ZamZam 52 is a fully outernational collaboration between Bukkha (Spain/US), Madplate Sound (Italy) and Junior Dread (Brazil). We love these kinds of link-ups, as the simple act of creating tunes across borders and continents for an international community of listeners and dancers is an act of resistance in a time of increasing nationalism and restrictions on peoples’ movement.
"Nada A Perder” ("Nothing To Lose") leads off with hard skanks and a deceptively wistful melody. Enter the honeyed-yet-gritty voice of rootsman Junior Dread over mashing steppers drums and a monstrous bassline designed with nothing but sound system pressure in mind. Junior Dread’s powerful vocal, sung beautifully in his native Portuguese, delivers a message centered on unifying across difference: “When Bukkha came with the instrumental,” he says, "it made me think about overcoming our generation’s biggest obstacles if we unite.” His inspiration in music comes from “life itself and Jah the Creator,” and as a believer in “Word Sound Power,” Junior Dread focuses exclusively on positive, empowering lyrics.
The dub version travels deep through swirling vapor trails, carving out space by stripping back the vocal, echoing the skanks hard, opening up the reverbs, firing off the lasers, and valving-up the bassline for an even more militant side.
Bukkha’s profile continues to rise with recent releases on labels including Dub Stuy, and Moonshine, with more dropping soon. Sparring partner Madplate Sound has also released on Moonshine and Dub Stuy, and Junior Dread is well-known for tunes on the above labels, and the seminal “Rise” on Gorgon Sound’s Peng Sound debut.
