Roger Goode

Since his initial breakthrough onto the South African music scene in 2001 with his award winning track, ‘In the Beginning’, Roger Goode has continued to evolve. His radio show, The Saturday Surgery continues to rack up new listeners due to his energetic approach to radio and production. On-air, his liveliness and presence is tangible and translates into a private party in each listener’s home.

Roger’s unbridled passion for new sounds means he spends long hours sourcing the latest in hot tracks, breaking down boundaries and seamlessly incorporating multiple musical fields into one fluid, heart racing mix – week after week. Rooted in house music, Roger has been known to branch out into dubstep, drum and base, old school rock, trance and even something popular and typically mainstream. When he’s not entrancing listeners over the airwaves, Roger tours the country extensively, lighting up dancefloors and playing alongside local and international acts across South Africa.

Roger also runs a successful business which includes, voiceovers, radio commercial production, event planning and CD production.

Personal
Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? I.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.
A: This is Roger Goode, he’s 30, owns an audio production company and he has no fingerprints. Roger once travelled to Guam on a spiritual quest but all he got was a t-shirt and a rash.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.
A: I’m OCD about cleanliness and phobic about stench and germs and dirt.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?
A: Venturing back to the mother city where I’m from, switch off all modern technology and just be.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?
A: Dream home would have to have a foofie slide off the roof into the pool, a private planetarium and a lego room – like, a room to build lego in, but that’s also made of lego itself. I like to be between JHB and CT because JHB is business, professionalism, dollar bills, getting things done and CT is relaxing, socialising, centering. I split my time, it gives me balance.

Music Career:
Q: Your name is synonymous with dance music in South Africa. Do you feel you’ve achieved all you wanted to in your career?
A: GEEEeeeez, I hope not. Haven’t even scratched the surface!

Q: How do you find new music?
A: This business has become an online affair. I use loads of websites, blogs, colleagues and friend recommendations. Producers and Djs are also always sending in their new material for a listen. We’re lucky enough to have ins at various international suppliers that give me exclusives on tracks so we can always keep the shows sounding fresh. Keeping up with trends and music is possibly my most important task – If I ever start sounding stale then it would be time to pack it in.

Q: What do you hope to give people when you play?
A: Eargasms. Ha! But really, it’s that vibe you get when you love a song, or you feel a beat and you get up and dance and nothing else matters but that moment. It’s giving people an escape, a couple of hours to have a good time without stresses.

Q: You’ve performed hundreds of shows (on air) and live over the years. Do you still get the feeling of anticipation and excitement when you go on?
A: Every week. If it ever becomes mundane or second nature, then it’s time for a new challenge.

Q: How do you feel South Africa’s dance music landscape has changed in recent years for better or worse?
A: It’s definitely developing which is very positive. The most notable change is that audiences are deciding for themselves what they think is cool. Its moving away from commercial pop and an emergence of so many sub genres, dub step, D&B, trance, deep, funky. I’d like to see SA artists getting more notice on the global platform though.

Q: What kind of shows do you enjoy playing most?
Oddly, some of the coolest shows we’ve done lately were a series of under 18 school parties as part of the Saturday Surgery Album tour. Three schools won the opportunity to host a 5FM party and they were mind blowing. Those kids are so hungry for music, they know how to dance, they are so carefree. It was such a refreshing vibe.

Q: Do you have any shows that stick out in your mind as particularly special?
A: Playing alongside Groove Armada earlier this year was pretty special because they’re an outfit that I have always admired. They have a few tracks that I always have in my record folder as fail proof for most crowds so being able to see them live in action again was awesome.

Q: How important do you think it is for musicians/ creative minds to meet and collaborate?
A: It’s essential! How else are we ever supposed to learn new things?

Life in South Africa
Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?
A: I think everyone has been affected in one way or another but it absolutely hasn’t changed my perception of the country. Crime is everywhere. I don’t condone it but in Africa we have legitimate economic problems at the root of poverty-motivated crime. Of course that does not account for all of it but I’d think it was the majority. A lot of first world countries suffer from ridiculous crime rates when the population are looked after with free healthcare, government housing, the dole and so on. There is less reason to claim poverty and so a lot of their crime is purely malicious or gang motivated. That, to me, would be far more concerning.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?
A: Never seriously. I think if career opportunities gave me a platform to play on more often on the international stage then places like Spain, New York, Miami or Los Angeles would have a certain appeal.

Q: If you were given the opportunity of sitting down with the president, what advice would you offer him?
A: Don’t swim for an hour after eating, always wear clean underwear and never put a fork in a toaster.

Q: South Africa’s greatest musical export is?
A: Black Coffee and my old friend Tasha Baxter!

Life in Joburg
Q: What do you enjoy the most about living in Joburg?
A: It’s busy. Joburg is always buzzing. There’s no reason to be sitting back and doing nothing.

Q: Favourite restaurant in or around Joburg for a romantic dinner?
A: I don’t know about romance – my idea of a date is shouting “Kiss me!” repeatedly into a girls face until she caves under pressure. BUT, I love the Baron on Main. Red meat! You get in my mouth.

Q: What is the one place in Joburg that is a must visit for all tourists?
A: My bedroom. I mean… Gold Reef City. I’ve never been but I probably should.

General
Q: If you were able to pick anyone as your mentor, who would it be and why?
A: Probably Pete Tong of BBC’s Radio One. He has been doing his show for around 20 years. He is still effortlessly cool. He has an in with all of the big players in the dance scene. He is the ultimate radio DJ.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?
A: The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy – Douglas Adams.