New Cumbia Compilation outta Berlin

As surprised as Berliner DJs may be about Cumbia being produced in far-away Australia, the Berlin scene surprised me last year how switched on they are to Cumbia.  Now a label dedicating itself to Cumbia is born in Berlin: Chusma Records, started up by DJ TioChango and DJ Don Chicharrón of La Chusma.  Their first serving is a compilation that claims to define a new sub-genre known as Cumbia Bestial.  The compilation is called Cumbia Bestial!, and available as download, vinyl EP or CD with a great booklet.  The first half of the comp is more hip hop influenced, with the second half really taking off in a more electronic direction with the likes of Toy Selectah, Zurita, Copia Doble Systema, El Remolon and the Cumbia Cosmonauts.

Cumbia Bestial! (Chusma Records, 2010):

01. Instituto Mexicano Del Sonido – Cumbia
02. Systema Solar – Ya Veres
03. Bomba Estereo – Fuego
04. Sekreto – Gota [Hijo De La Cumbia remix]
05. Benny Bazz – Cumbia, Tabaco Y Ron
06. Miss Bolivia – Alta Yama
07. Master Blaster Soundsystem – Pan Con Vino
08. Toy Selektah – Half Colombian Half Mexican Bandit
09. The Binary Cumbia Orchestra – La Inconformable
10. Zurita – Llega Fauna
11. Cumbia Cosmonauts – Cumbianauts Incoming
12. Paco Mendoza – La Frekuencia
13. Tio Chango – Bocachico [feat Frente Cumbiero - remix]
14. Copia Doble Systema – Colegiala [Pista mix]
15. El Remolon – La Guajira
16. Frente Cumbiero – Aguanegra

Here is an interview exclusively for Scatterblog with DJ TioChango (which I translated from German into English) -

M > Saca La Mois DJ!!

T > DJ TioChango

M: How did you get so deeply into Cumbia?

T: I’ve been listening to rare Latin music of the 60s and 70s for some years now.  As a DJ I started out with Latin Funk and Boogaloo, especially outta New York.  Via this path I stumbled upon classic old Salsa and Latin Soul, and then via this connection I also discovered the first Cumbia songs.  I really liked the groove of Cumbia, to listen to as well as for the dancefloor.  The 2/4 time and the simple basslines in Cumbia fascinated me, and excited the crowds on the dancefloor.  Back then I mainly played the old Colombian Cumbias.  I went crazy with Andres Landero, or also even older artists like Petrona Martinez.  All of these made me travel to Colombia, to go digging for more old and new sounds!

M: You just spent a bit of time in Colombia.  How did this trip influence you?

T: Many new sounds, rhythms and instruments that I hadn’t previously known.  What really impressed me above all was all this music from the Pacific region – the Marimba, Currulao etc.  Things I had previously hardly known or had no knowledge of at all.  On top of all that, I was hugely impressed by the music scene.  How both the older Generation and the young musicians are creating a new Colombian sound.  Example of that are Systema Solar, but also Choc Quib Town or the lesser known bands like La Makina del Karibe, who produce Urban-Champeta.  Champeta is a sound originally from Cartagena, with roots directly from Africa, Congo, Ghana – and really reminds you of “rumba congolaise” from Congo.  There is heaps of new experimentation exploding everywhere.  I’m planning for my own productions, to return at the end of this year and make some recordings with the Marimba, but also with the Champeta Kings and produce something for the club.

M: What do the Colombian producers you’ve spent time with think about these new interpretations of Cumbia going on all around the world?

T: For the many who are in this scene themselves it’s great, as they are finally receiving recognition globally and are thus getting bookings.  Many of them are very motivated by it all, and I believe that there will reciprocal development – meaning that many of the tools of the European and US producers are being embraced by the Colombians.  The base of Systema Solar or Bomba Estereo for example are very well-produced electronic beats and effects, which are then processed with Colombian influences – so it’s a mix!  I think this process is increasingly prevalent in the so-called countries of the South – a type of fusion by a new generation – and the base of this is roots music as well as mixers, compressors, production software, samples, effects, loops…

M: Why did you start up the Chusma Records label?

T: A lot of reasons…. DJs and producers from our own “La Chusma” platform and the associated scene are getting better and better and everyone wants to release their own things.  So it’s also about finding our own label for our own sound.  Also, the big record companies are increasingly facing economic crises – although they are only putting out pop and music for the masses – and the smaller label aren’t exactly having an easy time either, but there are always new niches.  In Berlin and actually in Germany there isn’t really a label yet focusing on releasing “Urban Tropical Music”.  There are mainly World Music labels.  But we don’t want to make World Music, but focus on releasing a more exclusive sound which nevertheless has the potential that many people will love it.  “Urban Tropical” could be a band or producer from Sarajevo, Barcelona or Melbourne producing new sounds with the inspiration of tropical music.  I think this is the future direction of the label.  Experimentation, trying new things, and giving small bands and unknown producers from all corners of the globe the opportunity to release their music.

M: What more goodness is going to be released on Chusma Records?

T: One should see it as a sound-lab.  Some artists get in touch with us because they want to release through us.  The label is open to many new and old styles.  I can also imagine releasing an LP representing some of the many old sounds from Caribbean; as well as negotiations with an old Marimba-King from Colombia and perhaps even Sonido Amazonico!  In addition there will be countless productions and remixes of our own.  I would say, as with our first releases there are many more suprises with great sounds in store!