Interviews

Interview with Disrupt (Jahtari)

DisruptNaram talks to Disrupt, founder of Leipzig-based label, Jahtari, who is set to reach Australasian shores this March.

First off, for those Kiwis unfamiliar with your music, can you please explain what exactly Jahtari is? 

At heart we’re a Reggae and Dub label, but the mission is to make it work with new sounds that are not usually used in Reggae, like 8-bit aesthetics, wonky drum machine beats or Detroit techno kinda strings and pads. It’s basically roots music, it’s just that our roots aren’t in a Kingston ghetto but in a more run down urban industrial place in the 80s and 90s. (more…)

Interview with Gus Berger

Duke Vin and the Birth of SkaNiceUp talks to Gus Berger, the director of the film, ‘Duke Vin and the Birth of Ska’.

Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background. When and how did you get into film making?

I owned a record store in the Degraves Street Subway in Melbourne from 1995-2004. I specialised in vinyl records, so when all things went digital about ten years ago it become quite tough to stay in business.

When I closed the shop, I went to live in London and was naturally drawn to the independent record shops there, mainly the ones selling reggae and ska. At the same time of visiting all these shops, meeting the owners and buying lots of mainly 7″ records, I was working in small organisation that picked up documentary films and played them in local cinemas. This gave me lots of exposure to documentary films and I began seeing many different styles. (more…)

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NiceUp talks to Taos

NiceUp talks to Christchurch-based band Taos, who are touring New Zealand bringing their own heavy blend of dub, dancehall, reggae and drum and bass.

Tell us a bit about the background of the group – how did Taos come into being? 

The band was born in 2001 on Waiheke Island with members, David Walters and Chris Leqeta, who are the only original members still in the crew, and is now based in Christchurch. Billy Fluid, the original lead vocalist has remained on Waiheke Island, where he has pursued his own projects, as well as collaborating with producer Optimus Gryme. (more…)

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Interview with Reggae Rajahs (New Delhi)

NiceUp talks to New Delhi based crew, the Reggae Rajahs, about the emerging reggae and dancehall scene in India.

Can you tell us a bit about the Reggae Rajahs – where are you from, how did you start out and what are you all about?

We are New Delhi based, but have all lived abroad and been exposed to music from all over the world. Diggy Dang – born in Delhi, grew up in London, Manila, and the Philippines. Mr. Herbalist – born in Delhi, grew up in Singapore and Boston. Mo City – born in Baghdad, grew up in Delhi.

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Interview with The Red Eyes

NiceUp talks to Damien Charlie AKA King Charles, guitarist and producer and from Australian reggae band, The Red Eyes, who are set to tour NZ in January. 

Who/what are some of The Red Eyes major influences and inspirations?

Of course like everyone in New Zealand Bob Marley has been a big formative influence for us.  The Twelve Tribes of Israel Grey Lynn warehouse parties were also a big influence, not to mention listening to Dubhead and Stinky Jim’s radio shows on BFM.

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Israel Starr talks about NiceUp TV

NiceUp TV logoIsrael Starr talks about NiceUp TV – a new project focusing on promoting the people building bass culture in Aotearoa, and world-wide.

So Israel, can you tell us a bit about NiceUp TV and how it came about? 

Bless up crew.  Well its basically an online YouTube TV channel which at this stage consists of interviews and music videos from reggae/dancehall artists and all branches of reggae, i.e. hip hop and drum n bass.  It has a strong emphasis on Aotearoa artists. It also includes interviews with producers, marketers, promoters etc, so it’s really giving an all-round view of the scene in Aotearoa. (more…)

Interview with Willi the Kid

Iron WillNiceUp talks to Auckland producer Willi the Kid about upcoming releases on his Riddim Central label, lessons he has learned in the world of production, and what’s fresh with NZ reggae and dancehall in 2011.

First up, please introduce yourself to the massive and tell us a bit about your musical background.  How did your love for reggae and dancehall develop?

Kia Ora Whanau! My name is Willi the Kid AKA Iron Will.  I’m a Producer, Instrumentalist, DJ and Promoter born and raised in central Auckland.  

Well, some of my earliest and happiest memories are of my father putting on a record after dinner and the whole family dancing around, drumming on the couch ends to original Jamaican pressings of Gregory Isaacs (Mr Isaacs) Johnny Osbourne (Rub a Dub Soldier), Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley.

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Interview with Art Official & Israel Starr

Art Official and Israel StarrNiceUp talks to two of NZs leading artists who have linked up to take reggae music and culture forward.

First up, can you both introduce yourself to the massive and tell us a bit about your backgrounds?

Art – Greetings, Art here. I’m a reggae/dancehall selector and a hip-hop DJ who has been representing the music since 97 – doing radio, gigs/tours, mix-CDs etc. I also play some instruments and am getting into production more and more. Newtown is my yard and Newtown Sound is the name of the music house where I do my works from. 

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Interview with Vintage

Vintage

 It’s April 2011, and it seems like more and more live reggae acts are popping up all over Aotearoa, certainly something we ain’t complaining about!  One band pushing forward and punching above their weight are the Newtown/Porirua based live band, Vintage.

Art catches up with two of the crew, Lafaele and Wiremu, as they set off on their Crucial Connexions Tour, alongside their friends and also Wellington based band, Aio. (more…)

Interview with El Fata

El FataLet’s get the ball rolling with a fairly cliched but none-the-less important question: who is El Fata?

El Fata is a singer, a peacemaker. El Fata (real name Tobi) is the son of El Shaddai (Father the Almighty), the Anoited one of God (which is what El Fata stands for). Check this YouTube link.  (more…)