JOIN USA reggae and urban outfit band, ‘Bombay Bassment’ combines various genres to make a unique sound. Though there aren’t many reggae musicians, Bob Omulo, Levin Mendes, Ruell Ready and DJ Major C try their best to make happy and cheerful music. With their next album releasing soon the members express themselves through the band’s sound and create a cocktail that doesn’t sound like any specific genre or act you’ve seen before. In a chat with Ananya Revanna, Bob and Levin talks about their music and the reggae scene in India.
How was the band born?
Bob: Five years ago, Levin and Ruell had an act called ‘Bombay Bassment’, a drum and bass duo. They, however, felt that the sound was not complete, so Levin approached a colleague who happened to be a mutual friend. The friend introduced him to me and DJ Major C. We sat together to see what we could come up with by combining all our varied musical backgrounds — funk, rock, reggae, hip hop and dancehall — and voila, ‘Bombay Bassment’, in its current composition, was born. We started making music right from the first time we met in a jam room.
What does the band (or its sounds) represent?
Bob:Each of us brings various influences to the table. I bring that hip hop flavour and often, swinging into a dancehall or Caribbean flow. Major C is the producer and spices up tracks with reggae and Afro-Caribbean influences. Ruell handles the funky bass lines that defines our sound and Levin is the rhythm king.
Levin: It’s our own take on hip hop, rap, rock, funk and drum ‘n’ bass. We have our own influences that represent our roots, our life and our city.
How do people receive reggae in India? Is it gaining popularity in the music scene?
Levin: Our kind of reggae is happy music, uplifting and about having a good time, so we will always get the crowd moving because who doesn’t want to feel good all the time! Reggae as a genre doesn’t have too many artistes in India at the moment, but being a socially driven art form and going by the current reception of various artistes in the country, there is a bright future for the sound.
Levin: Reggae music has a feel good vibe to it. You cannot dislike it. It sure is gaining popularity as over the years DJs have been playing reggae music and the past 5 to 6 years have seen acts like ‘Reggae Rajahs’, ‘The Ska Vengers’ and ‘Bass Foundation Roots’, who heavily promote and play reggae music to the Indian audience.
Most people’s knowledge of reggae stops at Bob Marley. To new listeners, how would you describe the genre?
Bob: Reggae is versatile and Bob Marley is just the most famous ambassador. Kind of like Pele and football. There are many young and exciting artistes still holding the torch today like ‘Chronixx’ and ‘Protoje’. It is a genre worth exploring because it is a whole world of a culture, not just music and stages.
A cliche you come across most frequently as performers, about your music?
Bob:“Eclectic sound”. I blame this on whoever wrote our first press kit!
Levin: We’ve been called ‘Aye hip hop’ and ‘Bandra Bassment’ many a times now.
Where do you see yourselves in five years?
Bob: We want to create as much happy music as possible and make it for people of all age groups. We also see ourselves touring the world and putting India on the international map in reggae, dancehall and hip hop. But most importantly, we want to be a name recognised in every part of this country.
(‘Bombay Bassment’ will perform on June 17 at The Humming Tree.)