This Wednesday, October 1st, the Red Bull Music Academy’s Culture Clash series makes its way to California for its first appearance in San Francisco at The Regency Ballroom, with host/Oakland native Sway Calloway.
To learn more about the Tormenta Tropical crew who will be repping in the Latino corner, we caught up with Oro11 before they face off for the heaviest selections and most exclusive dubplates with roots, reggae, and dancehall outfit Dub Mission, battle/turntablist collective Triple Threat, and house music label Dirty Bird, headed up by Claude VonStroke. Oro11 of the Banana Clipz production outfit, and as co-founder of Bersa Discos, which has some some big releases slated for 2015 from 2Deep and dancehall MC Snagga from Belize.
The crew is offering up a limited number of tickets availabe for $10 off– use the code ‘TORMENTA’ at the ticketing page for the discount.
For the unacquainted, tell us a bit about Tormenta Tropical.
Tormenta Tropical is a monthly event presented by the Bersa Discos record label that explores new directions in cumbia, dancehall, dembow, and other tropical-influenced heat. Originally formed in Buenos Aires as an event to showcase our releases and influences, we regularly perform every second Saturday at the Elbo Room SF as well as one-off events throughout the US, Central, and South America.
How did you all get connected and start working together?
It’s crazy to think how many of the closest friends and dope artist connections have been a direct result of the label and party.
Originally we were all Buenos Aires-based artists throwing parties together and trading local bootlegs and remixes. We formed the label in 2007 and started pressing limited edition 12” vinyl to get the music out there to a wider audience outside the basements of BA. Since then our crew has really expanded to showcase experimental tropical music from all over the globe, like Toy Selectah in Mexico, DeeJay Quality in Chicago, Uproot Andy in NYC, Sabo, DeeJay Negro, Chancha Via Circuito, and Hijo De La Cumbia in BA, and even Sonido Del Principe in the Netherlands.
Who will be repping for team Tormenta Tropical on Wednesday?
Thursday we’re stacked with labelmates and artists we’ve collaborated with over the years, [like] founders Oro11 and Shawn Reynaldo, DeeJay Theory, Paul Devro from Mad Decent, DeeJay Quality, DJ Gravy (Large Up), up and coming producers 2Deep, the Northern Nights Festival crew, plus secret guests.
What’s the community like that you’ve seen built around Tormenta?
It’s crazy to think how many of the closest friends and dope artist connections have been a direct result of the label and party. Its an incredibly diverse community from throughout South/Central America, the states, and abroad– all connected through pushing new music and art.
What are you looking forward to on Wednesday?
We’ve put a ton of work curating everything for the clash so were all super stoked to drop new tunes, exclusives, and extra special guests to blow minds in San Francisco– it’s going to be crazy in there. All the other crews are certainly reputable too so we’re looking forward to seeing what they’ve put together to compete with us.
We know you can’t reveal too much before the clash, but can you give us five words that can describe what you have in store?
Tropical, exclusives, heat, bass, sweat.
