Smokingroove

Smokingroove is the long-standing house music alias of Dubai-based DJ, producer and music curator Monsafe, originally launched alongside his brother Marko after the pair cut their teeth on London’s mid-90s underground pirate radio scene. Coming up through legendary stations including Freek FM, Unknown FM and House FM, Smokingroove built its early reputation on raw, bumping, Chicago-fused house music and a deep understanding of the underground dancefloor. That sound soon carried across clubs, festivals, radio shows and record labels around the world, helping establish Smokingroove as one of the most recognisable names to emerge from the UK house scene. Over the years, Smokingroove has clocked up more than 160 releases, toured internationally, appeared at major events including Creamfields and Unite with Tomorrowland, and built a reputation for delivering proper underground house music with warmth, groove and energy at its core. After Marko relocated to Dubai in 2007, the brand developed a powerful Middle East presence, becoming closely associated with the rise of Dubai’s large-scale beach and festival scene. Smokingroove played a key role in shaping the sound of Nasimi Beach at Atlantis, The Palm, helping transform the venue into one of the region’s most iconic clubbing destinations. The project also became heavily involved in the musical direction of the 16,000+ capacity Sandance events, sharing stages with and often closing for artists including Faithless, Florence + The Machine, Jamiroquai, David Guetta, Avicii, Fatboy Slim, Chic, Frankie Knuckles, Steve Lawler, Roger Sanchez, Derrick Carter, Armand Van Helden and Basement Jaxx. Since 2015, Smokingroove has continued as Monsafe’s solo project, carrying the sound forward with the same underground spirit while evolving into a wider music brand spanning DJ sets, production, radio, curation and events. Based in Dubai but still rooted in London’s house music DNA, Monsafe has kept Smokingroove relevant across generations of clubbers, from intimate dancefloors to major festival stages. Smokingroove has won multiple regional awards and remains a name associated with credible, feel-good house music on a global scale. In 2018, Monsafe took on the role of Music Curator for W Dubai – The Palm, bringing his musical identity into one of the world’s most recognised lifestyle hotel brands. Today, the Smokingroove radio show is syndicated to over 40 stations worldwide, reaching listeners in more than 60 countries every week. It brings the story full circle: from London pirate radio to international syndication, with Monsafe continuing to champion the freshest sounds in underground house music.