The Rootsman

The Rootsman (John Bolloten) is a musician and DJ based in Bradford, England.

Biography

His musical career began when he was living in Edinburgh, Scotland and taught himself to play guitar in 1978 at the age of 13 and formed his first punk band. With his group "State Oppression" he made his debut gig in 1981, supporting the Angelic Upstarts. After 3 concerts, he decided that being a guitarist in a band was not for him and he retired from that aspect of the music business.

Bolloten moved to Bradford in 1983 and quickly immersed himself into the local reggae scene. He worked for over two years in the local Roots Record Shop, where he began to be known as "Rootsman". In 1985 he started selecting on local sound systems and the following year began to play on university radio and local pirate radio stations. This continued for a number of years until he founded his own club night "Dub Me Crazy" at the end of 1991.

"Dub Me Crazy" promoted roots and dub music in the north of England and also giving a platform for up and coming artists to play their own material. A residency with the innovative Soundclash club in Leeds followed a couple of years later, and Rootsman began playing alongside leading DJs like Dr Alex Patterson from The Orb, Andrew Weatherall, Justin Robertson (Lionrock) and others. In this period, Rootsman also founded the Third Eye Music label and released the debut album from Dayjah and The Disciples, entitled "Storm Clouds".

The Soundclash club led The Rootsman to think about releasing his own records. The Rootsman's debut EP "Koyaanisqatsi" was released in May 1994. This track, although released on a 10" white label.

The Rootsman's second release was the "Soundclash City Rockers EP" in October 1994. This again was a cult club hit and was one of the first releases to match classic 70s dub samples to a new school dub style. After this release, Rootsman left the Soundclash label to continue his career on his own Third Eye Music label.

After producing a 5 track session for Andy Kershaw's programme on BBC Radio One in February 1995, Rootsman released his first release on Third Eye Music, the "Natural Born Thrillers EP", which was the first UK roots release to successfully marry the steppers and jungle styles.

Rootsman's debut CD "In Dub We Trust" was released in July 1995 and followed on from these earlier experiments and contained dub reggae like never heard before. A myriad of diverse samples and beats all tied to a heavyweight rhythm section made this CD one of the most original to be released that year. Not only was dub mixed with the furious beats of jungle, the album also brought African, Arabian and Asian sounds into the mix. It was a truly groundbreaking collection that set a new blueprint for dub-influenced music, and Rootsman began to label his own sound as "experimental global dub fusion". "In Dub We Trust" was a big success, especially in Europe, and continues to sell to this day.

A selection of remixes from his debut album entitled "International Language Of Dub" was unleashed in January 1996, and contained a wildly eclectic number of tracks that never failed to surprise with their originality and flavour. This CD entered the UK independent album chart at number 26 and was declared one of the all-time top 100 dub albums in the UK's DJ magazine.

Rootsman released two new EPs in quick succession - the "Pass The Chalice EP" (April 1996) and the storming "Roadblock EP" (August 1996), the first fruits of a long-standing relationship and collaboration with The Disciples. The Rootsman's second solo album proper "Into The Light" was then released in September 1996 and included tracks recorded in Marrakech, Morocco and Luxor in Egypt. This set further developed the ideas contained on "In Dub We Trust" and was a deeper, more spiritual and meditative collection. This was followed by the remix set "Out Of The Darkness" a few months later.

1997 also saw the release of Rootsman's seventh EP "Mother Of Nature EP", which was his most experimental to date with downtempo beats and mixed with an Arabic vocal. A special Third Eye Music compilation featuring many alternative and unreleased mixes of Rootsman tracks entitled "Third Eye Dimensions" was released by German label Echo Beach soon after. Then, "Rebirth", the long-awaited collaboration set with The Disciples was released in September 1997 and contained nu-skool digital dubs alongside vintage dub loops and samples. This set was the biggest selling UK roots album of 1997. The end of the year saw Rootsman also releasing a special collectors edition remix CD from Muslimgauze called "City Of Djinn". This contained 21 extra heavy industrial and tribalistic reworkings but limited to only 500 copies, and sold out immediately on its release. It is now one of the most in-demand releases from the Third Eye Music catalogue, and copies of this CD are now being sold on eBay for £100 each.

In March 1998 Rootsman released his third official solo set "52 Days To Timbuktu". This set was another ambitious and experimental album and further established him as the UK's leading experimental dub artist. Dubwise vibes were fused with drum and bass, blues, and Middle Eastern and Asian music influences, and this set was again a successful release. A next EP, "A Matter Of Time (featuring Jamaican singer Patrick Irie)/Sounds Of Freedom" was released the same month by new French label Hammerbass. This EP saw Rootsman returning to his traditional reggae roots.

The same year saw a large number of Rootsman releases. He collaborated with the medieval folk group Celtarabia on the unique collection "Union Of Souls", an album widely critically acclaimed - mixing dub and jungle with medieval melodies from ancient Europe and Arabia played on archaic instruments. Then a second special Third Eye compilation by Sweden's Lush Records entitled "The Rootsman presents Futurapocalyptic Dub" appeared. This contained dubplate mixes and rare unreleased versions. A ninth EP was released in September 1998, composed of two new heavy tracks "We Come Rough" and "Dub Oriental", and then a third Rootsman remix set called "The Final Frontier" hit the streets, composed of remixes from the "52 Days To Timbuktu" set. Finally, a special compilation for the Polish market entitled "The 12" Mixes" was released that contained a selection from the previous Rootsman EPs.

1999 saw Rootsman release another Muslimgauze remix collection called "Return To The City Of Djinn", which was more widely available than its predecessor due to its limited edition pressing of 1000 copies.

Rootsman's fourth official solo set "Realms Of The Unseen", released in the summer of 1999, proved to be his biggest seller to date. Rootsman harnessed techno, jungle and hip hop loops alongside global influences and, of course, the usual reggae/dub/ragga foundation in a more aggressive style but with still imbued with a deep spirituality. After this set he once again began to slowly change direction and take his unique sound into more uncharted waters.

A 12" consisting of the track "Imitator" from the "Realms Of The Unseen" set coupled with a wild DJ version from Jamaican raggamuffin veteran Daddy Freddy, and a DJ Super Clash 12" (featuring Daddy Freddy and He-Man) were also released in 1999. BSI Records in America put out a special six-track CD entitled "Versions Of The Unseen", featuring unreleased cuts and remixes from Rootsman's last album, and Third Eye Music released the official remix collection "Global Meltdown" (which actually appeared in 2001).

In May 2000, Rootsman released his collaboration with Daddy Freddy, "Old School New School". This album was the first vocal collection produced by Rootsman and featured a mix of his dancehall, roots and jungle style rhythms being toasted over by the world's fastest rapper.

The start of the new millennium saw Rootsman slowing down his production line somewhat as he has been continually in demand as a DJ across Europe. His only release in 2001 was the compilation album "Roots Bloody Rootsman", which comprised a number of his unreleased productions from 1996-2001 that were only featured on his sound system. Although this album marked the end of the "experimental global dub fusion" era, behind the scenes Rootsman was actually busy developing his new sound.

The first fruits of this new style came in early 2002 with the release of 2 new 10" vinyl EPs. These tunes featured more hip hop influenced rhythms with vocal contributions from Jamaican stars Jah Mason, Mike Brooks, Winston McAnuff, Chronicle and King David. These tunes were designed to whet the appetite for Rootsman's "New Testament" set which finally saw release in the autumn of 2002 on Germany's Meteosound label. Featuring legends such as Earl 16, U Brown and Daddy Freddy alongside new stars like Determine and Jah Mason as well as some new discoveries.

A collaborative mini-CD from Rootsman with the late Muslimgauze called "Al Aqsa Intifada" was also released in 2002 as a limited edition taster for their forthcoming "Amahar" album.

In 2003, Rootsman released 3 new EPs. He unveiled his Italian-styled "Altamura" rhythm with cuts from King David, Bongo Chilli and Dayjah's searing "Terrorist" anthem. Then a tough combination with DJ legend Ranking Joe called "Walk With Jah" that also included an incredible jungle mix. Rootsman's third EP of 2003 contained collaborations with the singers Horace Andy and Bobby Blue, and is available on the Meteosound label. Rootsman's next album "Tales From The Hood" will be out on Third Eye Music in autumn 2006.

Labels

In 2000 Rootsman joined forces with The Bug to set up a brand new label called Razor X. This label features hardcore dancehall tunes presented in a very heavy, industrial uncompromising style. Aphex Twin's Rephlex Records has now released a full album of these collaborations called "Killing Sound".

Live performances

Rootsman has played 3 big sound system clashes - against Kaly Weed (Italy), Downbeat (USA) and Heartical (France). As a DJ, Rootsman works with his main MC D.Bo General. In May 2006, Rootsman joined forces with Eugene Hutz of Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello for two shows in Kiev, Ukraine.

As well as playing as a DJ all over the UK, Rootsman has also played in Tofo (Mozambique); Kiev (Ukraine - 2 times); Tel Aviv (Israel); Istanbul (Turkey); Paris (13), Marseille, Rennes, Lyon, Toulon, Orléans, Périgueux, Troyes, Montpellier, Le Mans, Morlaix and Lille (France); Rome (4), Milan (5), Bologna, Pescara, Salento, Jesi (2), Lecce (2), Naples, Grosseto, Bergamo, Grosseto, Osoppo and Bari (4) (Italy); Berlin (10), Hamburg (5), Frankfurt (5), Koln (3), Flensburg (3), Wuppertal (3), Greifswald (4), Dortmund (2), Munich (3), Stuttgart (2), Chiemsee (3), Nurnberg (2), Tübingen (3), Dresden (3), Leipzig (2), Ingolstadt, Muritz (3), Jena, Bremen, Augsburg (3), Reutlingen, Herzberg, Saarbrücken and Oberhausen (Germany); Brussels, Liege, Gierle, Kortrijk and Gent (Belgium); Warsaw (6), Poznań (6), Wrocław (4), Szczecin (2), Gdańsk, Łódź, Katowice, Kraków, Sopot, Białystok, Opole (3), Knurów, Cieszyn, Zielona Gora, Pila and Zgorzelec (2) (Poland); Lisbon (Portugal) (2); Zagreb (3) (Croatia); Tallinn (Estonia), Ljubljana (2) (Slovenia); Belgrade, Novi Sad (2), Subotica (Yugoslavia); Vienna (Austria); Amsterdam (2), Leiden, Arnhem (Netherlands); La Chaux-De-Fonds (Switzerland); Helsinki (Finland); and Prague (2) and Litomerice (Czech Republic). In April 1999, Rootsman supported Max Cavalera's tribal metal band Soulfly in Paris, where 2500 people witnessed history in the making.

Other projects

Rootsman has provided remixes for Soulfly (ex-Sepultura), Glen Brown, Blue, The Woodshed, Treponem Pal, Dub War, Black Star Liner, Dub Syndicate, Muslimgauze, Grounation, Celtarabia, Primitive, G2, Systemwide, Banned X, Rosapaeda, Submission, Rasboras Inc, Dubblestandart, Lion's Den Dub Shower, Banned-X, Strongpoint and Oochi.

Rootsman has also had his music released on a variety of multi-media formats such as the soundtracks to "Surfing in Indonesia", "Kranked 3: Ride Against The Machine", "Deviant Rhythms" and "Fashion World", a French CD-Rom fashion encyclopedia.

Discography

• City Rockers EP - 1994
• Koyaanisqatsi - 1994
• In Dub We Trust - 1995
• International Language Of Dub: The Rootsman Remixed - 1995
• Natural Born Thrillers EP - 1995
• Authorised Versions - 1996
• Mother Of Nature EP - 1996
• Pass The Chalice EP - 1996
• City Of Djinn (with Muslimgauze) - 1997
• Out Of The Darkness: The Rootsman Remixed - 1997
• Rebirth - 1997
• Third Eye Dimensions - 1997
• 52 Days To Timbuktu - 1998
• The Final Frontier - The Rootsman Remixed - 1998
• Union Of Souls - 1998
• We Come Rough EP - 1998
• Imitator EP - 1999
• Realms Of The Unseen - 1999
• Return To The City Of Djinn (with Muslimgauze) - 1999
• Versions Of The Unseen EP - 1999
• Old School New School (with Daddy Freddy) - 2000
• Roots Bloody Rootsman - 2001
• Al Aqsa Intifada - 2002
• New Testament - 2002
• Joy And Sorrow EP - 2003
• Showcase EP - 2003
• Walk With Jah - 2003

References

External links

• Rootsman Homepage
• The Rootsman at discogs.com