upcoming

One Wise Sound

What:

A note from Max Garrison of One Wise Sound regarding the coming Club Dread Sound Clash in San Francisco (details below) led to this virtual interview about One Wise, sound systems etc.

Journal: What is a sound system?

Max: A sound system, or sound, is a group of selectors (or DJs as they are known in the U.S.), MCs, & engineers playing primarily reggae music. It is also inclusive of records, dub plates, speakers, & fans.

What’s a sound clash?

A sound clash is an event where two or more competing sound systems play “dub plate specials” for an audience. A dub plate special is a recording of a popular artist singing one of their songs, rewritten with new personalized lyrics. The new lyrics give respect to the sound and its members by calling out their names, and often the area that they represent (i.e. One Wise Sound, Humboldt County) as well as declaring why the sound is the best. By carefully selecting & featuring exclusive, personalized tracks, a sound system can garner a more positive reaction from the audience in order to win the clash.

What is the format of this weekend’s Club Dread Clash?

There are four sounds competing in the Club Dread clash this weekend. There will be four rounds with eliminations after the 2nd, 3rd and 4th round. The rounds are 10 minutes long with the exception of the 4th round, which is a best four out of seven, tune-for-tune. The crowd decides which sounds get eliminated, and which sounds go on to the next round. We’d love to see as many fans from Humboldt as possible at the Rockit Room on Saturday showing their support. After all, the crowd is the judge in a sound clash.

What are you expecting in S.F.?

It’s our first sound clash, so we expect to gain experience & put Humboldt County on the map within the worldwide sound clash community. We expect the exposure to help us land more gigs in the Bay Area, as well as throughout the U.S. and even the world. We also expect to give the other sounds a musical beating — and they should expect to get one.

How long has One Wise been around?

One Wise formed in the summer of 2001; we recorded our first dub plate some time in 2002. The original members are Max Garrison, Ras Benjamin and J the Sarge. We recently added two more members to the sound: Styler Don, of Las Vegas, who is helping us expand into a new area and Ras Azad, who brings fresh art and video design. Both add a new dynamic and fresh energy to One Wise.

Where do you play regularly locally?

One Wise Sound plays at the Jambalaya every other Wednesday night.

Why reggae for you?

I like reggae because there are so many different aspects to the genre. You have conscious, uplifting lyrics, and you have musical competition both amongst artists and sound systems.

6th Annual Club Dread Sound Clash

Saturday, April 17

Doors @ 9pm Clash begins @ 11:30

The Rockit Room: 406 Clement Street

(between 5th and 6th Ave) San Francisco, CA

www.rock-it-room.com

When/where: