Bicycle Corporation presented guest DJ Bert Bevans on the sixth episode of Roots for Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an English-language electronic music radio station, DJ agency, promoter and music-news platform serving Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, India, South Korea and the rest of Asia.
Bicycle Corporation is the Italian collaboration of DJ and producer Marco Mei and Stefano Ugliano, who is also known as 6884. The pair has released more than 50 tracks across French House, Deep House, Tech House and Techno.
Marco began his career in the early 1990s as part of the crew behind events including Urban People. His work earned recognition in Italy before leading to international bookings around the world.
Stefano, who is from Torino, Italy, developed an interest in music from an early age and devoted much of his leisure time to it. He studied classical piano, percussion and drums, while developing an appreciation for Chopin and the West African djembe.
Among these musical interests, DJing became Stefano's central focus during his teenage years. The records that attracted him were rarely heard on Italian radio stations at the time.
Performing this music before large audiences could appear an unattainable ambition, but Stefano pursued it with determination. That commitment, alongside Marco's experience, led to the formation of Bicycle Corporation.
Marco and Stefano have retained their connection to the electronic music they explored as teenagers. They have revisited earlier tracks and established a Bandcamp page to distribute them.
Marco is based in Taipei and works across a wider South East Asian network, with bookings available through the Scientific Sound Asia DJ agency. He also broadcasts weekly through the station, while Bicycle Corporation's Roots programmes provide a setting for broad electronic selections and guest DJs.
Guest DJ Bert Bevans.
This week, our guest DJ is Bert Bevans, a distinguished figure in the global music scene. Born in British Honduras (now Belize), Bert's family immigrated to New York on July 27, 1969, settling first in Jamaica, Queens, and later in Hollis, Queens, where he spent his teenage years.
After completing his schooling, he pursued studies in aviation but chose not to complete his education to avoid conscription into the Vietnam War, stating, "If I had graduated, I would have had to go to Vietnam, so I left. I still love flying though!"
Bert's journey into DJing began naturally. He started by playing at block parties in Hollis and soon found himself immersed in the vibrant New York club scene. While working at Melody's Record Shop, he connected with prominent NYC DJs who frequented the store for the latest releases.
Impressed by his musical taste, they invited him to their clubs, propelling his DJ career forward.
In April 1977, the iconic Studio 54 opened its doors in New York City. Bert quickly became associated with the venue, playing his first private party there shortly after its opening.
This opportunity led to further engagements at Studio 54 and other renowned clubs such as Paradise Garage, Xenon, Electric Circus, Bonds, and the Playboy Club. Bert's career also took him beyond New York. He spent two years as the resident DJ at Studio 54 in the Virgin Islands after Richie Kaczor, the original DJ, left to open another branch in Barcelona.
Upon returning to New York, Bert accepted a residency at The Embassy in London, UK, offered by Steven Hatter. This move marked the beginning of his influential presence in the London club scene, including performances at venues like Camden Palace, owned by Rusty Egan and Steve Strange of Visage.
In 1991, Bert collaborated with his friend Justin Berkmann to establish the Ministry of Sound in London, a club inspired by the legendary Paradise Garage. As one of its first resident DJs, alongside Larry Levan and Berkmann, Bert played a pivotal role in shaping the club's musical direction.
Throughout his career, Bert has contributed to the music industry not only as a DJ but also as a producer and remixer. His portfolio includes remixes for notable artists such as Paul McCartney, Depeche Mode, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Style Council.
In recent years, Bert has continued to influence the global music scene. He assisted in establishing the club Seduction in Phuket, Thailand, and secured a deal with Café del Mar Ibiza. Additionally, he played a role in opening the Ice and Spice Bar in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Most recently, Bert took up a two-month residency at Ifuru Island Maldives, where he entertained guests with his eclectic mixes. His enduring passion for music and ability to adapt to diverse audiences continue to solidify his status as a legendary DJ.
Bicycle Corporation Roots 66 with Bert Bevans opens with Black Coffee's You Need Me, featuring Maxine Ashley and Sun-El Musician, on Ultra. Degrees of Motion's Do You Want It Right Now in the King Street Mix follows on Supersonic Records, before David Morales brings Gingerman from Diridim.
Sr. Saco's AfriKan on Global305 introduces Afro House rhythms, followed by Christopher Williams, Carolyn Griffey and DJ Skip Zonum's You're The One For Me in the Steve Silk Hurley SS House Anthem Workout on S&S Records. Robert Owens, David Morales and Frankie Knuckles then bring I'll Be Your Friend in the Original Def Mix on RCA, while Ten City's My Piece of Heaven on EastWest Records America adds Garage House.
Federico d'Alessio and Yvette Pylant's Shining in the Shane D Remix on Soulstice Music leads into Frankie Feliciano and Terry Dexter's No Maybe in the Ricanstruction VocalMix on Ricanstruction Brand Limited. DJ Rae and Martin Badder's Change, remixed by DJ Spen and Reelsoul for Let There Be House Records, and Thommy Davis, Tasha LaRae and Brutha Basil's Do It Properly in the Chi-Town Mix on unquantize deepen the House Music focus.
The BlackKnight and Susu Bobien's Truly Amazing in DJ Shaheer Williams' Soul Groove Remix appears on Quantize Recordings, before Kathy Brown's Boogie Oggie Oggie receives Bert Bevans' Vocal Mix for Liquid Deep. Mirelle Noveron's You Don't Know in Tee's InHouse Mix on InHouse is followed by Anané's Let Me Love You in Mike Dunn's Black Glitter Dubb on Vega Records.
Derrick Givens' Destiny in the Big Moses Shiny Rock Anthem Mix on Aqua Sol brings the set towards Soulful House. Diephuis and Eastar close with Jocelyn Brown on Don't Quit (Be a Believer), released by Quantize Recordings, giving the final section a vocal-led house finish.
Roots episode 66 with Bert Bevans
Black Coffee - You Need Me Feat. Maxine Ashley & Sun-El Musician [Ultra]
Degree of Motion - Do You Want It Right Now (King Street Mix) [Supersonic Records]
David Morales - Gingerman [Diridim]
SR. Saco - AfriKan (Original Mix) [Global305]
Christopher Williams, Carolyn Griffey, DJ Skip Zonum - You're The One For Me (Steve Silk Hurley SS House Anthem Workout) [S&S Records]
Robert Owens, David Morales, Frankie Knuckles - I'll Be Your Friend (Original Def Mix) [RCA]
Ten City - My Piece of Heaven [EastWest Records America]
Federico d'Alessio, Yvette Pylant - Shining (Shane D Remix) [Soulstice Music]
Frankie Feliciano & Terry Dexter - No Maybe {Ricanstruction VocalMix} [Ricanstruction Brand Limited]
DJ Rae & Martin Badder - Change (DJ Spen & Reelsoul Extended Remix) [Let There Be House Records]
Tommy Davis, Tasha LaRae, Brutha Basil, DJ Spen, Reelsoul - Do It Properly (DJ Spen & Reelsoul Chi-Town Mix) [unquantize]
The BlackKnight Feat. Susu Bobien & Susu Bobien - Truly Amazing (DJ Shaheer Williams Soul Groove Remix) [Quantize Recordings]
Kathy Brown - Boogie Oggie Oggie (Bert Bevans Vocal Mix) [Liquid Deep]
Mirelle Noveron - You Don't Know (Tee's InHouse Mix) [InHouse]
Anane - Let Me Love You (Mike Dunn Black Glitter Dubb) [Vega Records]
Derrick Givens - Destiny (Big Moses Shiny Rock Anthem Mix) [Aqua Sol]
Diephuis & Eastar, Jocelyn Brown - Don't Quit (Be a Believer) [Quantize Recordings]
Listen on Mixcloud here.