Born in New York, Sanchez grew up with the growth of house music and club culture around him. “I’ve seen house evolve over time. It originally was just a flow on from disco with the sounds of soul. But now it has evolved to include influences of rock and is much broader.”

He began DJing at 13 and became involved in the break-dance and graffiti scene; leading to dance-on cameo roles in Eighties movies “Breakdance” and “Krush Groove”. Despite running the hugely successful nightclub ‘Ego Trip’ and selling huge numbers of mix tapes on Broadway; Sanchez never considered taking his music career beyond a hobby. Instead, he headed off to study architecture at Manhattan’s School of Art & Design while continuing mixing at venues like the ‘Tunnel’. After his father suggested music may be a better career, Sanchez left to focus on DJing professionally. Sanchez points out “to get where I have, it was been a lot of hard work. I have had to fight for everything I have done. But that has meant I have appreciated everything I have. I’ve made a lot of mistakes; especially trusting people I shouldn’t of trusted. But I’ve learnt so much from these shit times.”

Since that time, the Sanchez name has continued to grow. A prolific remixer throughout the 1990s, working on tracks for Babyface, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Chic, M People, Basia, Incognito and Soul II Soul. In 2003 Sanchez received a Grammy for his remix of No Doubt’s – Hella Good. As a producer, 1994 Latin dub-house burner named “Sumba Lumba” (as Tribal Confusion), the following year’s hard-hitting Livin 4 the Underground EP (as Roger S) and that same year’s “Release Yo Self” (as Transatlantic Soul). “I’m very much a person who knows what I want in terms of sound. Production then becomes an extension of myself, carried through the music.” Sanchez replies when asked why he enjoys production. Finally, in 2001, after three years of wait Sanchez released his studio album. The main question was: Why so late in your career? Roger reveals “The main problem was finding a way to create an album from scratch. Whereas a compilation is really just a collection of songs, I see an artist album as a story and I wanted it to be right.”

Today, Sanchez is best known for his nights at Pacha, Ibiza and ‘Release Yourself.’ I asked what attracted him to promoting, an act quite different to that in the studio. Sanchez explains “Promoting for me is more a necessity rather than a pleasure. But it allows me to have personal contact with the people who listen to my music and really communicate with them. Its much more personal. Release Yourself is all about the vibe of the people and creating international family surrounded by the music.” Indeed the Release Yourself brand has extended itself around the world including nights in New York, London and tours around Europe, Asia and America. Most notably has been the series of ‘sexy house’ compilations mixed by Roger himself.

Release Yourself 3 continues with the explorations of the house sound present in the previous two releases. From deep, soulful house to peak-time tribal and tech tracks; the compilation is a selection of Sanchez’ favorites. The S man points out “Number 3 in the series really reflects what the vibe is in the Ibiza night and around the world at the present time. I think it has a solid track selection and really captures the “Release Yourself concept and is pretty party orientated.”

For many people, getting to this level of success would be the signal to hang up the proverbial work-shoes and retire in their home in Ibiza. I wondered what kept a man like Roger Sanchez going. Sanchez put simply; “I love what I do; the music, the travel and the ability to see different people and places all the time. It’s just natural for me.”

‘Release Yourself 3’ is out now through Stealth Records/Shock. Roger Sanchez will be touring Australia in February.