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The name is Roxy Paris, but what do we know about him? Many accolades have been bestowed upon this man of many facets. Roxy has been likened to a maverick and a sonic matador, wielding his red cape of production to control an aggressive, yet soulful sound, a provocateur as well as a rogue, who seems to live on the edge of the law, a gentleman and a playboy with a gift for prose, and a trend-setting satorialist, the perfect muse for those who appreciate style.
Ultimately, Roxy Paris is a visionary, and this is his story, for now:
Roxy is a French artist; born the son of a trumpet player and painter. His first taste of notoriety came during a chance meeting with Dusty Caldwell, an American patron of the arts who was attending a student exhibition featuring his work along the Côte d'Azur. Encouraged by the latter to move beyond the confines of his home in Southern France, Roxy moved to the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York City, and without resources, he quickly embarked upon a journey of self-discovery and sonic experimentation.
Using his newfound connections and plenty of guile, Roxy was befriended by the likes of megawatt DJ’s CASSIDY, JUS SKE and compatriot Ophelie Winter. These associations provided the backdrop for his musical imprint on projects as diverse as the Louis Vuitton/Stephen Sprouse Collection Launch Party and enjoying, let's just say, certain "creature comforts" in the form of an American "beauty queen," various Brazilian models and even a Russian acrobat from Cirque Du Soleil. Roxy was known to hold court at New York's famed and exclusive private clubs like 1OAK, Bagatelle (Brunch), and Cipriani Downtown, thus cementing his playboy reputation. It was during these encounters that the concept for his song “Nightlife” was born.
Somewhat dismayed by the pretentiousness of his current surroundings (“You can only go out and party so much” he says), Roxy had an epiphany: He would pursue the tutelage of his earliest musical influences located in Minneapolis. His time there, though short lived was fruitful, having collaborated with true synth pioneer Doctor Fink and legendary sax-player Eric Leeds; both of whom were members of Prince's seminal band "The Revolution," and were instrumental in the shaping of His Purple Majesty's sound in the 80's. Their input provided Roxy with the sonic tools to further his advances in creativity back in France. It was now the time for, as Roxy would call it, “Funk Art, Let’s Dance” or “FALD.”
Armed with a plethora of analog synthesizers, a customized Linn Drum and kilometers of tape in a room converted into a recording studio at his Aunt’s chateau back in Provence, Roxy’s self-imposed exile paved the way to the creation of his album “Catch My Drift ?,” a stellar collection of music unlike any of the homogenized recordings heard on the radio today. Each song tells a unique story, describing his life’s experiences, musings, recollections, or maybe not?
Only Roxy knows the answer to that question, but for sure, this elevator ride only goes up!