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Feature: Sao Paul Sorcery - Drumagick
Interviewer: Damian Platt
Drumagick have been keeping up a steady and very strong stream of
releases over the past couple of years, including last year's smash Jorge Ben cover
Easyboom, and the quality is sure to continue with their upcomign album Checkmate!
For those who don't already know, the Sao Paulo duo's sound draws on a wide variety of
Brazilian influences, whilst retaining a traditional drum n bass feel. We caught up with them prior to their
DJing appearance at Gilles Peterson's legendary THIS! night at London's Bar Rumba on Monday 1 March 2004.
What are your plans for 2004?
We plan to return to Europe and do a follow up tour to promote our new album
Checkmate!, which is ready. We're working in the studio to keep producing
tracks which we release through European and American Labels, like we did
last year. Lately we've been experimenting with new musical styles and plan
to represent them in our releases, as part of our identity, like drum n
bass.
What sounds have you been working on recently?
We did four new tracks before coming to Europe. They are drum and bass but
they vary between Brazilian grooves and heavier sounds. We're also working
on a remix of a Marcos Valle song and we will also be remixing the Vitrola
Stereophonica Project, a great band of Brazilian musicians that produce
reinterpretations of Wilson Simonal, Jorge Ben, Zinc and 4 Hero originals.
The Vitrola Stereophonica band is part of Drumagick's Checkmate! Live
P.A.s.
How is the drum and bass scene in Brazil right now? Is Sao Paulo
still a big drum n bass city?
We see new producers with new tracks every day now. The DJs who have been
playing drum n bass for some time are starting to dedicate themselves to
producing, principally in order to gain more space in the market. On top of
that, the development of some websites has contributed to the scene's growth.
The public has access to a great amount of information on the scene across
Brazil. São Paulo leads the way offering a large amount of parties, DJs and
producers to the entire country. Many other cities spread DnB and it's
vibe, and continue to absorb and spread the success that São Paulo's DnB
has achieved worldwide. The only thing missing so that the São Paulo and
therefore Brazilian scene can really strengthen, is vinyl manufacturing,
which would allow for the creation of labels and the availability of cheaper
records to the kids.
Do you check for other sounds? What other styles of music do you listen
to and who are you main influences?
We listen to Egberto Gismonti, Marcos Valle, Silvio César, Abílio Manoel,
Clara Nunes, Wilson Simonal, Tim Maia, Jorge Ben, Hermeto Pascoal, and a
dozen other names often sampled by us. We also listen to international music
like Zero dB, Jazzanova, Lós Amigos Invisibiles, Cinematic Orchestra, Charlie
Parker, Mobb Deep, Nicola Conte, Quantic Soul Orchestra, Kyoto Jazz Massive,
DJ Shadow, The Neptunes, Pharcyde, and many others. We don't have one main
influence but these artists sure influence us a lot.
What do you think of the music scene in the UK?
Our opinion about the local scene may be distorted as it is based only on
the information we get. We've always admired the UK scene, which we've been
reading about and researching since 1993. We are fans of all of those who work in
favor of its development.
Why do you think that Brazil has taken drum and bass and pushed it in new
directions?
Just like jazz, funk, and soul have influenced DnB we believe that what
Brazilian producers have added to it is good for all. DnB with Brazilian
flavour can be played in places where heavier styles would not reach. DJs
like Patife have helped spread DnB through the world, contributing to
the development of the scene. We are grateful for what they've done since it
has opened the doors for others.
NOTE: Drumagick will DJ at THIS! on Monday 1 March. 10.30pm-3.30am; £5. Bar Rumba, 36 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1. 020 7287 2715.
Tube: Picadilly Circus.
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PUBLISHED: Thursday 26 February 2004
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