Rob Roar is a UK dance music producer, songwriter and DJ. He also works under the alias Max Linen.

Career

Roar founds Phonetic Recordings in 2001 and serves as its director. He also holds head of A&R posts at two dance labels, Global Cuts/R&S Records in Belgium and Slip ’n Slide/Kickin. His work appears on independent and major labels including Sony, EMI, Virgin, Positiva, Universal, BMG, Nebula, TEN, Robbins USA and Manifesto.

He writes and produces dance music under the Max Linen name, with records that reach number one on the Ibiza charts in 2001, 2002 and 2004, and number five in 2005. He also remixes and releases the 2003 Ibiza number one track.

Releases and chart success

Roar has three Top 40 UK national chart records, reaching positions 27, 33 and 40. His own productions go to number one in the UK club charts, including the DMC Buzz, Coolcut and Mixmag charts. He also achieves radio support and plays from Jo Whiley, Scott Mills, Dave Pearce, Chris Moyles, Edith Bowman, Colin Murray, Pete Tong, Judge Jules and Seb Fontaine on BBC Radio 1.

His Phonetic releases include Martijn ten Velden’s “Wish U Would” featuring Luciana, which is later signed to AATW in the UK. His Braund Reynolds release, where he is executive producer and songwriter, reaches number one on The Box video chart, appears on Channel 4’s Popworld and Fabric, and gets onto Radio 1’s daytime playlist, after interest from Atlantic, Warner and Mercury. His production “The Soulshaker” features in a Beck’s Beer advert in the USA. He also remixes Joe Smooth’s “Promised Land”, which reaches number one in the UK club and DMC Buzz charts. Roger Sanchez names Max Linen’s “Flashback” as his track of the year on Galaxy Radio. His compilation Counter Culture II receives a Best Album award from Record Mirror/Music Week in 2004.

Collaborations and media work

Roar writes and produces with Boy George and records with Tom Jones in Los Angeles. He launches a Ministry of Sound Radio show with Allister Whitehead, titled The Saturday Night Soundclash. He is also interviewed on MTV, appears on Channel 4’s Popworld, and features in MTV’s Playlist.

DJ work and performances

He plays club and festival sets internationally, including Ibiza venues and events such as Miss Moneypenny’s at El Divino, Manumission, Judgement Sunday at Eden, Bora Bora, Es Paradis, Café Mambo, Savannah, Es Vive, Pacha, Amnesia and Chuff Chuff. He also plays Ministry of Sound, Back 2 Basics, Sugar Shack, The Cross, EGG, Better Days/One Love in Melbourne, the Full Moon Party at Ko Pangan, Gecko at Koh Samui, Met in Bangkok, Dusted, Tall Trees and Clockwork Orange. He performs live PAs as Max Linen at the closing parties for We Love Sundays on the Space Terrace and Manumission in Ibiza, as well as at MTV in Dublin.

Recognition

Roar is nominated for Label of the Year at the UK House Music Awards in 2004. In 2005 he is nominated for Outstanding A&R alongside Erik Morillo, Jason Ellis and Simon Dunmore. He is also regularly covered in music press including M8, DJ, Mixmag and Music Week.