We caught up with the one and only Rebel County Sound Man, Benji Revelation, to ask him a few questions leading up to this Sunday's Rub-a-Dublin session. Here's what he had to say!
IMR: Greetings Benji. For the uninitiated, Revelation Sound System are a collective and sound system from Cork. Can you give a quick intro as to exactly who and what is involved in a full show?
RSS: Yes I Mialodica and Benji Revelation are the owners and operators of Revelation Sound System, bringing roots and dub reggae to the people in a traditional style. At a "Revelation" dance one will find our custom built sound system delivering a selection of uplifting dubs and dubplate exclusives. Vocals and melodica with low whistles and effects spice up the runnings. A lively dance with the aim to unite people is the flavour. Bringing in our own sound with heavy power bass is essential for full vibes.
IMR: Revelation Sound System are fast approaching 20 years of sound system culture in Ireland. Can you tell us a little about how you started on this path and what the landscape was like back then?
RSS: Yes. We started running selections of conscious reggae on pirate stations and parties to begin with. After a few long residencies in Cork venues we felt the best way forward was to build up our own sound that could really deliver this bass driven music in full. Knowledge of deep dubs was limited to a small number to begin with ... Firehouse Skank, ROOTICAL, and ourselves combined plenty dances in the early days with guests from the U.K to cultivate the vibes, and the road kept opening up. Now a great amount of people here are well wrapped up in dub music. After 17 years we're glad to now see some of our own tunes getting released. 2015 going to see more releases and plenty of festivals and dances from Revelation.
IMR: How do you find the reggae/bass music scene and culture in Ireland right now?
RSS: Right now Irieland bubbling hot! Nuff new crews and plenty original sounds now pushing the dub&bass culture ... a total delight for us here. Now you find more attendance and awareness at the dances ... great to see how far we've come with Irish artists now on the International reggae circuit.
IMR:Your recent involvement with the Trenchtown Crew at Electric Picnic became a big hit with everyone that passed by the woods any day during the weekend. Can you tell us a little bit about the past two years at Electric Picnic and how you guys have found the process?
RSS: Trenchtown had us play a few times in the past on their stage and a move was made to bring us in with the sound system in 2013, to set a Dubstation going. Smooth runnings and great reactions led us to get a next invite for 2014 with a bigger stage and more exposure. We had three stacks of speakers(16 18" bass speaker) set for all revelers till the wee hours. A huge success with a full program showcasing Irieland's finest selectors, producers and live dub crews over three days and nights has us smiling inside, still. To see large crowds being exposed to dub on a proper level has been a huge blessing for us. Being part of the Trenchtown arena has brought this rasta sound to people at the Picnic that may not have known Irieland's rich culture in dub. To see selectors and crews delivering their music in full brings a great vibe for all involved.
IMR: The other big project you guys are involved with is the WBC (World Bass Culture) gigs in Cork. Can you fill us in on those sessions?
RSS: World Bass Revelation nights are a unity collective of Revelation and the World Bass Culture coming together in dub&bass ... blistering dub steppas onto total exploration in bass music and our own productions are the flavours. These nights are being received very well. Radikal Guru an original WBC member is on the way for the next dance: Ras Tinny and Cian Finn in action with Revelation & WBC massive - this will be a family occasion inna Cork for sure. Visuals to inspire all dancers is a big part of these productions. VJ Present is our visual weaver.
World Bass Revelation is on the way to Dublin on November 21st at The Pint - hold tight y'all, Revelation on the way! Looking forward to Rumble boom bam bim on the liffey with all at Rub-a-Dublin ... Loveness & Niceness. Irieland we dehya!
IMR: We're looking forward to having you guys up to the capitol and hearing the bins rumble at the Rub-a-Dublin session this Sunday. BIG UP!
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