Sound Impact

They do not represent the British Broadcasting Corporation. “We are the Ben Bop Crew. Ben Bop,by the way,means one head. So,we are practically one head,one mind,one spirit,” says Ismael ‘Izm’ Sy Savane. His Paris-based band BBC Sound System contains two other members—Kadou and Mao. The band is here courtesy the Alliance Francaise,in collaboration with The Indian Express,and is set to perform at the Plaza in Sector 17.

Dealing with the ragamuffin style of music,BBC Sound System brings with it African influences in the form of music from their mother land Senegal. “Our band is a symbol of the multi-cultural,multi-lingual traditions that exist in France,” says Izm. “Most of it reflects the dreams,the rhythm,the beat we carry from our roots in Senegal,” says Kadou. It comes as no surprise then that the three explore African melodies like Tassou (hip hop music’s origin) mixed with raga,hip hop,soul and even salsa rhythms.

The band’s music is a cocktail of traditional and modern African culture fused with Jamaican style and texts in Wolof,Peulh,Mandingue,French and English. “We are inspired by our native areas in Dakar and our music is constantly striving to promote cultures while preserving their identity and originality,” say the three. In India for the first time,they are totally taken in by the beat and rhythm of the subcontinent.

“Hip hop comes from folk music and is influenced by the Blues too. The latter was the music of slaves,and so you can feel the African rhythm in hip hop,” says Izm,who writes scripts for television as well. “It’s really hard to sustain oneself in the musical profession. My brothers here,Kadou and Mao are sound engineers,and music for us is passion and living,” says Izm.

To know more,log on to http://www.myspace.com/bbcsoundsystem or http://www.youtube.com.