PEDRO - TOQUES

Lisbon Portugal has undoubtedly become one of the capitals of Global Club music over the past decade, especially due to the contributions of Buraka Som Sistema, Branko, and Enchufada Record Label. Lisbon’s PEDRO came across my radar a few days ago. He is onto something special here. Wow I cant believe how much good music is out there. Props to Pedro for pushing this sound.

“Tarraxo, kizomba and kuduro contributed largely to the soundtrack of his youth, and he has been celebrating this influence ever since he first started making beats in his bedroom in 2013, up until his most recent releases that solidify a unique and unmistakeable sound that places him at the forefront of Lisbon’s electronic revolution. “ - PEDRO Bio

SC: https://soundcloud.com/pedro_damaia

El Alfa El Jefe - Segueta (Dembow)

Welcome to Dembow, pronounced “demBO”. When I found this style of music I was immediately hooked. Coming from a Baltimore Club music background, when I find something that’s at 128 bpm that absolutely goes in on the polyrhythms, Im a very happy boy. Reminds me a lot of polyrhythms you would find in Bmore Club, Nola Bounce, Litefeet.

Dembow is a genre of Caribbean popular music or musical rhythm originally from Dominican Republic. When Shabba Ranks released "Dem Bow" in 1990, it did not take long for the Dembow genre to form. Riddims were built from the song and the sound became a popular part of reggaeton.

SOOHAN - El Bint El Chalabiya - Traditional / arr Christiane Karam

One of the highlights of my music career so far has been the chance to work with Christiane Karam directly on this remix.

“Christiane Karam’s unique vocal style stems from her love for different musical traditions. She is the leader of the acclaimed Pletenitsa Balkan Choir and has had the privilege of sharing the stage with the likes of Hüsnü Senlendirici, Javier Limón, the Assad Brothers, Binka Dobreva, and Vadim Neselovskyi, among others. She has performed at venues and festivals such as Carnegie Hall, SummerStage, Celebrate Brooklyn!, Symphony Space, and the Koprivshtitsa Folklore Festival, among others. She has also been featured on PBS and VH1.

In addition to performing, Karam is an award-winning songwriter and composer. She's a staunch activist for cultural understanding, tolerance, and nonviolent conflict resolution. Currently on the faculty of Berklee College of Music, where she teaches in the Voice, Ensemble, and Songwriting departments, she is the founder and leader of the annual Berklee Middle Eastern Festival and actively continues her work to bring awareness and positive social change through music and the arts. Karam also performs and teaches around the world.” - Berklee College of Music

Here is an interview I conducted with Christiane last year. I actually have the privilege of meeting her next month when I go to Boston. I am so excited

Interview:

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your career in music.

I grew up as a classical pianist, but was also exposed to and in love with British Pop, Jazz and French Chanson. I started writing music and lyrics very early as well. My upbringing was somewhat chaotic due to war and violence but it taught me a lot about our world and the voice I could be in it. Everything I’ve done in my career since, be it performing, producing or teaching, has been driven by the purpose of bringing joy, understanding and healing to the world.

2. What are some of your favorite courses you have taught over the years?

I love teaching so there’s nothing I’ve taught that I did not enjoy- but it is most rewarding for me when I teach curriculum that I’ve developed myself, that has come out of my own process and musical journey, like some of the ensembles (fusion and Balkan), the songwriting and social change, and what I’ve been privileged to bring to the art and pedagogy of vocal technique and improvisation over the years.

3. Tell us more about the Middle Eastern Festival. 

The idea for the Middle Eastern festival was born after 9/11 after witnessing the fear mongering and discrimination towards the Middle East that ensued. I wanted to create a platform that honored these cultures and could educate Western audiences about these incredible traditions. We started in 2009 and we’ll be celebrating our 10th edition next march! 

4. If you had a piece of advice to give to aspiring young creatives, what would it be? 

Listen to that crazy voice in your gut that knows and is relentlessly reminding you that you can create an incredible life for yourself doing exactly what you love.

5. What was it like creating this remix with me? Do you think it is important to preserve traditional styles in new ways like this?

I had so much fun! I am very open to, and truly enjoy creating new soundscapes based on ancient musical language. It was wonderful working with someone who truly appreciated and wanted to preserve the original spirit of the arrangement, not something I’ve encountered very often in the world of electronic music. You had great intuition in terms of supporting that, and I love what you came up with. Thank you and I look forward to more collaborations!

6. What can you share with us about your passion for music?

I grew up in a war zone. I build bridges, that’s all I know how to do. I believe in connection, in all the ways we can inspire each other to understand and process the violence we carry in us so we can transform it into a life-giving force. Music is a great vehicle for that, it bypasses all defenses and takes us straight to the truth of who we are. And that’s the only starting place I know of, if our intention is truly to create our best lives and consequently, our best world.

Christiane Karam on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/19E0UtRyY5QbpLeeNPh0Gu?autoplay=true&v=A

Welcome to Global Bass Blog

Welcome to Globalbassblog.com. My name is SOOHAN. I am a producer and DJ living in Los Angeles, California who is interested in all things Global Bass. I decided to start this blog today because I am always looking for websites and blogs with updated Global Bass music posts, and they are few and far between. Let me unpack the term Global Bass. To me, Global Bass is an umbrella term for a multitude of genres of electronic dance music from around the world. The music that I consider to be Global Bass is any style of dance music that is derived from regional rhythms. I am hoping to use this website as a place for people to come to expand their musical horizons, see what kind of music people are listening to in different countries around the world, and to help circulate interest in these genres. You can expect me to post about any sort of regionally derived dance music such as Gqom, Baltimore Club, Juke, Dancehall, Dembow, Moombahton, Afrohouse, Afrodance, Hip Hop, Rap, Litefeet, Slow House, Global Bass, Tropical Bass, Ethno Bass etc. I am really interested in uplifting and conscious music, so I might represent this a bit on the page as well. Anyway, here I go. Excited to see if this takes off. Im not much of a writer myself but I am hoping to bring some writers on board to dive into topics deeper. For the most part you will be seeing lots of music posted from me. If you are interested in getting involved whether its by writing, contributing, or submitting music to be featured on the blog: please email globalbassblog@gmail.com. Excited about this new journey. <3 y’all.

What is Global Bass?

  1. https://www.djbroadcast.net/article/123375/what-the-hell-is-global-bass

  2. http://www.universitytimes.ie/2012/03/an-introduction-to-global-bass-3/