Knowledge

84 (Sep 2006)

Ban Ban

He might be named after a Flintstones character, but DJ Ban Ban is no dinosaur. Knowledge shoots the breeze with one of Brazil's new bloods...

"Curitiba is a very modern city," explains DJ Ban Ban of his hometown, an example of successful urban planning. "It has a certain European feel as many of Curitiba's inhabitants are of European descent, mainly Italian, but also Ukrainian, Polish and German. I have German and Portuguese descendants.

"When we talk about music, especially in Brazil, we are talking about something which is extremely important in our community, something that is part of the lifestyle. We are bombed by so many cultural influences that we end up breaking the boundaries between styles and making our own. We Brazilians have music running through our veins."

Ban Ban - real name Kleber Feldmann Mendes - is the latest drum & bass ambassador to have sprung up from Brazil's never-ending cauldron of talent. Over the last couple of years he has stepped onto the global scene with a huge grin and typical Brazilian confidence, wowing crowds across Europe with his turntablist approach to mixing up the fast stuff.

He has recently been seen in the company of drum & bass's global elite, teaming up with the likes of Andy (from Brazil) and Marky, Chris SU and Ed Rush, Dom & Roland, Hype, Hazard, Simon Bassline Smith, Sub Focus and The Upbeats.

"I have loved playing with all of them," he enthuses. "I learn so much from each one. Every party has been great so far but the one with Ed Rush and DJ Andy in the Czech Republic, on S.O.S Karolina in Ostrava for 5000 people, was wonderful."

Mendes' turntable career began at the age of 12, in his native Curitiba. He played at his friend's garage parties initially, his tastes informed by radio shows and mixes from well-known Brazilian DJs of the time who played a mix of house and underground electronic music.

"I heard every kind of music when I was growing up," he says, "House, techno, hip hop, trance, everything. I loved to see and hear the DJs mixing tracks in clubs or radios shows and I believe that those situations were my main influences. I also listened to a lot of new-wave, future pop, bands like Depeche Mode and New Order, etc. until I was introduced to house in the early 90s, followed by old skool hardcore, jungle and, finally, drum & bass.

"I grew up in a simple family, I could never afford paying for lessons and such," continues Ban Ban. "Brazilians are very handy though; most Brazilian musicians, including some of the top ones, have never attended music school, they all learned to play instruments by themselves. I had to learn it all myself as well."

In 1995, influenced by DMC stars like Noize, Rock Raida, Tomi and MC Jack, Ban Ban bought a pair of Technics and a few DMC videotapes with an eye to winning the DMC championships one day. At the same time he teamed up with some friends and began organising the first d&b parties in Curitiba. After a couple of years whipping his skills into shape he signed up for his first amateur DJ contest, only to be disqualified by the judges, who declared that he was not an amateur at all, but a professional!

It was Brockie's 'Represent' that changed things. As soon as he heard the tune, Ban Ban switched to d&b and has stuck with it ever since. Zinc's 'On Fire Tonight' confirmed his affiliation with jungle, though he has always maintained an influence from hip hop and turntablism.

Inspired by the result of his first competition, he signed up to another DJ contest, this time organised by Hypnotic and Juan Atkins. He was chosen to participate in the final round with the top 32 DJs selected among nearly 300 competitors. He was more surprised than anyone, he says, to be ranked the top d&b DJ. The event changed his life and he is now regarded as an out and out hip hop junglist, spinning at parties all over the world and at events like the São Paulo Street Parade, in front of 100,000 people.

"I play every kind of d&b but I love jump-up and stuff with ragga vocals," he says. "My favourite labels are Ganja and Frontline, and also Digital Soundboy, Propaganda, etc. Andy C, Friction and Hazard are the artists I like best. Sometimes I play tracks from Brazilians producers and sometimes I play some different rhythms in my sets. I always try to be innovative, that makes it more fun."

'Fun' is a word Ban Ban uses a lot. He is modest about his talent, preferring to have a good time than to try and be the world's best, and it's this attitude that adds charisma to his performances.

"Don't compare me to DJ Craze!" he says when Miami's favourite junglist is mentioned. "He's a magician! I do tricks for fun, and try to perform something different, but I'm not as perfect as the DMC guys. They are the best, and I should not to be compared to them. I don't really practice, it's all improvisation but of course I admire every turntablist.

"Some time ago, doing scratches over electronic music really caught the attention of the crowd. I am not saying that a good scratch doesn't stimulate the crowd nowadays but I think these days d&b DJs do a lot more of this type of stuff. In my opinion it's one more technical part of DJing alongside cuts, collages, long mixes, etc. In my opinion all this creativity, technique, skill has to come naturally, nothing programmed, because that contributes to a better interaction with the crowd."

Still, Ban Ban's sets are unique for the amount of creativity and effort he puts into them. And what with the constant stream of talent out of Brazil, it's nice to see someone doing something a little different. What is Ban Ban's take on the bigger picture of the Brazilian d&b scene? Is it all Marky and Patife for him?

"Those two are the icons around here for sure," he says, "but besides them, Brazil is full of other excellent DJs, some with international experiences and some who are popular all around the country. There are others who are not so well known but extremely talented. The Brazilian electronic music scene in general is highly turned to techno and international DJs play here very often. São Paulo is the capital of d&b. If you are a DJ and you don't live in São Paulo or have no connections to promoters and the media there, it's hard to get anywhere.

"Curitiba is 600km south of São Paulo, so I would call myself an exception or maybe I was lucky. I've had the opportunity to play there, and I did my best, met some people, and that's what led my career to a higher level, otherwise my career would be stuck down there. Maybe I would not even be a DJ now, I would have given up."

Ban Ban's star remains firmly in the ascendent. He is already embarking on a summer tour that will take him to the Summer of Love festival (headed by Kraftwerk) and gigs in Slovakia (Bratislava), Hungary and UK clubs like Movement in London, Platoon in Manchester and Detonate in Nottingham. One more thing - how did he get his name? "

"A friend of mine told me one day that I look like Bam Bam from the Flintstones," he laughs. "That's how everything started. I replaced the "m's" with "n's" because I didn't want it to be exactly like the original, and ended up as Ban Ban."

WORDS Paul Sullivan

Ban Ban takes us through his mix...

KG – Never Ending Dream
There are tracks which make your mind go beyond and 'Never Ending Dream' is one of those. The bassline perfectly combined with the synth, both very well worked out, and the vocal gives it that special touch.

Ezra & Rollers Inc - Lose Her
Smooth vocal, driving bassline!

DJ Andy & Microb - Mainline (Spoonface vocal mix)
This vocal from Spoonface for 'Mainline' turned out great! It's a track that gets everyone moving, especially the girls!

Mace - Forever Soul (The Authors remix)
Mace's 'Forever Soul' has been very well remixed by The Authors. The easy vocals, synths and bassline are very well defined and its jazzy breaks fit very well in the track.

The Authors – Fantasy
This is the kind of track that brings everyone to the dancefloor: very well made, not too much on the vocals and a "perfect" bassline after the drop! Music for the body and mind.

Jebar & Foyer – Rhytual
This tracks starts with a hypnotic synth and, after the drop, a wicked bassline comes in. A simple track, very well made though, perfect for the "warm up".

DJ Deval - Mash Up (VIP)
Dancefloor! Dancefloor! I will take the risk of saying that jump-up is the most "cheerful" d&b style. This VIP version of 'Mash Up' perfectly explains what I mean... Fun!

Shroombab – Para Você
Another cheerful track. 'Para Você' (or 'For You' in English) presents a cool percussion and an uplifting drop followed by... FUN "para você"!

Rowney – Floorkilla
A track with a very catchy synth! The melody sticks in your mind from the first time you hear it. Without a doubt a "dancefloor hit"!

Dreadbangers – Black Magic
Another "driving" track, the synths and bass progressively build up; by halfway through it reaches total FUN!

Wayz – Vigilante
A massive track with that "hard" characteristic.

Bad Ace Inc – Black Key
A progressive tune that begins with a harmonious piano; it doesn't take long for the synth and bassline to start building up powerfully and smash the dancefloor though.

No Money & DJ Ban Ban – Oh Shit!
My first collaboration on a track. 'Oh Shit' doesn't go beyond the main characteristics of No Money though, with distorted synths, broken breaks and heavy bass!

Diode – Badder Than Bad
A dark track with an uplifting bass and a distorted vocal. After the break this track shows us what it is all about... total craziness!

No Money – Let's Move
The title says it all... it starts with a nice intro, the vocal announces what's coming next, and then the drop... 'Let's Move'!

GPK ft. Mr Yuki - Monsters
This track is definitely for the peak of the night. "Monsters" is total craziness and 100% rewind! Its cheerful synth, powerful bassline and several effects are perfect!

No Money & DJ Ban Ban – Blast
Another co-operation with the talented No Money who I think are the best producers from the Czech Republic. This massive track starts with a hypnotic intro, straight and heavy kick, and after the drop gets everyone dancing. Impossible to stay still to this!