Maken recalls the beginnings: "I was pushed to the sound system world after discovering I like dancing to the radical music that speaks out important issues like punk, but with trance and groove potential. When it turned out that Dennis Bovell’s bass and brave dubs from Black Uhuru can move mountains on large speakers, someone said that in Jamaica it is called a sound system ... So it began. These were the beginnings of capitalism in Poland and every day on TV you could hear that another joint venture was formed. However, our associations were different than a meaning of just a business enterprise :-) After some time Activator moved to Zgorzelec. He started working as a sound engineer at the community center where I was putting up the shows. Effects and mixers were deep close to his heart, so we joined forces. It took some time before we realized that on the other side of Poland there are people who are doing the same, but playing different records. Meeting LSM was always extremely nice and very inspiring."
JVSS are on the radical side of reggae, electro dub, modern ethnic music, some jungle & dubstep. You won’t hear any sweety melodies and lyrics here.
Activator is one of the most experienced Polish producers. He travelled round the world as a soundman for the most successful Polish world music act – Warsaw Village Band. He also worked both live and in the studio with almost all Polish top Polish reggae acts and beyond. Activator released a compilation of his remixes entitled „Remixy” (2003, also licenced to France), including remixes for Macka B, Zion Train, The Rootsman etc. You can also hear his work on Adrian Sherwood, The Rootsman, Warsaw Village Band or Zion Train’s releases. His and Smoku’s Studio As One is known as mastering specialists (Zion Train, Dubterror albums etc.).
Activator’s part in JVSS is a dub master – using effects, adding space and craziness to the music and the voice. The sound system always kicks loud and clear.
DJ Bass Reprodukktor Priest Maken I is a selector and MC / stage performer, wearing a priest uniform on stage. He hosts „Strefa Dread” weekly reggae show on the Polish National Radio, channel 4 – Czwórka for over 5 years. Joint Venture with VJ Majonez performed live audiovisual shows there. Maken is also an agent responsible for many shows, bringing modern dub to Poland or producing first Polish recording sessions in Jamaica.
Joint Venture Sound System performed with many guests including memorable inputs and tours with Reggaenerator (Vavamuffin), Ghetto Priest (Asian Dub Foundation), Brother Culture or Hornsman Coyote.
They were co-producers of „Dub Out Of Poland” compilation series – first ever Polish dub compilations as well as „Upmixing” – Warsaw Village band’s remixes collection.
During all those years JVSS performed hundreds of parties in Poland and abroad (Czech, Slovakia, France, Germany, Russia, UK) and experienced many adventures.
Links:
video
Joint Venture Sound System - urodziny „20 lat prucia głośników”2008
Joint Venture Sound System, Polskie Radio „Czwórka”, 09-05-2011
Joint Venture Sound System, Polskie Radio „Czwórka”, 05-09-2011
Joint Venture Sound System feat. Ghetto Priest live 2007
Joint Venture Sound System live 2004 on tour with Zion Train
Joint Venture Sound System - 20 lat prucia głośnikow (TVP Kultura)
audio
Joint Venture Sound System live:
