The mark of ‘The S Man’ is heralded across the globe, from dancefloors to radio stations, the internet and iPods; although he remains jointly based in Ibiza and New Jersey in order to keep close to his beloved New York scene, and the mad party atmosphere of the Spanish white isles. He has remixed a plethora of big names, from Daft Punk to Diana Ross to Madonna, with his remix of No Doubt’s Hella Good even winning him a Grammy. He has released a slew of successful tracks, with his single Another Chance reaching #1 on the UK Charts in 2001. Founding his own label Stealth Records in 2002, it has been the 2006 release Come With Me that is cited as his most successful and much loved album to date. He is hands-on with all his productions, often playing the keyboards, forming the meters, writing the lyrics, scoring the music and tracking down other session musicians and vocalists. Icon of house music Roger Sanchez has pushed his enriching melodies and synthetic grooves from the streets of Queens, across to the white isles of Ibiza and downunder to the sandy beaches of Australia.

In the lead up to his Australian performances for New Year’s Eve at Sensation in Melbourne and Shore Thing in Sydney, as well as the national Summadayze tour in the opening weeks of January, The S Man can confirm that he loves Australia. “I chase the sun,” Roger explains. “And it’s definitely a cooking place. I am really looking forward to being in Australia when I come to play there. Since my first gigs there in 1998, I have really seen Australia develop from being really underground to developing cross over successes. Producers from around the world are listening to what’s happening in Australia. That’s a good indication of a scene when others in the industry are looking at what’s happening there.” And what can we expect from him when he gets here? “A lot of big, uplifting melodies and definitely a party!”

That The S Man is a Gemini is definite, for Roger Sanchez is a man of contrasts. Meet him down a dark street and he would be quite the intimidating character with his shaven head, olive skin and many tattoos. Yet his softly spoken tones indicate the gentle traits that lie beneath, and his press images always reveal his affection for looking polished – with the ubiquitous dark glasses covering his eyes as the bling adorns his ears, wrists and neck, and sometimes even his headphones. He started his musical career on drums, yet is more known for his popular hooklines and catchy melodies. His lyrics resonate with deep emotive feelings in songs of unrequited love or love lost, yet manage to remain uplifting and inspiring in their delivery. He is just as likely to pack his gym bag alongside his DJ wallet; in an industry that’s more often than not simply fixated on getting loose, he himself abides by a very disciplined path of good health and a clear mind in the gym and through martial arts. He chases the sun for nine months of the year, yet performs in the dark recesses of the underground dance scene. He professes a deep love for his New Jersey studio, yet needs the reaction of the crowd from the dancefloor to be inspired for his albums. Yes – Roger Sanchez is a man of contrasts. “I’m an individual of many sides. I am a dichotomy,” he explains. “I have my rough side and my tender side. Music allows me to express all of me.”

Roger’s parents first immigrated to the US from the Dominican Republic, the birthplace of the ‘merengue’. A lively dance form that grew popular in the US from the 1980s, the merengue has tempos ranging from 120 to 160 BPMs and will take the Dominican drum tambora, bass, accordian and a brass instrument and set lively melodies to a matrix of latin rhythms. Growing up on the streets of Queens in New York, a young and impressionable Roger was exposed to a diverse neighbourhood of ethnicity and cultures. “I used to be a breakdancer at thirteen – when breakdancing was big among kids. The local DJ was doing the parties and as I watched him, he inspired me to learn too.” During a period of such musical diversity, a young Roger jumped behind the decks where hip hop beats, latin rhythms, funk meters, blues structures, disco textures and soul melodies abounded; elements from each style taking root in his musical core. He graduated from New York’s City’s High School of Art and Design, and was prepared to work towards his architectural degree, until at his father’s suggestion, he dropped out of college to pursue a DJ career. Certainly, it was sound advice for he never looked back. 1989 saw him moving through a slew of New York clubs, until 1990, when his first hit Luv Dancin’ from the Strictly Rhythm label and released under his Underground Solution moniker propelled him into the limelight. Many successful tracks and albums later, it has been his brand Release Yourself originating from his 1996 hit Release Yo’self that has really boosted Roger’s global status. Release Yourself is now a dance institution with a mass of compilations and a successful radioshow and podcast to over one million listeners. The success of his podcast was recognised at the 2006 International Dance Music Awards.

With his annual residencies in Ibiza as well as tours across the globe, Roger still keeps time for his studio. “I’ve been writing my new album and collaborating with different artists, I’m choosing to work with a wide cross of pop, world music and hiphop artists,” Roger declares. “But every time I finish a new album, I wanna start a new one. I’ve also been looking at new technology. I’m a tech head, so I love to see what’s new and what’s coming to help me with my music and broaden the scope of my performance. I really love the Pioneer CDJ2000s at the moment. It has helped me reorganise the way I think. I have a lot of melodies in my head,” Roger notes in his process of creation. “As a producer, my music is never about one specific instrument. I compose my own music. I write everything. I write it all out after I hear it in my head first. But at the same time, I don’t allow myself to be labelled as a producer either. I am more a combination of everything,” Roger explains. “Ibiza is a major inspiration for me. I like to take the reaction of the crowd and apply that to my music. In the booth, it’s an instantaneous response. But in the studio, I get to delve into my thoughts.”

With his incredible success, his impressive musicality and a clear course for more albums and global tours to come our way, how does the world’s greatest house superstar keep doing what he does? Roger’s answer is direct and forthright. “I really love what I do.”

Roger Sanchez tour dates:

Thu December 31st – Shore Thing, Sydney
Thu December 31st – Sensation, Melbourne
Fri January 1st – Summadayze, Adelaide
Sun January 3rd – Summadayze, Perth
Sat January 9th Summafieldayze, Gold Coast