DJ COCO VARMA (EARTHTRIBE/SITARFUNK, UK) på CLANDESTINO
2004-11-27 Restaurang Cronan, Norra Hamngatan 10
Earthtribe were formed before the ‘Asian Underground’ had arisen and remain at the core of the British-Asian ‘scene’. But their style has always been as much about the west as it is east. They break down all musical and racial barriers and communicate through the ethnocyberfunk sound, a universal language. It’s a rhythm thing: electro, trance and breakbeat are subtlely blended with global grooves from India, Africa and South America. Add a generous sprinkling of funk, dub, tabla and sublime Indian vocals to the melting pot and the music is complete: an indefinable concoction.
The Earthtribe Sound System causes tremors wherever it travels, with dat controller and creative force Coco Varma at the helm, joined by Duke on percussion and MC Daddy-E accentuating the pleasure vibe. In the seminal underground days of ‘Anokha’ at Hoxton Square’s ‘Blue Note’ club they played the first 50 nights. Unique in their adaptability they have burnt it up at over 500 clubs and festivals including Tribal Gathering, Womad, The Big Chill, Ministry Of Sound, Outcaste and The Dog Star.
‘Sitar Funk’ was born in late ‘97 to provide a focus for Earthtribe’s development, a club night where Coco’s studio creations could be tweaked and preened beyond perfection. Beginning at The End in central London Sitar Funk then took a trip East to the’333’, Old Street, creating three floors of radical mayhem throwing down Asian beats, erotic middle-Eastern hip-shakers from SF resident Nelson Dilation, and Indian classical chill-outs.
Last year the Sitar Funk UK Club tour culminated with a sell-out crowd of 1,000 at Shepherd’s Bush Empire for ‘The Big Mash-up’; featuring live performances from Earthtribe, Transglobal Underground, State Of Bengal and Sitarist Nilandri Kumar. The innovative guest spot saw Squarepusher and drum ‘n’ bass maestro Matrix grace the decks and fill the dance floor at the most recent Sitar Funk sessions at the Scala.
The conspicuous lack of an Earthtribe album has been due to their extensive touring schedule, showing commitment to providing a live alternative to the DJ experience, collaborating on stage with the likes of Aziz Ibrahim, Shahin Badar, Mark Gilmour and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. On excursions to Italy, Switzerland, France and Eastern Europe they have been greeted by an ecstatic, highly receptive audience. Earthtribe compiled the ‘Eastern Uprising’ Asian Underground album for Sony and released a collection of grooves from SF residents, ‘Sitar Funk Vol.1’.
Future plans will build upon past achievements. 2000 sees the release of the long awaited Earthtribe artist album. The Sound System will be rolling across Europe and to continents afar spreading the rhythmical message on a global basis, jamming more with live instruments. Expect to see the return of regular ‘Sitar Funk’ events, reinforcing its reputation as the leading British-Asian club night with eclectic and dynamic line-ups. And there is still a whole universe to explore.
Earthtribe haven’t established communication yet but there’s a high chance ethnocyberfunk could be the inter-galactic language. What chance has gravity got of holding them back! Earthtribe