This Friday, the 3th of December, for the first time 4 Belgian soundsystems step into the soundclash-arena. We'll introduce them to you, but first we'll explain the phenomenon.
SOUNDCLASH is a tradition in Jamaica and later on exported and inspired other types of DJ-competitions. It's special because the crowd decides who wins and the combination of speeches (by the sound-MC) and "dubplates" are determing factors on who gets the trophy. Dubplates is also a typical Jamaican tradition. Original reggae or dancehall-artists re-record their songs with a special lyrical dedication to the soundsytem or DJ for who they are made. Every dubplate is an original record, specially made for that one sound and only played by that sound. In a soundclash there's mostly several rounds with a 10 or 15 minutes set by each sound. Finally there's the duel between two sounds (dub-fi-dub). On the 3th of December these 4 Belgian Soundsystems step into the clash-arena in Vooruit Ghent. So they join the first edition of this reggae-dancehall competition in Belgium. Let the best sound win! You decide.
Introducing
Where are you from?
Beatstreet sound: Leuven
Papa Pedro Sound: Kortrijk
Daktari sound: Gent
Mystic Breeze Collective: Antwerp suburbs
Soundmembers names?
Beatstreet sound: Johnny Lexman (selector, MC), T-Fire (MC, selector), Sensademus (selector), King Josh (selector) and Ulterior (selector, operator)
Papa Pedro Sound: Papa Pedro, Mama T & Sensi
Daktari sound: Ras Borsalino - BinWah - Ragga Yves - Boneman
Mystic Breeze Collective: Kinja, Satva, Walterz, Amoz & Mighty
Sound date of birth (year)?
Beatstreet sound: 1999
Papa Pedro Sound: 2003
Daktari sound: 1983
Mystic Breeze Collective: 2005
Which are your 3 biggest examples in soundsystem-biz (international)?
Beatstreet sound: King Addies (with Tony Matterhorn and Baby Face), Killamanjaro and Bass Odyssey
Papa Pedro Sound: Bass Odyssey, David Rodigan & Mighty Crown
Daktari sound: Sturgav - Stone Love - Cash money
Mystic Breeze Collective: Supersonic, David Rodigan, Jaro...
Most memorable clash you ever seen or witnessed?
Beatstreet sound: We grew up with clash cassettes, and our favorite clash tape is King Addies vs Bass Oddyssey in Portmore from 1994. The most memorable clash we attended ourselves probably remains Far West vs Runn Sound in Rotterdam (2000). In the juggling rounds both sounds appeared well matched, and in the tune fi tune Runn Sound took it with an Eddy Wally dub, an unforgettable moment indeed
Papa Pedro Sound: Sting 2008 (Kartel vs Mavado) // Riddim Clash 2006 (Bass Odyssey vs LP vs David Rodigan)
Daktari sound: Dead before dishonour (Lucea - Jamaica) Silver Star versus Black Blunt
Mystic Breeze Collective: War inna East 2006: Far West Crew vs. Warrior (toen nog Rainbow Warrior) vs City Lock vs. Foundation
Most memorable dance you ever played?
Beatstreet sound: Defend Your Sound in the Machine in Leuven (2009) definitely was a night to remember in Belgian dancehall history with eight sounds playing some of their best dubs on one night. Playing in the Bounce Dancehall at Reggae Geel 2010 was very nice too.
Papa Pedro Sound: streetdance in Wuppertal, Germany // ruffpack birthdaybash in Biel, Switzerland
Daktari sound: 2 much 2 remember! I guess the gig in Democrazy (Gent - Reinaertstraat) somewhere between 1990 and 95 or reggae Geel.
Mystic Breeze Collective: Reggae Geel 2009
Why did you accept the clash-invitation?
Beatstreet sound: It seemed a nice chance to step up into the clash game. Too many sounds don't want to clash because they don't want to loose. Hopefully this kind of initiative will change that attitude and will bring a more open clash atmosphere. Soundclash is an important and exciting part of dancehall that still is ignored all too often in Belgium. Many sounds have a big dubbox, so it's time to do something with it. When we were asked for the Beljam Cup Clash we grabbed the oppotunity with both hands.
Papa Pedro Sound: Good promo
Daktari sound: Which invitation? We applied and were selected.
Mystic Breeze Collective: Cause wi ready fi it
Which warning would you give to the other contenders?
Beatstreet sound: You'd better order a coffin now if you want one that's to your liking...
Papa Pedro Sound: Be prepared!
Daktari sound: Love, peace and unity always. Clash in style, mek shure unuh nah ambarese unuh selves
Mystic Breeze Collective: Better come prepared!