Bjorn Burke, Staff Reporter

Armed with a fiery summer mixtape, dynamic sibling duo Fatalic Sounds is back with a vengeance following a lull.

Fatalic Sounds comprises brothers Kangwa and Mumba Sambo. Having recently graduated from the University of the West Indies, Mona, they are rolling full steam ahead with their first love, selecting.

Growth

"Our growth has, overall, been getting better as we hone our trade. Not just practice, but also siding with other DJs and mic men," Mumba told The STAR.

"We really kind of just go out, listen to people play and me and Kangwa would critique the set throughout the night. Then, after leaving, we would bring up a transition or something that we thought was dope. We would also look at how people respond to music in different scenarios, such as in a club versus an open-air venue. We've taken what we've learned from listening to everyone else and we're using it to tackle our flaws.

Conceived

The sound system was conceived at Wolmer's Boys' School eight years ago as a result of their natural affinity for music. While in second form, Mumba was given the gift of an assortment of music and the computer application VirtualDJ from a neighbour. Mumba experimented with the app and made mixes every evening after school, then played them for his brother. It was then Fatalic Sounds was unofficially formed. Younger brother Kangwa was inspired and the two quickly became competitors.

It was their destiny to be entertainers to be reckoned with. Even then, the 'Sambros', as friends affectionately call them, knew they had launched what promised to be one of Jamaica's fastest-rising sound systems originating from Kingston. The return of Fatalic Sounds promises high hopes of bringing its musical dexterity to the world.

The brothers, who had a reputation for being bookworms, were quite an unlikely duo to venture into the disc jockey world, but they pressed on. While living in Harbour View, St Andrew, Mumba met and worked closely with another DJ in the area who played at a popular radio station at the time.

As the duo got older and honed their skills, friends started booking them to play at their parties, and started to show off their skills at numerous high school events. While attending high school, Mumba played for disc jock ZJ Wah Wah at high school socials and eventually branched out on his own gigs.

Their love for music and the art of DJing led them to discover and experiment with numerous genres outside of what they consider to be 'common' in Jamaica.

"Major Lazer is a collective we really look up to. They've taken aspects of Jamaican music and culture and fused it with EDM to make it something that connects with the global market and that's really something we aim to become in the near future," Kangwa told THE STAR.

Now attempting to enter the international market, Fatalic Sounds has earned the reputation as the sound system with global appeal with edgy dancehall, rap and hip-hop fusion remixes. Fatalic has played at numerous nightclubs in the Corporate Area and around the island.

Mumba sought to distinguish Fatalic from the rest.

Love of music

"What sets us apart is the fact that we study music, we love music. We go to parties not only as patrons, but students. We study patrons' reactions, we study what the DJ could have done right, what he did right, and what he did wrong. We then get to the lab and work on our craft, and incorporate it into our mixes. We also talk to our friends in seeing what it is that they like, as information is the currency of the world," he said.

Bacchanal mixtape

Meanwhile, following the success of their Bacchanal-themed mixtape, 'Waistline Workout (Bacchanal Body)', the new mixtape '1 UP' has been gaining traction. It boasts r an hour's worth of dancehall and hip-hop hits that are sure to listeners raving all summer long.

For bookings, to keep abreast of the latest Fatalic Sounds happenings or to download their latest mixtapes, visit www.fatalicsounds.com or www.facebook.com/FatalicSounds.