Interview with Don Kristobal – Urban Reggae from Medellin

Don Kristobal is a six member band from Medellin who rock the beat of the Caribbean, with the rhythm of Jamaican music, Afro-Antillean beats, ska, calypso, and a sharp Rocksteady sound. They have been playing together since 2003 and here we talk with the drummer Juan Silva.

Arepa: Thanks for meeting with us; tell us about the group.

DK: Don Kristóbal plays reggae with a lot of jamaican influence, along with some mix of Latinamerican rhythms, a lot of reggae roots and stories from the streets. We like to call it, Urban Reggae.

A: Is there a lot of Urban Reggae here in Medellin?
DK: There’s a lot of reggae and ska bands, some have the commercial pop feeling, others the punk and jumpy American influence, no offense. We like to keep it simple.

A: After 6 years, is Don Kristobal more reggae than when you started?
DK: Well, our roots are a 4 piece band, Guitar, Bass, drums and vocals. What’s happening right now is the synthesis of all the years of growing, in every rehearsal session we get really surprised of the results we’re getting. We now have a solid proposal to play shows around the world and are planning more and more concerts!

A: Don Kristobal celebrates the diversity of sounds, cultures, and people in Colombia…so what do you think of the gringos here?
DK: It’s cool to have constant visitors, ironically, they get to enjoy the country more than us the natives, and it’s way more different now than before. I don’t feel that the extranjeros here bring a one-way “colonization”, it’s a two way discovery that leaves a lot of experiences and sensations.

A: It seems a sharing of cultures makes for good music!
DK: Fuck yeah!

A: In an era of music sharing on-line, the idea of a band being from a specific country is becoming less and less important. Don Kristobal is part of an international urban reggae genre, but in what ways is Don Kristobal Colombian?
DK: No matter how “foreign” the music you play, it always shows the environment it has come from. For example, you listen to The Refugee All Stars of Sierra Leona, and you get a feeling of their suffering and joy through their reggae and calypso music.

A: So how does environment of Medellin influence Don Kristobal?
DK: Our environement is the daily struggle of monotony! Hahaha! No seriously, the content of our lyrics it varies a lot, from love and happiness, to war and the reality of struggle and strife. We have a song called, Guerra de inocentes, (Inocent’s war), it’s about the kids that go out to the hills of Colombia to fight somebody else’s war. Yet, for the most part our songs fit to the consciousness of almost anyplace in the world.

A: Where do you see the future of reggae?
DK: Well, there’s the hip hop stuff called dancehall, and ragamuffin, there’s some other reggae that has a lot of jazz, funk, soul, more pop, more commercial, and there’s the reggae roots, that is more loyal to the island. So reggae will always keep its original shape, but it is changing with new energies and influences.

A: So then what do you think of the name “reggae” being used in “reggaeton” even though the genres are drastically different and promote very different lifestyles and lyrics?

DK: Well it surely has more in common with dancehall and ragga music then reggae. HAHAHAHA

A: So there are no reggaeton remixes of Don Kristobal songs in the works?
DK: Actually, that might be a good idea, thanks!

A: Any final words for our readers?
DK: Enjoy Colombia. Keep it real!

You can become a fan of DK at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Donkristobal/32721217792
Or listen to a few songs at: http://www.myspace.com/donkristobalreggae
Stay tuned for postings for their May shows…