Ode to a renegade (Soom T @ Recyclart, Brussels)

The party had already started when we arrived.  J. Robinson (UK, Tribe 12, WhoDemSound) had opened the dance with an uplifting dubstep selection and  Junior Fragga (Uphill Sound, Turntable Dubbers) was warming up the crowd in sound system style, like he's been doing for years now, whether it be solo or with any of his various crews. At that stage the audience was still respecting the no-smoking policy, but that soon changed when  the woman of the day, Soom-T, entered the arena. For starters, the multi-disciplined DJ/producer/remixer/tour manager  Jstar (UK, Jst?r, Nice Up!, Ninjatune, Sony, V2, Lucky 7… ) took over with some fresh reggae tunes and a few dub plates like Barrington Levy's  'Here I Come'.  A nice reggae hip-hop selection with a drop of jungle, always different from the previous one for each of his DJ sets, which are always a pleasure to attend.

Anyway, this time, it didn't last long before Soom-T jumped off the backstage and took the mic, with Jstar acting as her regular backing DJ. Cutting her way through the cloud of smoke billowing up above us, the author of the equally smoking 'Ode 2 A Carrot' embarked upon her first song, 'Pull it Up' on a hiphop-like version of the Tempo riddim. She then moved on to 'Bong Bong', her cannabinoid adaptation of Sister Nancy's 'Bam Bam' on the eternal  Stalag riddim.

Songs were sung in their entirety. She didn't allow for any idle time, except for a couple of short, engaged speeches, anti-police and pro-ganja. Of course we heard her underground hit 'Ganja Ganja' as well. Her ease to connect with the public and make it seem as if  each and every one of them is the person she specially came to sing for is palpable and proof of this anti-stardom icon, whose only request to the organizer for her backstage comfort was some tea bags. The party ended early as announced, but most people  seemed satisfied with what they got. Soom-T, very open and available (we  can't mention it enough), has promised Reggae.be an interview in the near future.

Those who were still up for more could attend the afterparty at Kultuurkaffee, where J. Robinson and a couple of other  DJs from his label finished the night in a dark dubstep extravaganza, ending with some undanceable, obscure wobbles. Since Jstar had left his selection at the hotel and brought only a usb stick which didn't work with J. Robinson's equipment, it was time to leave. KK afterparty aside, the vibes were exceptionally good all around at Recyclart for the first reggae party of Mentality, which so far  had only hosted drum & bass, techno or dubstep events . The new concept was quite a success and we're definitely hoping for more soon!