By Ingrid Abel
Based in Belgium, there is a sound brewing that has yet to really find its name or genre. This sound is a mad fusion of hip-hop intertwined with the dubs and wubs of trap and treasures of the swing era. A key artist that has really been pioneering this sound, Boogie Belgique, only formed five years ago and has played all over Europe and at many major festivals such as the World Music Festival in Chicago or the Week-end Au Bord De L’eau Festival hosted in Switzerland.
Just dropping their last album in 2016, Boogie Belgique has been exploring and working with layering trumpets, synth, percussion instruments, guitars and even live sampling in their performances. Other artists, such as ProleteR, based in Toulouse, France, have also been experimenting for the past six years with a similar blend of hip-hop with old swing music and have been actively touring all over Europe as well. As both of these artists are gaining momentum, more similar sounds are breaking through the sound waves through artists like FKJ (who even graced Portland with his wicked inspiring presence just last year!), Gramatik, or even Mononome. While some believe this movement is just another bubbling-up of dance electronic music that will fizzle out, I think we are getting into a new funky wave of music that deserves a genre name of its own. Any suggestions?