Artist Spotlight - Rogue Element

[daniella downs]

The Rogue Element
Exceptional // UK


The Rogue Element, aka award winning producer and DJ Ben Medcalf, was born in Portsmouth in 1979. Displaying an interest and aptitude for music from an early age, he played various instruments through his teens until becoming the drummer in Blindside, a rap/metal outfit playing the Portsmouth band circuit. Also in the group were Martin Dawson aka King Roc, the acclaimed electro DJ and producer, and Chris Jarman, aka Raiden, former protege of Renegade Hardware. All three were part of a wider social circle that also included Tom Neville and hard dance superstar Nick Sentience, brought together by a mutual love for the music of acts as varied as Underworld, Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Deftones, RATM, and the Wu Tang Clan.

After moving to London in 2000 Ben began to learn the trade of the sound engineer, experimenting first with his own compositions and then in collaborations with Tom Real, who at the time was also new to the capital and effectively introduced Ben to the sounds of breaks and techno . After only a couple of years a number of tracks were signed to the alternative house offshoot Beautiful Records and the Rogue Element project was born.

Since signing a two-album deal with the reputable and eclectic Exceptional Records in 2004, The Rogue Element has taken the breakbeat world by storm. A string of singles received instant support from the Plump DJs, Freestylers, Stanton Warriors, Krafty Kuts, The Crystal Method, Hyper and Rennie Pilgrem and culminated in Ben being awarded the 'Best Breakthrough Producer' award at the prestigious Breakspoll International Breakbeat Awards at Fabric. In addition to this the acclaimed debut album 'Rogue Rock' was released in September 2005, which received a nomination for 'Best Album'.

2006 has seen The Rogue Element continue in a prolific manner with remixes of some of the biggest names in breakbeat (Stanton Warriors, Freestylers, Krafty Kuts, the Crystal Method) and drum and bass (Noisia). DJ tours have taken him all over Central and Eastern Europe, to the Far East, and to Australia and New Zealand. Continued collaborations with Tom Real, available on Functional, have been similarly lauded and have succeeded in crossing over to the electro scene (He's So Hot Right Now). A second studio album is currently in its early stages and is expected to be released in around September 2007. In addition to producing, remixing, and engineering, Ben writes the scores for TV and film.

(ian edit -

Rogue Element has defintiely been the hottest name in breaks for the entire year of 2006. probably every breaks dj in the universe has played one of his tunes at one point or another. he brought a brand new rock/tech/bangin/funky sound that he created for himself, and really pushed to the moon. he is mass appealing, and i can't imagine he is going anywhere any time soon)


here's a link to some of his original tunes and remixes -

rogue element - dead drummers

nitro - violence (rogue element mix)

soul of man - sukdat (rogue element mix)

rogue element - rogue rock

kiro vs. undecided ft. six kitten b - obsessive nature (rogue element mix)

rogue element - the moves

tom real vs. the rogue element - resistance 06

rogue element - let me breathe

the freestylers - in love with you (rogue element mix)

rogue element - my style

dj quest & odissi - loser (rogue element mix)

noisia - gutterpump (tom real vs. the rogue element mix)

tom real vs. the rogue element - he's so hot right now

audiosauce - freebird (rogue element mix)

rogue element - calm

stanton warriors - hope time (rogue element mix)

krafty kuts - tell me how you feel (kid kenobi vs. rogue element mix)

ninelives the cat - bouncing off the walls (rogue element mix)



and as far as a mix, i don't have one from this year at all. the only one i have is from 12/05. it's still a pretty good mix, and i listen to it every now and then (although when i first got it, i listened to it almost every fucking day) and it has his bootleg of run dmc's king of rock on it, which is outstanding.

i woulda preferred a newer mix of his to post here, but this is the best i can do. enjoy -

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KKF2CQF0

[beth]

rogue element is the shit

whoever sleeps on this badass is a fucking dumbass.

[dj_peake]

been buying up his shit left and right

[DjLantern]

The Rouge Element is the new Cut and Run hehe

he is def the MAN

Can't wait till late december :wink:

[Jill]

the freestylers - in love with you (rogue element mix)

:affection:

[daniella downs]

:affection:

honestly, i like the original a lot better.

the rogue element mix isnt too bad tho. i just prefer the original.


THIS IS RAVE RELATED.

[DjLantern]

honestly, i like the original a lot better.

the rogue element mix isnt too bad tho. i just prefer the original.


THIS IS RAVE RELATED.

its funny

I would say more than half of the songs TRElement remix's you like the original better and I like rogue's mix better

I don't need relationship, all I need is BANG BANG BANG

[Jill]

honestly, i like the original a lot better.

the rogue element mix isnt too bad tho. i just prefer the original.

I like em both a lot.

I'm uploading another Rogue Element mix right now, I'll post it when its done. I don't remember when/where I got it and it isn't dated, so I don't know if its newer than what you posted. I'm sure you DJ type people will be able to date it by the tracks.

[daniella downs]

its funny

I would say more than half of the songs TRElement remix's you like the original better and I like rogue's mix better

I don't need relationship, all I need is BANG BANG BANG

honestly, just cuz he makes shit that is more bangin than what i play.

if i played the way i used to, i would still be rocking out every single one of his tunes.

they are all crowd pleasers

[Jill]

Here ya'll go:

Name: The Rogue Element - Fat 60min Promo mix for Nowsound.mp3
Size: 53MB

The download link is: http://www.sendspace.com/file/0nspms

[DJMarcO]

You all smell...that is all.

[DjLantern]

You all smell...that is all.

shutup

BALL LICKER!

[beth]

You all smell...that is all.

herro Marc(o)(o)

[DJMarcO]

What are all you fucks gonn' do when I deprive you of your El Ian??

:lovemachine:

Cant wait to see you fucktards in January though....we're gonna party like it's 1999...and if any of you partied with me on NYE 1999, then you know that means serious rave type business.

[xgirl]

i want to have his babies.

i am now going to rock a side ponytail at my desk.