Curiosity, the will to innovate, and a great deal of research are the hallmarks of the work by Paulo Braga, also known as DJ Roots. In 2001, Roots began a DJ course at the Pragatecno - an electronic music organization founded in 1998 located in northeastern Brazil. There, he developed a DJing style that highlights jazzy, funky, and soulful sounds while still integrating the scope of drum & bass.
Since then, Roots has been a staff member at Pragatecno as well as an integral force in the development of Bahias junglist movement - establishing monthly events such as DB and the D-Breaks. Currently, DJ Roots is at the helm of BOOH!, the first organization solely dedicated to building and promoting the Bahia drum and bass scene.
At the dawn of 2005, he was invited by internationally acclaimed Brazilian musician Fernanda Porto to produce remixes for her performance at the Carnival de Salvador, an event promoting her most recent album, Giramundo. Also in 2005, Roots partnered with Rafael Ponde to produce a drum and bass remix of Sorriso de Flor. Marky and XRS chose this track to be part of the inaugural release on their label, Innerground Records.
Together with Marky and another rising Brazilian dj/producer, Bungle, Roots produced Restart, which was featured on High Contrast's Fabric Live compilation (released in late 2005). With his Chilean partner TheEgo, he produced Shining Down and also remixed tunes by German-based Phoneheads (Buscape and Roll That Stone). The latter utilized the vocal talents of UK singer/MC Cleveland Watkiss.
Amongst the great events DJ Roots has participated in are some notable events that have highlighted phases of his career.
2003 Roots was invited to play during Carnival of Salvador at Expresso 2222 by the Minister of Brazilian Culture, Gilbert Gil. This event also featured well-known DNB DJs like Marcus Intalex (UK), Marky and XRS. In Joao Pessoa, he participated at 'Break It Down', a project realized by the Oversonix collective which also included an appearance by DJ Mad Zoo. Roots also participated at two editions of Soar Festival hosted by the Fashion Club of Salvador. These events, which hosted a public attendance of more than 3,000 fans, included DJs Patife, Marky and XRS, as well as MCs Fats and Cleveland Watkiss, and ensured a strong following for DNB in the Bahian capital.
2004 - Roots played the electronic tent of Festival de Verao Salvador, with attendance of more than 50,000 people each day. That April, during a brief tour of Sao Paulo, Roots played in two of the larger weeklies - one being the 'Vibe' night at Lov.e Club hosted by DJ Marky. In May, he was invited by Chris DB to cowrite the 3Breakers Combat! DVD project in Fortaleza. Rounding out the year, Roots was invited to tour with DJ Patife including events such as a beach party at Stella Maris in Salvador.
2005 - Another appearance at Festival de Verao Salvador. In 2005's Carnival of Bahia, he played together with Fernanda Porto in the electronic trio of Daniela Mercury. Luminaries such as Ramiro Mussoto and Ramilson Maia were also in attendance. In April, another appearance at DJ Marky's 'Vibe' weekly at Lov.e Club in Sao Paulo. 2005 also saw guest appearances by Roots at Calbuque, Yanay and Marcelinho's clubnight 'Fever' hosted at the House of Matrix, as well as the very first edition of the FW Eletronic, happening in conjunction with Ceará Music in Fortaleza.
2006 - Third appearance at Festival de Verão Salvador. Another appearance in Carnival (Roots played in Expresso 2222), and in May was invited to play in the biggest event of electronic music of Latin America - the Skol Beats - in the Marky & Friends tent.
With a driving passion and inspiration to spread the music of Drum and Bass, Roots continues to push the scene forward in his homeland and beyond.......
DJ Roots
(BOOH! Drum and Bass Collective)
(Innerground/Blusaphir/Liquid V)
