Aroop Roy: DJ/Producer, musician and Vive La Musique label head
- Carlo Xavier
- Jan 14
- 4 min read
Updated: May 21
Few DJ’s can boast rubbing shoulders with the Mizell Brothers or sharing the stage with Artur Verocai, yet Aroop Roy seems to run with a long line of any given DJ’s greatest admirations. From early exposure in Nigeria, bending guitars in Brighton, to reworking forgotten treasures for arguably some of the world’s finest underground dance labels. The spirit of discovery and connection in the dance never faded for Aroop and has now come full circle with a very tasteful output on his own label, Vive La Musique.
When Aroop returns to Australia this January he brings the history of a well-seasoned selector with him.
Read the interview in full below.
AROOP ROY, INTERVIEW By Carlo Xavier
"As my musical curiosity grew, I started spending most of my weekends in the record stores, chatting to the staff for recommendations and seeing how far my humble newspaper round money could go (it didn’t go far, but I listened to a lot of records!)”
Starting from the beginning, what was it like growing up musically in your household? What is one of your earliest or most influential musical memories?
My parents always had music playing at home – a rich mix of Indian and Western classical music with a bit of Beatles thrown in! Though I was born in the UK, between the ages of 1 -5, we lived in Nigeria and whilst I don’t have any specific musical memories from that age, no doubt my budding ears would have been exposed to some local sounds. However, on our return to Brighton, as I grew up, I took in various elements of the vibrant music culture there. I was singing and playing guitar in local bands – my first band organically tuned into a Jimi Hendrix covers band! As my musical curiosity grew, I started spending most of my weekends in the record stores, chatting to the staff for recommendations and seeing how far my humble newspaper round money could go (it didn’t go far, but I listened to a lot of records!)
I think you came into dance music at such a holistic time amongst some very grassroots dance movements that have stood the tests of time, not to mention around some absolute pedigree with the likes of Atjazz, Giles Peterson and Mr Scruff. How has that shaped you as a DJ in 2024/2025?
It’s definitely a great time for dance music, with eclecticism and organic roots being appreciated by wider audiences. The DJs and artists you named are amongst some of my biggest influences, so it’s a pleasure to have them support my music and be able to call them friends! As a DJ, I find inspiration everywhere and enjoy digging into different scenes, cultures and times in history and weaving it all together. This is why I prefer longer sets that afford the time to join the dots between the different flavours.
"As a DJ and producer, I try to bring the two worlds together and incorporate the spirituality in my sets – whether it be by creating the right moment to drop an original recording, or through reworks and edits that can introduce the music to a wider audience, with the hope that some may be inspired to dig into the source.”
Between your DJ sets, remix output and side label, Vive La Musique. There is a selection of sounds that exist outside of a Western stand point where music is predominantly for entertainment purposes. Some of these rhythms are in the context of spirituality and devotion. How do you feel this comes across in your sound and what can dancers expect in one of your sets?
Music recorded outside the context of business and light entertainment stands out with raw authenticity. There is obviously a functional side to the way modern dance music is produced – arrangements, the way the music is mixed etc. As a DJ and producer, I try to bring the two worlds together and incorporate the spirituality in my sets – whether it be by creating the right moment to drop an original recording, or through reworks and edits that can introduce the music to a wider audience, with the hope that some may be inspired to dig into the source.
We currently live in such a fast paced, seamlessly connected world and it’s easy as artists to keep moving forward without thinking about WHY we do what we do. Why do you do music and why dance music?
Music is a universal language uniting people regardless of our differences. Nowhere does the power of music resonate better than on a dancefloor and as a DJ or live performer, the experience and privilege of bringing people together for shared moments of joy is very hard to beat. In a world in which the forces of division are ever present, music and arts will always play a crucial role in unity, celebration and healing.
Melbourne is not unfamiliar ground having previously made relations via the Red Bull Music Academy. Tell us about your RBMA experience and how does it feel returning to Melbourne on your upcoming AUS tour?
RBMA was a magical experience. Connecting with special people and having 2 weeks to focus fully on music, without the pressures of daily life. There were some pretty unbelievable moments – jamming with the Mizell Brothers and Wally Badarou, hearing dubstep for the first time with a Skream DJ set and the slightly terrifying moment, being asked by Artur Verocai to play bass for him in an impromptu live set after my own acoustic gig. I’m sure the memories of those weeks will return as I walk the Melbourne streets and perhaps I’ll find the camera I left on a coffee shop table...
