Rolling Stock has always been about music first — from late-night sessions under the arches to all-day journeys that move through disco, house and deeper electronic sounds. Few people represent that spirit better than Zaki, one of Rolling Stock’s long-standing resident DJs and a key part of the venue’s musical DNA.
With roots stretching back to the late 90s and a deep love for vinyl, Zaki has been guiding dancefloors for decades. He’s also the driving force behind All Friends, a monthly party at Rolling Stock built around community, connection and music played the right way.
Ahead of this Saturday’s All Friends and New Year’s Eve, we sat down with Zaki to talk sound, history, vinyl, and what makes Rolling Stock special.
For anyone new to Rolling Stock, who are you and how would you describe your sound?
Hello and a big wave.
I’m a music lover from the late 80s, loving all sounds, from film sound tracks, Latin, soft rock, soul and house.. if it sounds good, I say play it. Music wise my sound varies.. if I’m doing an hour set or 8 hours set or longer, each set has it’s moments… it starts slow and gradually moves to the sounds that make you happy.
How did you first play at Rolling Stock and what kept you coming back?
Funnily enough, first time I played at RS, it was not called RS. It was just raw arches in 1998. It’s one of the memorable gigs I have done – a 14 hour set, just zaki taking 400 people on a journey in to deep house till day light. That’s how back in time it was.
Rolling Stock has a strong underground reputation — how does the space influence the way you play?
I always love playing at RS, I get to teach the new generation about the proper music and how it’s meant to be played – and guess what, they love it!
Your sets move between disco, house and deeper electronic sounds. What draws you to these genres?
I play what I feel and music is all about pace and going with the flow. It works out. Just relaxing and going with the flow, that’s me.
Vinyl is a big part of your approach — what does playing records bring to the dancefloor?
Ohhhh playing records keeps it different to the rest, it’s breaking music and when you’ve got something physical it means more in my heart, it keeps me alive , if I can’t find something on record, I’ll still grab it on digital. But vinyl is life for me, it’s special digging some out from the past, it always has a story on the years I’ve been doing this.
You host All Friends, a monthly party at Rolling Stock. What’s the idea behind it and what makes it special?
It’s a relaxed environment with friends and meeting new friends through out this journey … it’s family
This Saturday is the next All Friends — what can people expect on the night?
Good music, history and fun .. most importantly, with good friends
What’s been one of your favourite moments behind the decks at Rolling Stock so far?
Loads of favorite moments. I had one two weeks ago, where no one wanted to leave the club and an other would be when everyone was Shazaming the tracks and just watching me mix, 1 record at a time. That’s special. It’s good for the soul.
You’re also playing New Year’s Eve here — how do you approach a NYE set differently from a regular party?
New Years is going to be special, my dj partner for 30 years and I celebrate 3 decades, so we dig deep from the classic tracks that been with us from the 90s to the present. Just going to say find a space and let loose as it’s all brothers and sisters in one land… smiley, smiley.
Why should people spend New Year’s Eve at Rolling Stock this year?
Good up for it crowd and we bring the music the real way with 2 guys called Zaki & Manish who have been there from the beginning… it’s our sound and we live for it. Come and taste it, come and feel it.
Plus In these hard times, we’re not like other events, just creaming it on door entry. We keep it at great value so you still got loads of money in your pocket left!
Its all about the party ..Happy happy
Catch Zaki at Rolling Stock
🎶 All Friends – This Saturday (monthly party)
🕺 New Year’s Eve – Celebrating 30 years of Zaki & Manish
📍 Rolling Stock, Shoreditch
⏰ Late night music under the arches
Tickets to All Friends 20th December
Tickets to MUAK’s Mask Ball NYE 31st December