Today, I’m about to feature a next sound from the beautiful adriatic coast of Italy. For me, it really seems like the italian dancehall scene gonna be the next big thing in europe. A whole heap of nice sounds are really active down there and keep their thing rolling.
So, ins come the Sound yah name Balooba, all the way from Pescara, Italy.
#Please introduce your Sound and all the members to the readers.
Greetings to everybody,
it’s Aman, representing a sound named Balooba. Our crew is actually formed by two dj/selectors (Moko -27- and Filippo -26-) and two Mc (me, Aman -26- and Mr. Toxx -26-). We come from Italy, born and grown ina small city called Pescara, it’s just on the sea with a beautiful beach in the perfect middle of Italian East Coast.
#When was the founding of your Sound and since when do you djing?
We officially start to play in public in Summer 2002. We use to organize some big illegal parties on the beach with big audience and then in Autumn/Winter season we’ve started to search clubs or any kind of location to play for the people in our city..these were our firsts experiences. Before we get to know the reggae dancehall world, we were B-Boys and skaters. We used to love the Hip Hop Culture and to dance, but the feeling with Reggae and dancehall music have had more impact in our hearts. It aas something incredible..after 4 months, around 2001/2002, we’ve quit the breakdancing, start to smoke and begin to buy and push Reggae music..we’ve always played and recorded our mixtapes with only 7 inches (45 rpm) till 5 month ago..now Moko switched to Serato with Timecode Vinyls, but Filippo still plays strictly 7 inches.
#Can you describe which style your sound plays mostly?
We always try to adapt our style to the yard or the people we meet.
Generally Balooba Sound’s selections, played inna real juggling style, are characterized by a special attention to the brand-new Jamaican releases, both new roots and dancehall. Our sound is enriched by the Reggae Music evergreen’s and by an original dubplates collection that is growing with us. Moreover since 2004 we broadcast ‘Massive’, a reggae radio show alongside our good friends ‘Pure Love Sound’, on air live an’ direct every Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM on Radio Città Pescara.
#Please tell me about the most important cornermarks in the sounds history, like clashes, the baddest dances, etc.
Surely the most important experiences for us were those “out of Italy” Dances. We have had the chance to play in Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Holland. The best parties are still in our memories: Master Blaster in Frankfurt with Soundbwoys Destiny, Calabash in Berlin with City Lock, Cube Club in Chemnitz with Phlatline..also in Biel (Switzerland) was a wicked party..more than 800 persons in a beautiful location, even in Barcelona it was cool, we remember with pleasure the hype of Catalunian people. We remember the dance in Leiden (Holland) alongside Herb a lize It and Keytown. In Italy we have played several times in Milan, Rome, Bologna..in big cities like this, it’s always amazing to play, trust me! Italy’s massive is the hottest we ever met! We used to take part in two soundclashs in Italy in the past years, but unluckely we’ve lost the trophy in both situations (but we’re always made it to the DFD). Next one have to be a real big thing! We can boast important collaborations with big artists like Reggie Stepper and Konshens (JAM) and big sounds as Shashamane Intl (KN), Soul Stereo (FRA), Killa Face (USA), Kill Dem Crew (FRA), Phlatline Sound (DE), G- Force Sound (DE), Citylock (DE), Soundbwoys Destiny (DE), Herb-a-lize it (NL), Jamrock Sound (NL), Keytown (NL), The Rootsman (UK) and many others.
#Which plans do you have for your sound in the near future and what are the real longtime plans for it?
In the near future we have a lot of things to do. We play every Saturday night (since 3 years) in a club called Wake Up, set in Pescara, so we have to set the calendar and organize all the stuffs for the good outcome of our weekly parties. Next week we will be in Milan promoting the Italian tour of Killaface Sound (first time in Europe from Chicago, Illinois). We have also some dates all around Italy. Till Christmas we will be very busy! The longtime plans for now are not so defined. Surely we want to continue to grow up this way step by step, day by day. We have a clothing sponsor right now and we would like to close big deals with them in the future. We will see!
Furthermore we’re waiting for some good booking ina international Soundclash and obviously try to gain enough money so as to be able to live on music all life long.
#Which persons, sounds, artists have influenced you musicallywise?
In the late 90’s we were inspired by Roots Inna Mix, a sound from Taranto, Italy, that use to promote the original dancehall style in Pescara area. They were the first persons that use to show us what it really means to play Reggae Music ina dancehall for the people, so we have to give thanks to dem. If i have to name, as example, soundsystems that we really appreciate and from wich we try to take inspiration i have to mention crews like Stone Love, Bass Odyssey, Fire Links, Metro Media, Swatch Intl…in our opinion they still set the trend all over the world.
#What was the first dubplate you ever voiced, and do you still play it?
We’ve cutted the first dubplate in Summer 2003 in Perugia with I-Shence. Buju Banton was there for a live concert and we’ve met him to voice ”Hills and Valleys” on Bob Marley’s “So much trouble” riddim. It’s a wicked, wicked tune and we still play it with passion!
Allright, thank you for the nice interview Aman, and all the best for the future.
These are the 2 newest Mix CDs by Balooba Sound for you to download:
PART 1
http://www.zshare.net/audio/6829185310ae4e9e/
PART 2
http://www.zshare.net/audio/6829237453a2dd52/
&
PART 1
http://www.zshare.net/audio/6829169742d67050/
PART 2
http://www.zshare.net/audio/682901723aa0d081/
