#boyoom connective

[aureliusrodhworld]

(Boyoom Connective)

[musicmapglobal]

UNDA

UNDA, a 27-year-old beatmaker from Zürich, Switzerland, has provided us with a really interesting and honest interview about his story and his way of understanding music.

Ten years since his early compositions, he has discovered the key to provide a perfect marriage between instrumental hip-hop and future beats, and consequently great vibes. Currently he’s part of the Zurich-based label and collective Boyoom Connective, founded by Melodiesinfonie and Maloon TheBoom, where he released his debut EP Off the Cuff, a record characterised by subtlety and fresh, chill atmospheres.

Stay tuned for the next UNDA release in April 2017 on Boyoom Connective. As he has told us, it’ll be an EP ‘completely based on samples and sounds from the French West Indies’. Sounds promising, can’t wait to hear it!

Tell us about your artist name…

I go by the name of UNDA aka Unda de Sango. I got the name ‘de Sango’ at a Beatbattle in Geneva back in 2011 as the host wanted to know where I’m from. So I responded ‘I’m UNDA from Saint-Gall’ (my original hometown). After that he shouted to the crowd “Voilà UNDA de Sango” in his strong French-African accent. Since then I got my aka.

When did you start making music and how it was like?

I got into it in my late teens through a friend of mine. I always wondered how a DJ Premier or Pete Rock for example could create these badass melodies which for me later turned out to be samples. I really had no clue of this whole science and [before I learnt to use] samples, my beats were absolutely crappy. Second thing was DJing.

What music were you exposed to growing up?

My family didn’t have a musical background, that’s maybe why Vengaboys was always my jam! At the age of 10 or 11 my brother gave me a 5 track CD which he got from a music magazine he copped, containing tracks from Cypress Hill and Ja Rule or R Kelly, I can’t really remember. Anyway, the vibe caught me immediately. Then I was into classic hip-hop from the ’90s, also listening to all the good jazz, soul and funk that came with it. For some years I’m rather into beatmaking stuff and exotic vibes.

Why electronic music instead of ‘organic’ music?

Not necessarily. I played the guitar for several years but gave it up which was a big mistake in retrospect. Back in the day it seemed more interesting to me what one could do with a mouse and a PC only. It never occurred to me to record some guitar notes in my production but it does now more and more. Especially in terms of percussion I’m trying to add a lot of real instruments. But nevertheless, I couldn’t do organic music only. I’m somehow missing the punchiness there.

How have your life experiences influenced your music?

Hard to answer. I think that my life in Switzerland has absolutely no influence on my music. It’s more likely when I discover music which is new to me or when I travel and hear new sounds, as it was the case in the French West Indies for example. Then I got a special rhythm pattern playing in my head which might influences me in the beat creating process, I don’t know…

Which things inspire you most?

For example how some people twist samples beyond recognition to make it sound completely different but still dope, or to mix together some whole different genres and create a new one with it. I admire this pioneering work.

What equipment do you use?

I’m using Native Instruments Maschine to create my music, sometimes Ableton for the mixdown (because Maschine CPU sucks!! 🙂 ) or for playing live sets, a Roland SP 404SX, two MIDI Keyboards, a MicroKorg XL, Yamaha Speakers, tons of VST plugins, a Focusrite Forte interface, a Djembe and other percussion instruments. Plus a Rode microphone for occasional guests and a Boss VE-5 vocal transformer which I sometimes use because my voice sounds terrible.

Who are your biggest influences nowadays?

Some beatmaking friends remain my biggest influences, especially thanks to the nerd talking we sometimes have. Other than that I don’t really have names in my mind right now.

How’s the music scene in Switzerland?

Switzerland has a lot of musical talent to offer, especially in the hip-hop and beatmaking community and I hope there’s even more to come. In my perspective, the scene is growing slowly but steadily. Some cities or clubs have a great ambition to support local artists, that’s good.

This great sunset in #Zurich comes from @undadesango UNDA #ViewFromMyWindow → Link to interview in bio 🇨🇭

A post shared by MusicMap (@musicmapglobal) on Feb 25, 2017 at 11:05am PST

What you most like about your country?

Even when I’m used to it, I still think that Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Its beauty consists of the wonderful nature, the mountains, small towns and the amazing lakes we have. Although we don’t have access to the sea, you can find Mediterranean feeling at some places. I also admire its multilingualism, consisting of four different languages, the multi-cultural population we have and a lot of creativity!

Do you have any wishes for the future of music?

The mainstream music listener will keep looking for the drop after 1 min, the gourmet will keep watching out for the vibe, deepness and the details in the music. It’s all fine with that and finally a question of taste, this won’t change. But I wish there were more people trying to focus on their own unique style and be more creative. That’s what helps music getting along.

[chillin-on-mountains]

[theinfinitblog]

Miles Singleton - FirstLove Discover Miles Singleton: https://soundcloud.com/spacecadets-1 https://twitter.com/MilesBsingleton Picture by itsaaaldy: https://www.flickr.com/photos/88855318@N05/

[theinfinitblog]

Unda - Off The Cuff #throwback Free Download: https://soundcloud.com/undaboyoom/off-the-cuff Purchase the full "Off The Cuff" EP here: https://boyoomconnective.bandcamp.com/album/off-the-cuff-ep Discover UNDA: http://soundcloud.com/undabeatfreaks http://facebook.com/unda.beatfreaks http://boyoomconnective.bandcamp.com

[ronnyramone]

different minds, an open collective and variable number of members get together for the love of music: awareness by &friends

[fufalife]

Hypnotized EP by Miles Singleton

Smooth vibes from this young Zurich beatmaker. Out through Boyoom Connective, plenty of style and funky deep basses with some old school head nod flavours.

[theinfinitblog]

Melodiesinfonie & Maloon - Swacle Free Download Discover Melodiesinfonie: http://soundcloud.com/melodiesinfonie http://facebook.com/Melodiesinfonie Discover Maloon TheBoom: http://soundcloud.com/maloontheboom http://facebook.com/MaloonTheBoom Picture by missy_87