Originally signed to No-U-Turn, he moved to the scene leader Moving Shadow in 1995. He has released four critically acclaimed albums to date, over 100 singles, high profile electronic remixes as well as many collaborations with some of the scene’s most talented artists.
As one of the pioneers of the tech-step genre he is well known for his cinematic otherworldly soundscapes, and it has often been suggested that he move into doing film soundtracks as his sound often conveys a strong visual element. Teamed with his sought after talent for producing dancefloor pounding rhythms, he has managed to stay at the pinnacle of the scene to this day.
In 2005 Dom started his own label Dom & Roland Productions releasing the creme de la creme of Drum and Bass collaborations, as well as being an outlet for his own work. An accomplished sound engineer, Dom is well known to have co-produced and mixed some of the classics of the drum and bass scene, including Subway with Ed Rush, Sonar with DJ Trace, appearing as guest producer alongside Optical on Grooveriders seminal Prototype Years album, as well as having enjoyed enormous success with many of his own tracks including the mighty Thunder, Imagination and Can’t Punish Me. The late John Peel a longtime fan, also approached Dom to commission a piece of work although sadly this dream was never realised.
Over the years Dom & Roland releases have been commissioned for several Playstation games and licensed to television in various countries including the BBC and Channel 4 in England. More recently Dom has continued his passion for pushing the boundaries of music technology, contributing from a producer’s standpoint, by being an advisor to various music software companies, including Native Instruments and Focusrite, taking studio tools to the next generation.
In his latest album No Strings Attached, in addition to his latest solo work, Dom has teamed up with the current crop of big name producers to release a 12 track album, featuring collaborations with Amon Tobin of Ninja records, the trendy Dutch super producers Noisia, Violence label owner Hive, Audio, and last but by no means least Rob Playford, Dom’s old label boss, now close friend, also known as the co-producer and engineer of Goldie’s legendary timeless album. Doms latest album is one of his finest works to date and is due for release in November on all formats including a five part vinyl edition.
* Roland is not a person. Roland is the digital sampler made by Roland that Dom used to compose with!
City
Dom & Roland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I really don't show
Except to the people i shouldn't
I know
Live and Learn
I learned a lot
A lot
YeahYeah
Fam say I think I'm better just cuz I want better
Fuck it
It's whateva
Not like em I can't settle
Gotta go get it no handout
Got faith in how it pan out
I feel it already
Shit I'm da man now
New bitches with natural tans now
They All fans now
Showout to the frenemies
And the ones who stayed down
And all them bitches who came round
Not the ones who played games just to stay round
Know a couple and nah I don't judge em
Just don't put nothing above em
I know she foul I fucked with her cousin
Just lust yeah no lovin
But that's whole nother discussion
My town crazy
But my town raised me
Down south baby
Give it to you wavy
Can't play me
Nah
My town raised me
But my town crazy
Down south baby
Give it to you wavy
Can't play me
Cant play me
Cant play me
And this Love that I got for you
I wanna show but don't really know how to
So a nigga move how I gotta move
Now my actions got you
Acting with this attitude
I've had enough pain
I know that ain't all ya really got for me
So baby girl
Gon Let that pride drop for me
And that pop for me
Do a lot for me
All you got for me
All you got me
Yeah my town crazy
But my town raised me
Down south baby
Gave it to you wavy
Can't play me
Cant play me
Cant play me
Cant play me
Cant play me
Cant play me
Yea My town crazy
But my town raised me
Down south baby
Gave it to you wavy
Can't play me
Cant play me
Cant play me
Cant save me
Can't save me
Can't save me
And lately I been on some other
Blame on my mother
Don't understand but I love her so
What Im post to do with you
Especially when I feel the love ain't mutual
I be gone I can't do the games baby
It ain't just you in these streets
That know my name baby
Don't play me
So please don't play yaself
Cuz imma ball with you
Or with someone else
And you you know well
Yeah
That my town crazy
But my town raised me
Down south baby
Gave it to ya wavy
Can't play me
Can't play me
Can't play me
Can't Save me
Can't Save me
Can't Save me
Can't save me
So I'm medicated dedicated
So my feelings hella faded
Long gon yea outdated
Gon trace it
Just a cold heart
With a good vibe
Antioch Up
Yea dat side
Dats right
Understand where A nigga come from with it
Una Antioch bell road
Im in it
We is not the same I'm different
Stay in yo lane don't switch it
Girl You playing who
Girl you out you roof
2 seater in this coupe
Yeah I'm gone
Please lemme lone
Please don't hit my phone
When you see dat I'm just on
Cuz really I'm just on
Yeah in my own zone
That just mad like Stevie
Mad cuz they cant see me
Wavy boy degeechi
I be on that bee shit
I be on that fly shit baby
High shit baby
That can't ride
I need a pilot baby
Im gone on em
Yeah
Im gone on em
Im gone on em
Yeah
Im gone on em
The song "City" by Dom & Roland is an emotional and introspective track where the artist talks about his pain and struggle in life, and how he copes with it. The opening lines "I got a lot of pain, I really don't show, except to the people I shouldn't, I know," suggest that the artist is someone who tries to bear his sorrows alone and doesn't like to display his vulnerability to everyone. However, he acknowledges that there are some people he shouldn't shy away from and should open up to. The chorus of the song repeats the lines "My town crazy, but my town raised me, down south baby, give it to you wavy, can't play me," which could be interpreted as the artist paying homage to his roots and upbringing, and how his experiences have shaped him into the person he is today.
The second verse of the song is about the artist's romantic relationships, and how some women have played games with him just to be around him. The lines "Gotta go get it no handout, got faith in how it pan out, I feel it already, shit I'm da man now, new bitches with natural tans now, they all fans now," suggest that the artist is successful and attracting new women, but he remains cautious and wary of those who are not genuine. He also talks about his love for someone and how he wants to show it, but he struggles to express his emotions. The lines "And this love that I got for you, I wanna show but don't really know how to, so a nigga move how I gotta move, now my actions got you acting with this attitude," suggest that the artist's inability to express his love is causing some discord in his relationship.
Overall, "City" by Dom & Roland is a deep and reflective track where the artist talks about his struggles with pain and love, and how he views his roots and upbringing. The song's slow and melancholy melody adds to the introspective and emotional nature of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a lot of pain
I struggle internally with pain, but I don't show it outwardly.
I really don't show
I keep my pain to myself and don't express it to others.
Except to the people i shouldn't
The only people who see my pain are those who I shouldn't be sharing it with.
Live and Learn
I've gained knowledge and experience from my past mistakes.
I learned a lot
Through my experiences, I've gained a great deal of knowledge and wisdom.
A lot
I've learned an abundant amount from the trials and tribulations of my life.
Fam say I think I'm better just cuz I want better
Some people close to me think I have a superiority complex when I only strive for better things.
Fuck it
I don't care what others think about my motivations for wanting more in life.
It's whateva
I'm indifferent to others' opinions regarding my pursuits in life.
Not like em I can't settle
I don't want to settle for less than what I believe I deserve, unlike some others.
Gotta go get it no handout
I must work for what I want; I don't expect any free gifts or assistance from others.
Got faith in how it pan out
I believe that my efforts and hard work will pay off in a positive outcome.
I feel it already
My intuition tells me that my hard work is already beginning to pay off.
Shit I'm da man now
I'm feeling confident and successful, like I'm on top of the world.
New bitches with natural tans now
I am now attracting new and more attractive romantic partners.
They All fans now
Everyone wants to be around me, and I'm attracting many admirers and fans.
Showout to the frenemies
I'm giving a shoutout to those who pretended to be my friend but secretly wished for my failure.
And the ones who stayed down
I appreciate the friends who supported and believed in me through thick and thin.
And all them bitches who came round
I'm acknowledging the people who only recent started showing interest in me when I began to achieve success.
Not the ones who played games just to stay round
I'm not talking about those who pretended to be my friend just to benefit from my success.
Know a couple and nah I don't judge em
I know some people who behaved poorly in the past, but I won't judge them for it.
Just don't put nothing above em
I won't prioritize those people above anyone else in my life.
I know she foul I fucked with her cousin
I knowingly got involved with someone who I knew had a bad reputation for being disloyal.
Just lust yeah no lovin
I was motivated by physical desire rather than true love.
But that's whole nother discussion
The details of that situation are not relevant in this conversation.
My town crazy
I come from a hometown that's chaotic and challenging.
But my town raised me
Despite its difficulties, my hometown instilled values and lessons in me that have helped shape who I am.
Down south baby
I come from the southern United States.
Give it to you wavy
I'm bringing a unique, unconventional style to my music.
Can't play me
No one can manipulate or deceive me.
And this Love that I got for you
I have strong feelings of love towards someone.
I wanna show but don't really know how to
I'm struggling to express my love to this person in a meaningful way.
So a nigga move how I gotta move
I'll do what I need to do in order to express my love in the best way I can.
Now my actions got you
My behavior is impacting how this person perceives me.
Acting with this attitude
This person is responding to me with a negative attitude.
I've had enough pain
I've suffered enough pain and don't want to experience more.
I know that ain't all ya really got for me
I believe that this person is capable of providing more positivity and love to me.
So baby girl
I'm addressing this person with affection.
Gon Let that pride drop for me
I'm asking this person to let go of their pride for the sake of our relationship.
And that pop for me
I'm asking this person to be physically intimate with me.
Do a lot for me
I want this person to go above and beyond for me and our relationship.
All you got for me
I want this person to give their all to me and our relationship.
All you got me
I am fully committed to this person and our relationship.
And lately I been on some other
I've been acting differently and exploring new things lately.
Blame on my mother
I'm attributing my recent behavior to my mother's influence.
Don't understand but I love her so
I love my mother despite not fully understanding her actions or behaviors.
What Im post to do with you
I'm not sure what to do with this person in my life.
Especially when I feel the love ain't mutual
I feel that this person may not love me as much as I love them.
I be gone I can't do the games baby
If this person isn't willing to reciprocate my love, I may have to leave the relationship.
It ain't just you in these streets
There are many other people in the world that could be a potential romantic partner for me.
That know my name baby
I'm popular and well-known, which makes me an attractive partner to many people.
So please don't play yaself
I'm warning this person not to fool themselves about our relationship.
Cuz imma ball with you
I am willing to invest and commit to this person and our relationship.
Or with someone else
If this person isn't willing to reciprocate my love, I may pursue a relationship with someone else.
And you you know well
This person is aware of my feelings and intentions toward them.
So I'm medicated dedicated
I'm using medication to treat a medical condition or psychological issue, but I'm still dedicated to my goals and pursuits in life.
So my feelings hella faded
My medications have resulted in my emotions feeling less intense than they used to.
Long gon yea outdated
My past struggles and issues are no longer relevant to my current life.
Gon trace it
I'm seeking to trace back to the root of my issues and struggles for greater self-awareness and healing.
Just a cold heart
I have become emotionally detached and aloof as a result of my experiences and struggles.
With a good vibe
Despite my emotional detachment, I still exude a positive and uplifting energy.
Antioch Up
I come from the Antioch neighborhood and I'm proud of it.
Yea dat side
I am a part of the Antioch community with its unique identity and characteristics.
Understand where A nigga come from with it
I come from a unique and dynamic community.
Una Antioch bell road
I come from a specific area of Antioch: Bell Road.
Im in it
I am an active and present member of the Antioch community.
We is not the same I'm different
I am unique and stand out from the crowd.
Stay in yo lane don't switch it
I believe in staying focused on my personal goals and not getting distracted by others' pursuits.
Girl You playing who
I'm asking this woman who she is trying to deceive or play games with.
Girl you out you roof
This woman is acting erratic and unpredictable.
2 seater in this coupe
I'm driving a two-seater car, implying that I don't have any passengers or distractions on my journey in life.
Yeah I'm gone
I'm focused on my personal pursuits and journey in life.
Please lemme lone
I'm asking this person to leave me alone and not try to distract me from my goals.
When you see dat I'm just on
When this person sees that I'm focused on my personal pursuits and goals.
Cuz really I'm just on
I'm truly just focused on bettering myself and achieving my personal goals.
Yeah in my own zone
I'm in a state of deep focus and concentration on my personal pursuits.
That just mad like Stevie
This person is angry and frustrated, like the musician Stevie Wonder is in his song 'Superstition'.
Mad cuz they cant see me
This person is angry and jealous that they can't keep up with me or match my success or uniqueness.
Wavy boy degeechi
I have a creative and unique style and persona.
I be on that bee shit
I'm focused on making money and achieving success in life.
I be on that fly shit baby
I am living a unique and unconventional lifestyle.
High shit baby
I am on a journey of self-discovery and exploration that involves expanding my mind and perspective.
That can't ride
Most people can't keep up with me or my lifestyle.
I need a pilot baby
I need someone who can keep up with me and my fast pace of life.
Im gone on em
I'm ahead of most people in my personal growth and development, and they can't keep up with me.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Dom De'Ryan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Jennifer-yq6hw
Such emotional and raw tune. He really encapsulates a lot of complex emotions and perceptions in this one.
@mrpepperami01
That album is a masterpiece.
@jonnie2bad
everything this guy does it gold imo
@Huberchet
I listen to this album when driving to our family's country house.
For a very long time i can still see the big portion of the city somewhere far away and then keep that image in my mind so this music creates some amazing visions combined with the view i'm having while going to that trip.
@optiant
this is the highest quality version of the album cover i think i've ever seen
regardless, this is easily one of the best songs aside from thunder in the album.
@brunitoforrester
S
@optiant
@@brunitoforrester what
@MANGO-SAXON
Such a deep track.
@peterhollo697
So dope. Collision of late '90s drum'n'bass (just before the mainstream stuff got a bit shit) and that Badalamenti sample (City of Lost Children of course).
@judsonsnell
It drove me CRAZY not knowing what that atmos/string sample was. Finally found it in a fit of insomnia at 5:30 this morning, thanks!