came when Bert started working at Melody’s Record Shop, where many of the city’s DJs regularly searched for new music. They became familiar with his taste and invited him to accompany them to clubs, giving him access to a wider network of venues and selectors.
Those connections gradually developed into a career that became part of New York’s wider club music history. When Studio 54 opened in 1977, Bert soon performed at one of the club’s private parties and began an association with the venue.
That appearance led to further performances inside one of the most famous clubs of the disco era. His work there placed him alongside DJs, artists and nightlife figures associated with a defining period in New York club culture.
Studio 54 DJ Richie Kaczor was later asked to establish a branch of the club in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands before moving on to another Studio 54 project in Barcelona. When Richie left St. Thomas, he passed the residency to Bert, giving him another important position outside New York.
Bert remained in the Virgin Islands for two years before returning to New York. Soon afterwards, Steven Hatter offered him a residency at The Embassy in London, beginning another significant period in his international career.
His work in London led to a residency at Xenon and further appearances across the city’s club circuit. Bert also performed at Camden Palace, where he shared the DJ booth with Colin Favor and “Evil” Eddie Richards at a venue associated with Rusty Egan and Steve Strange of Visage.
For several years, Bert travelled regularly between London, New York and other international destinations. This period established him as a DJ able to move between different club cultures while maintaining close ties with the scenes that had shaped his career.
In 1991, Bert reunited with his friend Justin Berkmann, who was developing a new London club around a powerful sound system inspired by Paradise Garage. That project became Ministry of Sound, adding another major institution to Bert’s long connection with international club history.
Bert has continued to travel extensively, performing at clubs and events in different parts of the world. His ongoing activity can also be followed through his Instagram profile, where his international appearances and projects are documented.
In more recent years, he has worked alongside Santeri on the development of Seduction in Phuket. He has also completed a partnership agreement with Café del Mar Ibiza, adding another recognised international name to his list of professional associations.
Before the pandemic, Bert was involved with the opening of an Ice and Spice Bar in Ho Chi Minh City. His long connection with New York, London, Ibiza and Southeast Asia makes this guest appearance a fitting addition to the programme.
Bert Bevans brings decades of club experience to this edition, drawing on a career that stretches from Hollis block parties to some of the world’s best-known nightlife institutions. His guest mix provides an opportunity to hear the musical perspective of a DJ whose career has crossed several generations of underground club culture.
DJ Bert Bevans opens Roots Episode 046 with Double Dee and Dany’s “Found Love” before Micky More and Andy Tee continue the groove-led house direction with “Sweet Delight.” Toni Braxton then provides a familiar soul reference before David Morales and Timmy Regisford move decisively into Afro House with “Nini.”
“Nini” combines Morales and Regisford’s house backgrounds with Toshi’s vocal performance, and its DIRIDIM editions are officially classified as Afro house. Janice Robinson and Robbie Rivera follow before David Morales, Tiger Wilson and Melonie Daniels Walker return to the same category with “Show Love,” another DIRIDIM release built around Afro-house rhythms.
The Disco Boxers lead into Jasper Street Co.’s “Paradise” before The Players Association and Luther Vandross draw the programme back towards disco, soul and Classic House source material. Julie McKnight’s “Finally” then reconnects those traditions with vocal club music before Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” provides another recognisable song-based diversion.
David Morales returns with “Thunder Drums,” bringing the latter half back towards percussion-heavy club music before his collaboration with Janice Robinson on “Freedom.” The original DIRIDIM release of “Freedom” is officially Soulful House, placing one of the episode’s clearest vocal-house records near the end of the set.
Aretha Franklin’s “A Deeper Love” supplies another major house and soul reference before David Morales and Elle Cato close the episode with “And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going.” Morales’ later treatment of that song remains classified as soulful house, fitting the gospel and vocal-house emphasis that runs through much of Bert Bevans’ selection.
Roots Episode 046 therefore balances soulful house and Afro house with Disco, classic vocal house and older soul material. David Morales is the central production presence throughout, while Bert Bevans connects his DIRIDIM material with records from Jasper Street Co., Julie McKnight, Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin.
Bicycle Corporation Roots 046 Bert Bevans
Double Dee/Dany - Found Love [Grove Culture]
Mickey Moore & Andy Tee - Sweet Delight [Grove Culture]
Toni Braxton - Un-Break My Heart [LaFace Records]
David Morales & Timmy Regisford - Nini [Diridim Records]
Janice Robinson - Found Love [Diridim Records]
Robbie Rivera - Change [Juicy Music]
Tiger Wilson, Melanie Daniels Walker - Show Love
The Disco Boxers - Mary J Blidge vs Dr Love
Jasper St Company - Paradise [Nervous]
The Players Association - Every Body Dance
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much [Sony]
Julie McKnight - Finally [Distance Rec]
Chris Isaak - Wicked Games [Warner Bros]
David Morales - Thunder Drums [Diridim Records]
David Morales & Janice Robinson - Freedom [Diridim Records]
Aretha Franklin - Pride A Deeper Love [Arista Rec]
David Morales & Elle Cato - And I’m Telling You, I’m Not Going [Diridim Records]
Listen on Mixcloud here.