Globe-trotting tropical beats, party-heavy synth and a lead singer who channels M.I.A via Tank Girl? Yes please. We debut the new video from SKIP&DIE, and talk to frontwoman Cata Pirata.
For those of us who have yet to be acquainted with SKIP&DIE, introduce yourselves.
SKIP&DIE is a kaleidoscopic party on the thin line between life and death. We embrace the unknown.
For people who aren’t familiar with your sound, how would you describe it?
Like Tank Girl and her animal-army on LSD in the tropical jungle of the future.
How did you two meet and where are you based now?
In Jori’s home studio with the most epic view over Amsterdam. Followed by a spark, a beat, a song. We then decided to join forces.
Can you describe your album?
Riots in the Jungle was written while we travelled through South Africa’s Soweto, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Gugulethu, collaborating along the way with some of SA’s most inspiring music makers on the rise. The album portrays our experience of blazing sun, dusty roads, township shacks, cockroaches, skulls, bones and lovebirds. It contains songs in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, Spanish and Portuguese. It’s a collage of the personal, the political, the people, the party – and the beauty, mess and adventure of those elements combined.
Your music has a huge range of global influences – can you describe what they are?
Mainly party music of the people; Cumbia, Kwaito, baile funk, Sri Lankan baila,kKlezmer, tropical bass. Electronics mixed with rap, mixed with melody, mixed with the heartbeat of the drum.
You’ve got a song on the album called Anti-capitalista – are you both pretty politically engaged?
Our art and music is an extension of the way our psyche works, everything it has taken in over the years; it reflects our thoughts and emotions on society, our personal experiences, as well as the fantasies we are continuously creating. We tend to feel the need to express a lot about (global) politics and struggle, wrapped-up in a collage of personal and poetic form.
What’s a normal day in the life of Skip & Die like?
Each day is totally different from the next and always unexpected! But always tends to involve a riot of some kind.
What’s the best party you’ve ever been to?
Cata Pirata’s Piñata Party. Free for all. Moshpits guaranteed.
Riots in the Jungle is out on iTunes now. SKIP&DIE play Cargo London on 22 November, more info here. www.skipndie.com
Words: Zing Tsjeng