Name: Roy Davis Jr.
Nationality: American
Occupation: Composer, DJ, producer, remixer
Current release: Roy Davis Jr.'s Undaground Therapy Muzik is proud to reissue the 1996 classic "Watch Them Come" by Men From The Nile ft. Peven Everett. The EP includes new remixes by Green Velvet, Soul Clap, Matt N Ricky, Derrick Carter, Jazzanova and DJ Pierre. Buy here.
Recommendations: I think every artist should read the book Inside The Story Of Casablanca Records. And as far as a painter, you should check out ERNIE BARNES art work, also look into Al Black and the Highwaymen of Florida.

[Read our Soul Clap interview]
[Read our Jazzanova interview]

If you enjoyed this Roy Davis Jr. interview and would like to know more about his music, visit him on Instagram, Facebook, Soundcloud, and twitter.

For the thoughts of one of his collaborators, visit our Marshall Jefferson interview.



When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?

If it is something that sounds good to me I get goose bumps and I listen with my eyes closed. I really love that feeling.

I recorded some (to me) incredible pieces of music when I had almost no idea what I was doing. What were your very first steps in music like - and how do you rate gains made through experience versus the naiveté of those first steps?

My first steps in music were like freedom - there was no wrong and no right to creating. I still hold on to that concept and it allows me to remain open.

As a child, it was easier to not allow an element of external judgement to come into the process of creative flow. However I dedicate time to finding ways of still keeping the process as pure as I possibly can.

It is generally believed that we make our deepest and most incisive musical experiences between 13-16. Tell me what music meant to you at that age, please – and how its impact has changed since then.

When I made music at the age of 13-16 I didn’t have a clear conscious mind set where I wanted my journey to go. At that age music meant rhythm and dance to me and a way of having fun.

As I matured things started to change in more of a conscious form. I noticed if I wrote things of pain they will come to reality and if I wrote things about love it became more of a truth and reality.

So with that being said I try to keep things on a positive vibe for everyone’s spirit.

Over the course of your development, what have been your most important instruments and tools - and how do you think working with them shaped your perspective on music?

My most important tools are the congas, piano and Akai MPC. Working with these tools allows me to always be hands-on instead of being stuck in my computer feeling stiff.

My rhythm comes from playing the congas and my melodies come from playing the piano. The MPC allows me to use all my analogue gear together in one box without losing my creative flow and syncopation.

What, would you say, are the key ideas behind your approach to music and what motivates you to create?

The key behind my music is being in the right headspace with God which allows me to be used as a messenger of melodies and sound. I actively spend time on creating so that I am ready when the deeper inspiration hits me.

What motivates me is life experiences and the will to write something that will change the world.

Paul Simon has been quoted as claiming that “the way that I listen to my own records is not for the chords or the lyrics - my first impression is of the overall sound.” What's your own take on that and how would you define your personal sound?

My first impression is how does this music make me feel, does it have a catchy melody, good lyrics, an overall good vibe, does it reel me in. If it doesn’t have any of those elements, then it is not for me.

Sound, song, and rhythm are all around us, from animal noises to forces of nature. What, if any, are some of the most moving experiences you've had with these non-human-made sounds? In how far would you describe them as “musical”?

I appreciate rain forest sounds in the spa.

From very deep/high/loud/quiet sounds to very long/short/simple/complex compositions - are there extremes in music you feel drawn to and what response do they elicit?

I am mostly drawn to a good bass line and percussions and a touch of jazz and melodic soulful vocals.

From symphonies and traditional verse/chorus-songs to linear techno tracks and free jazz, there are myriads of ways to structure a piece of music. Which approaches work best for you – and why?

Knowing the rules of music and having been in the industry for more than 40 years I do break rules and improvise to create a flow and a vibe that is to me simple in a way but harder to copy as it comes from a deeper place of creation - unique and not easily predictable.

It all comes down to who I am and what has proven to work for me and the people I have worked with.

Science and art have certain overlaps and similarities. Do you think "objectivity" has a place in art and do you conduct “experiments” or make use of scientific insights when you're making music?

I am more of an experimentalist.

As far as looking into music from a science point of view I personally believe that thinking and analysing complicate and to a certain degree numb the human connection to the universe.

Seeing, smelling, touching, tasting – which of these sense impressions have the strongest points of contact with your hearing/listening experience?

Hearing and touching

Does the way you make music reflect on the way you live your life? And vice versa, can we learn lessons about life by understanding music on a deeper level?

It’s all the connection and the focus.

Do you feel as though writing or performing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

Making a cup of coffee if made in a present moment and mind-set can be similar if it is made with purpose and meaning. The art of making and creating is a way of life and helps me to be fully dedicated and passionate about life.

There are other times where the cup of coffee is just a cup of coffee on the go. It is all in the decision what’s at hand.

If you could make a wish for the future – what are developments in music you would like to see and hear?

I would like to see a deeper respect for the original creations of songs and music, and also to make it easier for this generation to learn and manoeuvre through music history.

I would like to see a more truthful reflection of Black House Music Artists not only for their legacy, but creativity and music creations and also for their hard work and life dedication for the people of today’s time.

I see original creations being almost wiped out from history and at the same time copy machines making song after song.