Showcasing his ability to blend global influences with innovation, French percussionist and composer Roscius’ debut album, No Fala B offers a captivating exploration of cultural influences, showcasing a unique blend of global rhythms, traditional instruments, and modern electronic textures. His latest single, "Five To The Floor", serves as an introduction to this musical journey, and it’s clear that the artist’s diverse influences are at the heart of his sound.
At the core of Roscius’ work is the balafon, a chromatic percussion instrument handmade in Burkina Faso, which plays a pivotal role in this record. Reflecting on his journey with the instrument, Roscius shares, “As a matter of fact, if you mirror the name 'NO FALA B', it's 'BALAFON', a chromatique keys percussion, handmade in Burkina Faso, which is the main instrument of all productions on this record. 'NO FALA B' is a statement, somehow political, meaning 'don't speak B', in half Portuguese-Brazilian – half English. It's the almost-chronological story of how I discovered this instrument, its sounds, textures and harmonies, and fell in love with it, despite not knowing how to play it the traditional way."
This deep connection to the balafon is just the beginning. Roscius’ compositions are also colored by a vast array of global influences, from Bulgarian harmonies to South American rhythms, and from Asian percussion to Hindewhu. These cultural elements are not merely incorporated as surface textures; they form the foundation of his music, merging seamlessly with electronic production to create a sound that is both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition.
With each track, Roscius blends traditional and modern, acoustic and electronic, in a way that feels fresh yet timeless. Tracks like "Five to the Floor" and "U'Dubstep" nod to an influence from modern music genres across electronic music. His ability to combine these varied influences- such as the intricate melodies of the balafon with the rhythmic patterns of world percussion- creates a distinctive sound that is wholly his own. As he continues to refine his unique sound, it's clear that Roscius is a pioneer in his own lane.
