Buraka Som Sistema: Buraking The System
Artist:
RWD
Portuguese quartet Buraka Som Sistema tells Hayley Joyles why their Lisbonic boom-box is smashing the granny out of conventional music.
If you don’t know about Buraka Som Sistema, then it’s about time you got familiar. The Portuguese crew are self-confessed bass junkies that are part of the Kuduro (pronounced coo-doo-row) or hard arse movement that is about to destroy dance floors from Berlin to Bermondsey. And don’t just take our word for it; M.I.A. and producer Diplo have been bigging them up more than Hulk Hogan on a steroid binge.
Hailing from one of Lisbon’s troublesome suburbs, Lil’ John, Riot, Conductor and MC Kalaf (not pictured) grew up together making beats and spinning tunes. Although the boys have been jamming together since high school, BSS officially started two years ago. “We hosted a Buraka night at a sh*tty club in Lisbon that got shut down by the police,” Joao says. For 12 months, their club night was a Mecca for kids who loved the unique sound that resides somewhere in between ghetto tech, Baltimore and breakbeat. Buraka’s denomination of Kuduro is also fast making its mark as one of Portugal’s most progressive genres with its thumping bass and African infused beats.
“Kuduro was created in Luanda, Angola, when producers during the ‘90s started making techno and house beats combined with traditional Angolan music,” explains Joao. To fully understand the music and culture, the Buraka crew went on an Angolan pilgrimage where they were inspired to make the tune Sounds Of Kuduro, featuring M.I.A, Portuguese MC Sadorosa and one of Angola’s biggest MCs, Puto Prata. “We really admire M.I.A., we were talking about Kuduro all the time and she called us one day and we ended up making that song,” L.J recalls. Their visit also motivated them politically, with Buraka naming their debut album Black Diamond. “The diamonds that end up around all those US rapper’s necks have been on a huge journey to get there,” says Joao. “A lot of children die mining for them.”
Thanks to their socially conscious sounds, the boys are getting nothing but positive responses, with Count & Sinden, Drop The Lime and Reso having all done remixes. Meanwhile, tunes like Kalemba and Yaha are killing clubs across Europe, with the Sistema crew getting together with Hot Chip label, Greco Roman to put out their second release, a 12” of their foot stomping single Kalemba. Plus there’s an album on the way, and for those wanting to see the boys do it live in the UK, don’t worry, BSS have your back. “London people, we are playing Fabric in August and at Bestival too so come check us out.” You don’t need to ask us twice!
Kalemba is out now on Greco Roman, Black Diamond is set to drop early autumn. MySpace.com/burakasomsistema
RWD Magazine
Portuguese quartet Buraka Som Sistema tells Hayley Joyles why their Lisbonic boom-box is smashing the granny out of conventional music.
If you don’t know about Buraka Som Sistema, then it’s about time you got familiar. The Portuguese crew are self-confessed bass junkies that are part of the Kuduro (pronounced coo-doo-row) or hard arse movement that is about to destroy dance floors from Berlin to Bermondsey. And don’t just take our word for it; M.I.A. and producer Diplo have been bigging them up more than Hulk Hogan on a steroid binge.
Hailing from one of Lisbon’s troublesome suburbs, Lil’ John, Riot, Conductor and MC Kalaf (not pictured) grew up together making beats and spinning tunes. Although the boys have been jamming together since high school, BSS officially started two years ago. “We hosted a Buraka night at a sh*tty club in Lisbon that got shut down by the police,” Joao says. For 12 months, their club night was a Mecca for kids who loved the unique sound that resides somewhere in between ghetto tech, Baltimore and breakbeat. Buraka’s denomination of Kuduro is also fast making its mark as one of Portugal’s most progressive genres with its thumping bass and African infused beats.
“Kuduro was created in Luanda, Angola, when producers during the ‘90s started making techno and house beats combined with traditional Angolan music,” explains Joao. To fully understand the music and culture, the Buraka crew went on an Angolan pilgrimage where they were inspired to make the tune Sounds Of Kuduro, featuring M.I.A, Portuguese MC Sadorosa and one of Angola’s biggest MCs, Puto Prata. “We really admire M.I.A., we were talking about Kuduro all the time and she called us one day and we ended up making that song,” L.J recalls. Their visit also motivated them politically, with Buraka naming their debut album Black Diamond. “The diamonds that end up around all those US rapper’s necks have been on a huge journey to get there,” says Joao. “A lot of children die mining for them.”
Thanks to their socially conscious sounds, the boys are getting nothing but positive responses, with Count & Sinden, Drop The Lime and Reso having all done remixes. Meanwhile, tunes like Kalemba and Yaha are killing clubs across Europe, with the Sistema crew getting together with Hot Chip label, Greco Roman to put out their second release, a 12” of their foot stomping single Kalemba. Plus there’s an album on the way, and for those wanting to see the boys do it live in the UK, don’t worry, BSS have your back. “London people, we are playing Fabric in August and at Bestival too so come check us out.” You don’t need to ask us twice!
Kalemba is out now on Greco Roman, Black Diamond is set to drop early autumn. MySpace.com/burakasomsistema
RWD Magazine
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Comments
nelo
18 Sep 2008, 16:45
18 Sep 2008, 16:45
tudo bem
