Reggae · July 14, 2008
Check out Surforeggae's exclusive interview with Diamba, one of the biggest reggae bands in Bahia!
Diamba, which already has more than 10 years of history and is one of the most popular Reggae bands in Bahia, is taking new flights now in R
Diamba, which already has more than 10 years of history and is one of the most popular Reggae bands in Bahia, is taking new flights now in Rio de Janeiro. The group, which stood out through guaranteed participation in almost all major Reggae events in Salvador in recent years and recently released a DVD celebrating its 10th anniversary, gave an exclusive interview to Surforeggae.
Demonstrating that they are integrated into the Reggae movement and are aware of the issues that are most questioned by people in this field, the members of Diamba spoke about the beginning of their career, issues related to Reggae Raiz X Reggae Pop, notable moments, among other curious facts. Check out Rafael Costa's exclusive interview with Banda Diamba.
Rafael Surforeggae: Greetings guys. Firstly, I like to start the interview with a very common question. What motivated the group meeting, how did it all start, what were the main difficulties faced at the beginning?
Diamba: The common taste for reggae among a group of friends, which is Diamba, over time has been a lasting party. The difficulties are similar to this day: promotion and distribution, like every independent band. Even so, they only served as motivation so that we could persevere together with our gigantic desire to propagate our music; always with identity and personality built from our influences.
Rafael Surforeggae: Did your families always support you in pursuing music?
Diamba: Always. Without this support from families, friends, collaborators, fans and the media, it would have been much more difficult to continue during these 12 years on the road.
Rafael Surforeggae: Throughout your time as a band, you went through several moments when you were the best-known Reggae band in Salvador. What do you think was missing for this success to be national?
Diamba: Distance from major Brazilian metropolitan centers. Even so, we saved money and traveled all over Brazil; living for seasons in Floripa, Sampa and now in Rio. We hope to plant the flag here in Rio too, because this city, as they say, "is wonderful". The reception here has been incredible, just like our expectations.
Rafael Surforeggae: Have you ever felt discriminated against at any specific event or situation because you are members of a Reggae band?
Diamba: Never. We have always been very well received. Reggae has great potential for penetration into the artistic world. It's a song of congregation, celebration... Just joy!
Rafael Surforeggae: What do you attribute to Reggae not being one of the most popular rhythms in Brazil? Do you think people lack awareness?
Diamba: Given the scenario we perceive, reggae is already a very well-accepted music – as we observed in Salvador, for example, where we regularly play for more than 20,000 people at parties attended by the biggest names in international reggae. We have also seen a large number of parties bringing together thousands of people across the country, a fact that leads us to think that reggae has already established itself as one of the most popular rhythms in the country.
Rafael Surforeggae: In terms of Brazil, who were the artists who influenced Banda Diamba's sound? The influence of other rhythms with a very Brazilian beat is noticeable in your musicality.
Diamba: Gilberto Gil, Nação Zumbi, Natiruts, Edson Gomes, among others. The list of great Brazilian artists and musicians is endless... And many have influenced our musicality.
Rafael Surforeggae: What was it like sharing the stage with big names in International Reggae and even being Andrew Tosh's support band?
Diamba: Fantastic! Closing his eyes he looks like Peter (his father). Very good! It was an accomplishment for all of us.
Rafael Surforeggae: You guysconsider a roots Reggae band? What is Root Reggae to you? Many people consider that the band became a little more pop over time. What do you have to say about this?
Diamba: Pop or roots, we are a reggae band par excellence. We don't believe in labels or in the possibility of stagnating our music. We believe that, over time, we should temper our sound with the influences that are pertinent to us. In the beginning, we played versions of Jimi Hendrix, Beatles, among others. Let's take Bob Marley for example: at the beginning of his success, as a big music star (I mean, after his contract with Island Records with the album Catch a fire), he played much more rootsy music. At the end of his career (on Uprising), we can hear sounds more focused on pop (or disco as it was in the late 70s, the time of this album's release), such as Could you Be loved. We believe that we must be the true translation of our moment, be it roots or pop. The curious thing is that our new compositions are more rootsy than before! But all the influence of rock, funk, mpb and pop will always be there.
Rafael Surforeggae: What was the most memorable moment in your career? What do you feel has changed from Diamba from the old days to today?
Diamba: One of the most memorable moments was the recording of our 10th anniversary DVD. And, later, the launch show with a packed Salvador acoustic shell. You could barely hear the instruments because the audience was singing at the top of their lungs. For Diamba it was very gratifying, as we felt we were on the right path. The most rewarding thing for a band is public recognition after so many years of struggle and great achievement. And, of course, going on tour, being in other states meeting people and taking our sound beyond the borders of Bahia is really good!!!
Rafael Surforeggae: How is your relationship with other groups from Bahia such as Adão Negro, Edson Gomes, Mosiah, etc? Is there any rivalry in this environment or is everything just rosy?
Diamba: Everything is flowers!! Just unity and positive vibrations! It's great to share the stage with great artists like these. Bahia is very well served by great reggae bands too.
Rafael Surforeggae: Do you usually support emerging bands in the Salvador scene, such as Semente da Paz, Moa Anbesa, Red Meditation, etc? What do you think of the alternative movement happening in the city?
Diamba: Every now and then we are opening space for all the bands. We really admire bands with personality like the ones you mentioned. They are also very respected there.
Rafael Surforeggae: What is your big dream? Have you ever thought about playing in other countries? In Portugal, for example, there is a large fan base of Brazilian Reggae.
Diamba: Thinking we think every day, and we are always making contact in an attempt to take our sound to overseas borders. We are faced with the difficulty of finding sponsors who can make this endeavor viable.
Rafael Surforeggae: What is the relationship you see between Reggae and feelings of peace, equality, conscience, love and union? Do you think that rhythm is intrinsically linked to these factors? Or could this gradually disappear as is happening in Jamaica through songs that are spreading homophobia, encouraging violence, demeaning women and only talking about sex?
Diamba: We believe that reggae, like all types of music, should be taken seriously. Negative influences and pejorative connotations must be far away. There will always be a large number of people willing to listen to good music, with positive messages, and enjoy good shows.
Rafael Surforeggae: What does the word Rastafari mean to you?
Diamba: It is Haileé Salassiê's given name. Starting from the ideological precepts of Marcus Garvey, a religion emerges based on a philosophy of return to Africa by the oppressed peopleblack people from all over the world (specifically in Central America - because of slavery on sugar cane plantations) with the idea of liberating these people. It is an ideological and religious concept. A philosophy of life.
Rafael Surforeggae: How do you see the more religious and acidic discourse of some Reggae groups in Brazil and around the world and on the other hand that of bands that only talk about surfing, the beach and love stories? Do you think both sides can live in harmony?
Diamba: As you may have noticed, in all of our albums there is a little bit of everything you said. Just listen and it's all there. We believe that every musical manifestation must exist, because it is perfectly acceptable for all the poems that run through an artist's head to coexist. Whether it has the character of an inflamed protest, love, everyday life or a good music session with friends. Everything is valid, as long as it is a constructive attitude!
Rafael Surforeggae: It was a pleasure to exchange this idea with you, it's always good to know what goes on in the minds of the people who make Reggae in Brazil. I would now like you to leave a message for Surforeggae's visitors and your fans, of whom there are a large number.
Diamba: It's great for us to be able to talk to you and the large regueira group that is close to Surforregae. This powerful communication vehicle has always supported us and fulfilled the role of promoting reggae, surfing and forró throughout Brazil.
I would like to invite everyone to come to Teatro Odisséia every Tuesday in July, here in Rio. We will be in MG (Divinópolis and Bom Despacho) now on the 18th and 19th of July 2008. This Tuesday, at Odisséia, we will have the precious participation of Da Gama (from Cidade Negra) and In Natura, to brighten up the night. Thank you very much and Positive Vibrations. Swing on the slopes!
Click here and find out more about the band on Surforeggae.
Official Website: www.diamba.com
Click and listen to "I Piro When You Pass" (live).
THE INTERVIEW
Rafael Surforeggae: Greetings guys. Firstly, I like to start the interview with a very common question. What motivated the group meeting, how did it all start, what were the main difficulties faced at the beginning?
Diamba: The common taste for reggae among a group of friends, which is Diamba, over time has been a lasting party. The difficulties are similar to this day: promotion and distribution, like every independent band. Even so, they only served as motivation so that we could persevere together with our gigantic desire to propagate our music; always with identity and personality built from our influences.
Rafael Surforeggae: Did your families always support you in pursuing music?
Diamba: Always. Without this support from families, friends, collaborators, fans and the media, it would have been much more difficult to continue during these 12 years on the road.
Rafael Surforeggae: Throughout your time as a band, you went through several moments when you were the best-known Reggae band in Salvador. What do you think was missing for this success to be national?
Diamba: Distance from major Brazilian metropolitan centers. Even so, we saved money and traveled all over Brazil; living for seasons in Floripa, Sampa and now in Rio. We hope to plant the flag here in Rio too, because this city, as they say, "is wonderful". The reception here has been incredible, just like our expectations.
Rafael Surforeggae: Have you ever felt discriminated against at any specific event or situation because you are members of a Reggae band?
Diamba: Never. We have always been very well received. Reggae has great potential for penetration into the artistic world. It's a song of congregation, celebration... Just joy!
Rafael Surforeggae: What do you attribute to Reggae not being one of the most popular rhythms in Brazil? Do you think people lack awareness?
Diamba: Given the scenario we perceive, reggae is already a very well-accepted music – as we observed in Salvador, for example, where we regularly play for more than 20,000 people at parties attended by the biggest names in international reggae. We have also seen a large number of parties bringing together thousands of people across the country, a fact that leads us to think that reggae has already established itself as one of the most popular rhythms in the country.
Rafael Surforeggae: In terms of Brazil, who were the artists who influenced Banda Diamba's sound? The influence of other rhythms with a very Brazilian beat is noticeable in your musicality.
Diamba: Gilberto Gil, Nação Zumbi, Natiruts, Edson Gomes, among others. The list of great Brazilian artists and musicians is endless... And many have influenced our musicality.
Rafael Surforeggae: What was it like sharing the stage with big names in International Reggae and even being Andrew Tosh's support band?
Diamba: Fantastic! Closing his eyes he looks like Peter (his father). Very good! It was an accomplishment for all of us.
Rafael Surforeggae: You guysconsider a roots Reggae band? What is Root Reggae to you? Many people consider that the band became a little more pop over time. What do you have to say about this?
Diamba: Pop or roots, we are a reggae band par excellence. We don't believe in labels or in the possibility of stagnating our music. We believe that, over time, we should temper our sound with the influences that are pertinent to us. In the beginning, we played versions of Jimi Hendrix, Beatles, among others. Let's take Bob Marley for example: at the beginning of his success, as a big music star (I mean, after his contract with Island Records with the album Catch a fire), he played much more rootsy music. At the end of his career (on Uprising), we can hear sounds more focused on pop (or disco as it was in the late 70s, the time of this album's release), such as Could you Be loved. We believe that we must be the true translation of our moment, be it roots or pop. The curious thing is that our new compositions are more rootsy than before! But all the influence of rock, funk, mpb and pop will always be there.
Rafael Surforeggae: What was the most memorable moment in your career? What do you feel has changed from Diamba from the old days to today?
Diamba: One of the most memorable moments was the recording of our 10th anniversary DVD. And, later, the launch show with a packed Salvador acoustic shell. You could barely hear the instruments because the audience was singing at the top of their lungs. For Diamba it was very gratifying, as we felt we were on the right path. The most rewarding thing for a band is public recognition after so many years of struggle and great achievement. And, of course, going on tour, being in other states meeting people and taking our sound beyond the borders of Bahia is really good!!!
Rafael Surforeggae: How is your relationship with other groups from Bahia such as Adão Negro, Edson Gomes, Mosiah, etc? Is there any rivalry in this environment or is everything just rosy?
Diamba: Everything is flowers!! Just unity and positive vibrations! It's great to share the stage with great artists like these. Bahia is very well served by great reggae bands too.
Rafael Surforeggae: Do you usually support emerging bands in the Salvador scene, such as Semente da Paz, Moa Anbesa, Red Meditation, etc? What do you think of the alternative movement happening in the city?
Diamba: Every now and then we are opening space for all the bands. We really admire bands with personality like the ones you mentioned. They are also very respected there.
Rafael Surforeggae: What is your big dream? Have you ever thought about playing in other countries? In Portugal, for example, there is a large fan base of Brazilian Reggae.
Diamba: Thinking we think every day, and we are always making contact in an attempt to take our sound to overseas borders. We are faced with the difficulty of finding sponsors who can make this endeavor viable.
Rafael Surforeggae: What is the relationship you see between Reggae and feelings of peace, equality, conscience, love and union? Do you think that rhythm is intrinsically linked to these factors? Or could this gradually disappear as is happening in Jamaica through songs that are spreading homophobia, encouraging violence, demeaning women and only talking about sex?
Diamba: We believe that reggae, like all types of music, should be taken seriously. Negative influences and pejorative connotations must be far away. There will always be a large number of people willing to listen to good music, with positive messages, and enjoy good shows.
Rafael Surforeggae: What does the word Rastafari mean to you?
Diamba: It is Haileé Salassiê's given name. Starting from the ideological precepts of Marcus Garvey, a religion emerges based on a philosophy of return to Africa by the oppressed peopleblack people from all over the world (specifically in Central America - because of slavery on sugar cane plantations) with the idea of liberating these people. It is an ideological and religious concept. A philosophy of life.
Rafael Surforeggae: How do you see the more religious and acidic discourse of some Reggae groups in Brazil and around the world and on the other hand that of bands that only talk about surfing, the beach and love stories? Do you think both sides can live in harmony?
Diamba: As you may have noticed, in all of our albums there is a little bit of everything you said. Just listen and it's all there. We believe that every musical manifestation must exist, because it is perfectly acceptable for all the poems that run through an artist's head to coexist. Whether it has the character of an inflamed protest, love, everyday life or a good music session with friends. Everything is valid, as long as it is a constructive attitude!
Rafael Surforeggae: It was a pleasure to exchange this idea with you, it's always good to know what goes on in the minds of the people who make Reggae in Brazil. I would now like you to leave a message for Surforeggae's visitors and your fans, of whom there are a large number.
Diamba: It's great for us to be able to talk to you and the large regueira group that is close to Surforregae. This powerful communication vehicle has always supported us and fulfilled the role of promoting reggae, surfing and forró throughout Brazil.
I would like to invite everyone to come to Teatro Odisséia every Tuesday in July, here in Rio. We will be in MG (Divinópolis and Bom Despacho) now on the 18th and 19th of July 2008. This Tuesday, at Odisséia, we will have the precious participation of Da Gama (from Cidade Negra) and In Natura, to brighten up the night. Thank you very much and Positive Vibrations. Swing on the slopes!
MORE INFORMATION
Click here and find out more about the band on Surforeggae.
Official Website: www.diamba.com
CLICK AND LISTEN
Click and listen to "I Piro When You Pass" (live).Category
#Reggae