Roland Leesker Reworks 'What You Need' for Definitive Recordings

Two Versions Honor the 1990 Classic

Roland Leesker has reworked Soft House Company's 1990 house track 'What You Need' for Definitive Recordings, offering both an Original Mix and an extended edit under his new alias, Mysterious Eastern Force. First pressed to vinyl in June, the single is now available digitally, bringing both versions to a wider audience.

The Original Mix stays close to the classic arrangement while adding a stronger drive, keeping the focus on the groove and character of the original production. The eleven-minute Mysterious Eastern Force Edit retains the essence of the original while adding a stronger bassline and subtle acid elements, extending the track into a hypnotic groove with early house influences and a contemporary club approach.

A Tribute to DJ Mozart

For Leesker, the rework also serves as a tribute to Claudio Rispoli, better known as DJ Mozart, who wrote the original track and passed away last year. DJ Mozart was a pioneer of Italian club culture and a resident at Baia degli Angeli, later becoming an important producer behind records and projects that helped take Italian dance music around the world.

"For me, this version is really a tribute: to Claudio, to the original record and to that particular emotional quality that the best House music can carry across generations. Hearing it again in Detroit almost 35 years after it was made and feeling that same reaction immediately was the reason I had to make this," Leesker said.

Leesker's House Music Legacy

Active in house music since the late 1980s, Leesker has roots in Frankfurt's club scene. His production history reaches back to the mid-1990s, including 'L'Essentiel', created in 1995 with Ricardo Villalobos under the R+R project. His later solo catalogue on Get Physical spans house, acid, electro and Detroit-influenced sounds.

Collaborations and remixes have involved artists including DJ Pierre, Roland Clark, Robert Hood and Terrence Parker. His catalogue also includes the debut album 'Searching For Peace' and a recent remix of Inner City's 'Pennies From Heaven'.

Following its vinyl-only release in June, 'What You Need' will be available digitally through Definitive Recordings on October 2, 2026.