A major player with the alternative and DIY underground culture in the UK during the 1990s, Zion Train are dub-dance pioneers who have been undisputed leaders in the genre for the past two decades.
Fronted by Neil Perch, Zion Train bring their sound system to Island Vibe Festival.
How did Zion Train first begin?
[Neil Perch] ZT was first conceived as a sound system in 1988 when I was still at uni. We played Jamaican and UK roots, culture and dub music. The original formation was myself and a couple of student mates playing music at parties – this soon developed into wanting to compose our own dubplates and so we moved into studio work, composition and record production.
Where did your interest in sound system culture stem from?
My mother came to the UK from Barbados in 1963, so it is in my blood. But I was truly converted watching Jah Shaka Sound System playing Soundclash in London in the 1980s – truly cosmic experiences and I was hooked. Remember that's deep in Thatcher's Britain where light experiences were few and far between.
What does being part of a sound system entail, beyond playing music?
Well, I also compose music, produce music in my own studio, manage two record labels and own and run an actual 16 kilowatt, custom-built PA system. So in my case, it involves all of that. Plus travelling all over the globe playing music and sharing positive vibes with people and generally smiling a lot.
Dub poetry is an integral artistic element of dub; what is the writing process like when collaborating with a range of dub poets?
Depends on the artist really, but in general when I like a poet's work I would send them a set of instrumental tracks to see which grabs them and what vocal ideas are inspired by them. After a bit of back and forth, we would then record vocals in my studio with me subsequently arranging and mixing the music around their vocal contribution.
Are you looking forward to coming to Australia to play Island Vibe?
I was in Australia for the first time in early 2014 – I actually played at the Rainbow Serpent Fest down in Victoria; everywhere I went people were saying, 'you need to go to Island Vibe, it's the event you belong at in Australia'. So absolutely looking forward to being there. I will also be in Melbourne, Byron Bay, Sydney and Kuranda, so I am really excited to get another taste of your great country.
You’ve collaborated with many dub poets – will you be bringing any vocalists to play the festival with you?
Dub Princess will be the main voice with me at Island Vibe – very excited to work with her.
You release your music on your own label, Universal Egg; what led you to start that?
I am a control freak ;) No seriously, the artistic process is compromised by business interests in any form of art that is at all commercialised. In music, the business interests are historically those of the record labels. By managing my own label not only have I been able to keep absolute, artistic control over my output (how it sounds, looks and is marketed), I have also been able to introduce some great artists to the world off the back of my own work.
How would you describe Dub’s underlying philosophy or life force?
Live the life you love, love the life you live. Positivity and respect. Humility and honour.
Life on the road for Zion Train ... do you guys enjoy the lifestyle?
Well, we are all getting on in years so we tend to do shorter trips (long weekends) and that gives us a chance to recover and deal with normal life. Our last long, European tour in 2011 was 50 shows in 48 days so that can be hard. Meeting people, sharing good vibes, seeing local culture - those things are very hard to get tired of!
What’s in the future for Zion Train?
More of the same, onwards and upwards... The next single release features a great collaboration with Jamaican artists Jah9 and Addis Pablo, so that's very exciting!
Where has been your favourite place to perform, and why?
That's hard after 2,500 shows... Mount Fuji is pretty cool as is the Solar Eclipse Fest under the eclipse (both in Hungary and Zambia). Universo Parallelo (on the beach Bahia, Brazil)... Island Vibes??? Let's see... To perform in places of great, natural beauty with enthusiastic, positive crowds is always a pleasure.
Zion Train play Island Vibe Festival, which runs 30 October-1 November.
