The music that Sub Chakra embraces and spiritually benefits from was created and inspired by black culture. Therefore, it feels only right to dedicate a space to acknowledge and spread the long history and message of soundsystem culture.

This is our own rendition and is by no means meant to be exhaustive.

A Brief History

Tracing as far back as the 1940s - soundystems possess a very dark history - plagued by colonization, discrimination and economic downpression.

It started with Jamaicans building rudimentary homemade soundsystems for illegal street parties because they could not afford to attend live band performances on ‘professional audio’. These soundsystems eventually became a platform for under-represented black artists unable to have their music heard live or on the radio due to racial discrimination.

Historically, traditional ‘soundsystem gatherings’ were a protective space for individuals who embraced the ancestral messages of Rastafari - a religious and social movement founded in Jamaica in the 1930s. Well charged basslines that resonated with the uncompromising attitudes of Rastafarian youth and a desire to retain their spiritual compass and identity. Soundsystems were at the forefront of this struggle and in many ways were employed as a survival strategy. These musical gatherings offered black youth a place of peace and escape from their harsh realities.

Through the years, soundsystem operation became a musical instrument of its own class for low socioeconomic artists who would operate a soundsystem while playing recorded music on vinyl (as opposed to live bands for the wealthy). Popularization of soundsystems with this Jamaican heritage grew in underground circuits through word-of-mouth parties. With the years birthed many different grassroots soundsystems; each possessing their own unique style, selections and speaker designs.

With Rastafari came other musical and cultural concepts that quite literally shaped the landscape and sounds that generations still experience to this day.

Concepts like ‘dubbing’ - sampling and remixing existing recordings through significant track manipulation and thoughtful use of studio effects like reverb and echo to create new versions and specials of the original track; the relationship between the ‘selecta’ (now widely referred to as the DJ) and ‘deejay’ (now known as MC or master of ceremonies); exclusive never-heard-before tracks that were cut onto ‘acetate dubplates’ and played out live with a competitive spirit at ‘soundclashes’ where venues would host multiple soundsystems under one roof. Opposing crews would take turns playing these dubplates in an attempt to ‘bury’ the neighboring sound; ‘skanking’ - a dancing style of African heritage that empowered the youth to express themselves freely; references of escaping ‘Babylon’ - the modern society that seemed to alienate Black youth on every level imaginable; the list goes on…

Irregardless of the genre and whether a given soundsystem was built for modern electronic music or reggae/dub, Sub Chakra strongly advocates for patrons to not only enjoy the music, but to also grow an understanding and appreciation of the dark history and hardships endured by the oppressed that birthed such amazing forms of art that we are so privileged to enjoy today. Reggae and dub music have always been anti-establishment and possessed a strong rebel spirit. Like traditional rap music, it is a product of its environment; a story told from the eyes of black people.

Sub Chakra acknowledges that racial oppression is still an on-going process. There is much wok to be done in this space by us and our peers.

As a collective, we are always working to book diverse musical lineups with equal representation and are constantly seeking creative means of educating our listeners on black history; whether that be through written compositions like the above, or information tastefully incorporated at our events or on our social media platforms.

We invite all listeners to pause, reflect and seek to understand each of our own place within this history. There are many roads that lead to measurable change and transformative justice. Let's work together to create environments that promote open dialogue, education and positive change that is free of judgement.

Sub Chakra Sound

As with most art forms, there are many different methods to design and effectively operate a soundsystem. In the world of professional audio, this is known as sound reinforcement. Through technical knowledge and hands on experience, soundsystem operators are able to customize a speaker’s tone to his/her liking. Doing so allows the operator to add a signature sound to a soundsystem’s musical output; whether that be through the design of the physical speaker cabinets during the build, or thoughtful signal processing during deployment at an event. Soundsystem design and operation is its own form of artistic expression and musical craft; demonstrating a level of commitment that elevates events into a higher realm of arts and nightlife. 

As a collective with a focus on interdisciplinary arts and music inspired by black culture, soundsystems play a fundamental role in the experience we offer our patrons. What is treated as a mere afterthought for many is rather the lifeblood of the events and experience Sub Chakra strives to achieve.