JEMBE! (pronounced jem-bay and yes this is one way of spelling it), named after the drum for its legacy from Africa, reaching many cultures over many centuries and for celebrating the love of the dance. With the help of Melt Bar and FBI Radio in Sydney, JEMBE! was launched in Dec 2006 by DJ, promoter, publicist, radio presenter, booking agent, tour organizer, all round music man, James Locksmith. For over 10 years James Locksmith has worked throughout Sydney, interstate and abroad for record labels, distributors, production and promotion companies, radio, venues, clubs, bars, festivals, events and tours. He has worked with a list of local and international artists like Mad Mats (Raw Fusion, Sweden), DJ Regal (Unique, Australia/Germany), Frenzie (Groove Therapy, Australia), Simon Caldwell (Mad Racket, Australia) Mark Walton/Fretless (Senso Disc, Syd) Mark Prichard (aka Troubleman, Harmonic 33, Syd/UK), Mo’Horizons (Agogo Germany), Cut Chemist (ex-Jurassic 5, USA) ?uestlove (The Roots, Philadelphia) and Nickodemus (Wonderwheel, New York) to name drop a few.
JEMBE! was created to provide a platform for a wide-spectrum of music to be presented by artists, DJ’s, producers and musicians that understand a hybrid between various genres, like funk, hip hop, soul, jazz, folk, house, electronica, dub, reggae, afro, latino and global rhythms, and how they can be presented without boundaries, for the love of the dance. The beat of the djembe drum, originally from West Africa has spread throughout time and throughout many cultures and the JEMBE! party experience represents this celebration of history and unification through music.
Since its conception, JEMBE! has hosted several events, including an invitation to present a stage at the 2007 Bellingen Global Carnival with a list of DJ’s and musicians. In Feb 2008, JEMBE! together with FBI Radio and Time Out Magazine Sydney launched New York’s no.1 boat party, TURNTABLES ON THE HUDSON, celebrating 10 years of the finest parties in New York, TURNTABLES ON THE HARBOUR on Sydney harbour with founder, DJ, producer, remixer, global beats stalwart NICKODEMUS as part of his national tour.
Keep checking here for JEMBE! events. You can join us on FACEBOOK.
Download a JEMBE! DJ mix by James Locksmith
For the love of the dance.
JEMBE! crew
