Bass Music Mix 13 - Kalbata
Shalom, bassmusic people!
Tel Aviv's badman of bass, Kalbata has a new single out - check it, and more, here - and to celebrate said release, he has been over-kind and provided us with an exclusive mix, number 13 in our series. If you don't know about Kalbata, then you are in at least one way unlike DJ Hell, Andrew Weatherall and Dave Clarke, all of whom supported his first release 'Contact Jerusalem'. And if you haven't commissioned a remix from him, well, you're unlike Spank Rock, Sunship, Roll Deep, Fat Freddy's Drop and Ben Mono. And if you haven't released a record by him, you're definitely not Soul Jazz, or Cocoon (!!!). Those names should all be a pretty clear indication that we are not ramping when we tell you, you need this in your life.
If you want to check up on man like Kalbata, you could do worse than take a look at the feature Slices Magazine ran on him in June of this year, and then skip on down to our exclusive hard-hitting and intrepid interview...
1. Let's start with the basics. Who are you, what do you do and where do you do it?
My name is Ariel, I produce under the name Kalbata and I’m based in Tel Aviv city.
My name is Ariel, I produce under the name Kalbata and I’m based in Tel Aviv city.
2. How would you describe your musical background? From what I've heard of your tracks, there definitely seems to be a strong reggae / ragga influence - is that fair to say?
Reggae and Dancehall music are by far my biggest musical influence. I find in reggae everything that I look for in music. From a spiritual livity to rave intensity, it’s all there in its highest form. I am a massive 7” collector and it’s probably the only type of music I listen to at home when I’m not doing any production or DJing activity. My area of expertise would be the transition time between Rub-A-Dub and early dancehall - late 70’s to early 80’s and artists like Early B, Nicodemus, Little John, Triston Palma, Echo Minott & Jah Thomas.
My other big influence would be old school electro and Miami bass. People like Dynamix II, Juan Atkins, Arabian Prince, Egyptian Lover and Cybotron to name just a few. It’s that bounce groove... definitely the music that made me realise I want to produce beats myself. I was into it so much but at the time in Tel Aviv it was almost impossible to get those type of records so I just thought I’d make my own in the studio and that’s kind of how I got started really.
3. Who or what is doing it for you musically at the moment?
I’ve been digging TRG’s music ever since I heard his first tune and I’m still a huge supporter of everything he does. MJ Cole is totally smashing it at the moment, plus men like Marcus Visionary, Son of Kick, Caski, Sticky and Stagga. 4. What were you trying to do with the mix - is it typical of a club set you might play?
You could probably say that yes. In my sets, same as in the studio, I always try to get the dark garage vibe together with dubstep that’s got a bit of a breakbeat and swing to it, together with the odd surprise tune and somewhat of a tribal vibe. With this mix I pitched the tunes down a bit (and some up!) to around 136. It’s got a few of my new bits, has a bit of an African vibe, some old school hardcore and a couple of tunes I wish I played more often! Basically if it’s dark, ravey, bassy, broken and deep I’ll play it.
You could probably say that yes. In my sets, same as in the studio, I always try to get the dark garage vibe together with dubstep that’s got a bit of a breakbeat and swing to it, together with the odd surprise tune and somewhat of a tribal vibe. With this mix I pitched the tunes down a bit (and some up!) to around 136. It’s got a few of my new bits, has a bit of an African vibe, some old school hardcore and a couple of tunes I wish I played more often! Basically if it’s dark, ravey, bassy, broken and deep I’ll play it.
5. You're based in Tel Aviv at the moment, right? How is the scene there? A lot of people think Israel + Music = Psy Trance...
I think that’s a very dated assumption. Where it was totally true back in the day, the scene today is miles beyond that. As for bass music, it’s been dominating parties and raves for a long time now. Nights here get quite insane and people really do know their music. Dubstep totally exploded here in the last couple of years and DJ’s been coming in and out on a regular basis. Just a couple of weeks ago I played in a weekender event with Mala and Rhythm & Sound, followed by Saul Williams, Dorian Concept and Megasoid the next day. Needless to say it was totally insane.
I think that’s a very dated assumption. Where it was totally true back in the day, the scene today is miles beyond that. As for bass music, it’s been dominating parties and raves for a long time now. Nights here get quite insane and people really do know their music. Dubstep totally exploded here in the last couple of years and DJ’s been coming in and out on a regular basis. Just a couple of weeks ago I played in a weekender event with Mala and Rhythm & Sound, followed by Saul Williams, Dorian Concept and Megasoid the next day. Needless to say it was totally insane.
Plus on the creative side, there’s been a lot of talent coming out of Tel Aviv. Guy Gerber is one of the biggest names in Techno today, Kutiman is huge funk producer (check out his www.thru-you.com project), Borgore is smashing it on the harder-edged dubstep tip, and this new label which released my new 12” 'Oh Gosh', Botanika Records, is a new Tel Aviv based imprint, where as Psy Trance is something you only hear in those 24hr cigarette shops who think they're down with the youth.... it’s a whole new movement of people seeking new music.
6. That's me told! You spent 5 years in London - was that a big influence on your sound? Do you miss it?
London had huge influence on me, of course. It’s really where I became serious about music. I started going out to squat parties and free raves with the Dead Silence crew, people like the Dexorcist, Warlock and Blackmass Plastics who were my mentors really. That’s also where I got exposed to soundsystem culture. I would religiously go to see Aba Shanti play at the Imperial Gardens in Camberwell every Sunday. Those sessions were so intense, he would have his whole sound up in this tiny space, no more then 50-60 people, the bass was so strong you just had to give in to it otherwise it would eat you. It was overwhelming at the beginning but at some point it turned into an addiction. I can genuinely say it totally changed the way I look at music. I lived in Bow in east London around the time Grime and then Dubstep were coming up so I got to experience all of that happening first hand. Used to buy my tunes at Rhythm Division in Bethnal Green and then have Pie & Mash on the Roman Road :) I miss it sure but I still go often, it’s my second home really. 7. Tell us about your new tune 'Oh Gosh' - 'Ninja We Ninja' got caned, and featured on N-Types Rinse CD - any big name support for this one?
Oh Gosh is more of a personal tune for me, it’s dark and rolling and echos from garage and hardcore but not as pumping as Ninja We Ninja. It’s funny, Ninja became such a big tune I guess people were expecting another dubstep/dancehall scorcher to follow, which is definitely about to come, but I was happy Oh Gosh came out now, I’ve been playing it for a while and it always went down well. It’s kinda different still to what I’ve been doing so far. TRG played it once on his Rob Da Bank mix next to similar sounding sort of tunes, I listened back to it and thought to myself- wicked, other people might enjoy this too.... I last heard Seiji's been dropping it and it just seems like it might appeal to a wider circle of DJs beyond the dubstep world. There’s also the b-side Karl Butter which is a blipy 132 bpm tune I made the day I got my Moog Prodigy and it’s made 100% from it :)
Oh Gosh is more of a personal tune for me, it’s dark and rolling and echos from garage and hardcore but not as pumping as Ninja We Ninja. It’s funny, Ninja became such a big tune I guess people were expecting another dubstep/dancehall scorcher to follow, which is definitely about to come, but I was happy Oh Gosh came out now, I’ve been playing it for a while and it always went down well. It’s kinda different still to what I’ve been doing so far. TRG played it once on his Rob Da Bank mix next to similar sounding sort of tunes, I listened back to it and thought to myself- wicked, other people might enjoy this too.... I last heard Seiji's been dropping it and it just seems like it might appeal to a wider circle of DJs beyond the dubstep world. There’s also the b-side Karl Butter which is a blipy 132 bpm tune I made the day I got my Moog Prodigy and it’s made 100% from it :)
8. Can you tell us a bit more about your studio? We hear you love the classic synths and old-skool FX boxes - what is it about them that floats your boat? Any particularly special bits you treasure extra-hard?
I got my beloved desktop at the centre of my studio running Cubase mostly and as I mentioned before the Moog Prodigy which I use in all my tunes in one way or another (bassline for Ninja We Ninja for example). Another piece of gear I cannot live without is my Melos echo chamber. It’s an entry level tape delay machine from the late 70’s. You can run the most boring thin digital signal through it and it would sound warm and vintage instantly. Plus you can get those crazy long feedbacks that have a life of their own... I guess my reggae origins always drift me towards making things sound a bit cranky and underwater... got a TB-303 and another weird piece of gear by a company called Barcus Berry. It’s a 70’s organ pre amp with an analogue phaser, reverb and EQ which all sound amazing. I found it in the flea market one day for next to nothing. Most recently I made a spring reverb out of a guitar amp spring, some wood and a small transistor amp. I just tested it the other day and it rocks.
8. Wow, handbuilt spring-reverb sounds amazing! Any future plans we should know about?
Yes! Early 2010 I got a remix for my Berlin mates Jahcoozi coming out on Citizen Records, an EP on Scan One’s label Yellow Machines and 2 more EP’s lined up for around March. So a nice little start to the year. Later on I have a special collaboration coming up which I wish I could discuss more with you but all I can say is it’s something I’ve been dreaming on doing for years and is finally coming to light!
Yes! Early 2010 I got a remix for my Berlin mates Jahcoozi coming out on Citizen Records, an EP on Scan One’s label Yellow Machines and 2 more EP’s lined up for around March. So a nice little start to the year. Later on I have a special collaboration coming up which I wish I could discuss more with you but all I can say is it’s something I’ve been dreaming on doing for years and is finally coming to light!
11. Intriguing - let us know when you can! Finally, a bit of an awkward question, but... Do you feel like you've ever had people approach you differently because of pre-conceived attitudes they might have towards Israel? I remember a few years ago, there was a big debate on a UK forum about whether DJs should play in Israel or not - any thoughts on those kinds of attitudes?
I’d like to believe people judge me for who I am rather than for my government’s policies. I can only try to promote a different kind of existence, one that has nothing to do with war and death. And if DJ’s choose not to play in Israel then that’s another little victory for war. It’s much easier to lose hope when you feel isolated and deprived of culture. And when you make such a decision you are making people suffer for their leaders’ policies for the second time.
I’d like to believe people judge me for who I am rather than for my government’s policies. I can only try to promote a different kind of existence, one that has nothing to do with war and death. And if DJ’s choose not to play in Israel then that’s another little victory for war. It’s much easier to lose hope when you feel isolated and deprived of culture. And when you make such a decision you are making people suffer for their leaders’ policies for the second time.
I don’t see how anyone who’s involved in rave culture can have hatred to his brother man. After all, we are practicing the most ancient ceremony of human togetherness.
12. Anything else you'd like to mention, or people you want to big up?
Just a big up to all my music family out there - Dead Silence crew, Rag & Bone, Jahcoozi, Crunchtime, Tabac crew, Soul Jazz, CDR, RBMA, Tayo, Scan One, Kids Up Late, Double Science, Botanika, and all the dedicated promoters I got to meet over the last couple of years who are pushing underground music forward!
Tracklist:
1. Cha-os - Too Much Bass
2. Sticky - Golly Gosh
3. Headhunter - Prototype
4. Chernobyl & Praga - Balança (Edu K Remix)
5. Baobinga & ID - Tongue Riddim
6. Jahcoozi ft. Lexie Lee - Freeze (Kalbata Remix)
7. Mary Cliff - 911
8. Kalbata - Karl Butter
9. Dre Skull - I Want You (Bok Bok Remix)
10. Kalbata - Oh Gosh
11. MJ Cole Ft Digga - Gotta Have It (MJ's Funky Dubb)
12. Jack Sparrow - The Chase
13. TRG - Love2Hide
14. Botz - Lock
15. Al Haca ft. Arabyrd - (Kalbata Remix)
16. Hackney Hardcore - Dancehall Dangerous
17. Sunship ft. Warroir Queen - Quits (Kalbata Remix)
18. Dixie Peach and the Off Beat Posse - Tonight is the Night
1. Cha-os - Too Much Bass
2. Sticky - Golly Gosh
3. Headhunter - Prototype
4. Chernobyl & Praga - Balança (Edu K Remix)
5. Baobinga & ID - Tongue Riddim
6. Jahcoozi ft. Lexie Lee - Freeze (Kalbata Remix)
7. Mary Cliff - 911
8. Kalbata - Karl Butter
9. Dre Skull - I Want You (Bok Bok Remix)
10. Kalbata - Oh Gosh
11. MJ Cole Ft Digga - Gotta Have It (MJ's Funky Dubb)
12. Jack Sparrow - The Chase
13. TRG - Love2Hide
14. Botz - Lock
15. Al Haca ft. Arabyrd - (Kalbata Remix)
16. Hackney Hardcore - Dancehall Dangerous
17. Sunship ft. Warroir Queen - Quits (Kalbata Remix)
18. Dixie Peach and the Off Beat Posse - Tonight is the Night
**************
