Black Bandcamp

Black Bandcamp are a recently formed group of volunteers (who are not affiliated with the music platform) to provide an easy way to filter and sort over 2,000 Black producers, artists and labels for Bandcamp Friday. The goal of their work is to support Black artists, producers and labels through Bandcamp.

We reached out to Black Bandcamp, as part of Jazz FM Voices and Black History Month, to help explain a bit more about themselves, outline the positive work which they're doing as well as ask them to pick some of their favourite releases for this Bandcamp Friday.

About Black Bandcamp - who are they?

NIKS: "I’m NIKS, and I currently spearhead the recently formed Black Bandcamp. I’m a south-east London leftfield crate digger via Bath, Noods radio resident and Rinse FM regular."

"I run a community radio station and cultural space in south-east London and regularly sit on panels exploring different socio-political phenomena within the underground electronic scene."

"I currently overlook all aspects of Black Bandcamp including all of our collaborations, projects as well as the overall team."

KMRU: "I’m Kamaru, Nairobi based sound artist and electronic music producer. Been involved on community based projects in the electronic music scene in Nairobi and East Africa; giving music production workshops and curation of residencies within the scene. For Black Bandcamp, I overlook different projects , collaborations and curation within the African continent, and larger communities beyond."

T-N: "I'm Tanya Akinola aka T-N, a Melbourne based DJ, freelance journalist and music industry professional primarily working with Lobster Distribution and now Black Bandcamp. I overlook the editorial content that runs on Black Bandcamp and also assist the team with any collaborations and projects we've got going on."

baby k: "I’m Kay, also known as baby k. I’m a London born promoter, and I DJ and write occasionally, as well as organise for Black Bandcamp. My main contributions on that front currently involve helping Tanya commission new content for the editorial series, assisting on our various collaborations, working on pulling together and strengthening our foundations as a platform, but I’m really looking forward to taking Black Bandcamp into the real world - once that becomes a bit more feasible."

What is Black Bandcamp trying to achieve?

NIKS: "For me, the overall and primary aim is to showcase as many Black artists, producers and Black owned labels - primarily from the underground electronic sphere. The need to showcase Black music folk from the electronic dance scene, derives from this particular group being overlooked, dismissed and underpaid in an industry form which they began. Beyond this however, on a personal note, I’m convicted on ensuring and achieving intersectional diversity with Black Bandcamp. What type of Black folk are we showcasing? Is it primarily Black folk from ‘western’ societies (Europe and the US), if so, then there is still a lot of work to be done. Ensuring that we are providing a platform for the Black diaspora as a whole is the end goal."

KMRU: "I strongly believe we are all equal, and for me Black Bandcamp is a space to represent Black artists & POCs within the larger electronic music scene, where everybody can be recognized for their works. A platform which aims to showcase and appreciate works made by Black people from different parts of the world."

T-N: "To put it simply, I want authentic recognition and inclusion of Black folk within the music industry - especially within dance music where I predominantly work, and where there's seemingly been a collective amnesia that the music originated in Black and queer communities. I hope Black Bandcamp can serve as a platform to elevate and celebrate the voices and stories of Black people in music all over the globe."

baby k: "With Black Bandcamp, I want to foster spaces for Black people first interacting with electronic music to instantly feel at home. What this looks like for me is twofold: collective recognition of the Black and queer roots of dance music in the minds and actions of its many participants, but also current proliferation of ownership and agency of Black folk in the scene. I want for those Black people coming into dance music to see more familiar faces in the room - whether that be on dancefloors, in radio stations, DJ booths, record stores, at festivals, or online. Fostering those communities all around the world will ensure that the whole dance music world doesn’t lose out on that lost talent and passion, as we have been for so long."

Black Bandcamp's 'Bandcamp Friday' picks

Legendary by Santana Mongoley picked by NIKS

"I was brought up in a household where the Congolese Hi-Life was appreciated, and this 2020 album by Santana Mongoley reminds me why my parents appreciated this sound so highly. Mongoley’s album hones in on the rumba and soukous sounds traditional to Congo, and the former lead guitarist for the late great Papa Wemba, covers an array of poignant subject matters including global warming and corrupt politicians, whilst creating those beautiful sounds on his guitar, that forever give me goosebumps."

Tinariwen by Amadjar picked by KMRU

There's something with Malian music that's intensely soulful and blissful. This album by the Tuareg musicians from the Sahara Desert feels like driving through the desert in the night as the cold breeze hits your face. There's so much peace listening to this record and other Malian music, also recommend : Djitoumou by Idrissa Soumaoro.

Nigeria 70 by No Wahala: Highlife, Afro​-​Funk & Juju 1973​-​1987 picked by T-N

"I’m recommending this one because I recently bought a physical copy for my dad for Father’s Day. Listening to it fills me with warm and fuzzy feelings because it reminds me a lot of what he would play around the house growing up as well as what would be playing at the hall parties we’d go to that my dad would often DJ at. It’s just a beautiful, vibrant mix of 70s/80s highlife, afrobeat, soul, funk and jazz. "

Elemental/Intrinsic Value by K15 picked by baby K

"A firm favourite in the Black Bandcamp office, K15’s music originally grabbed my attention via one of my hip-hop head friends, showing its wide appeal. This EP in particular marries that London jazz sensibility with the electronic method; but taking it in as a whole, the soulfulness on display is the real talking point. This record always puts me at peace, whatever the trouble at hand. A real gem, even amongst such a fantastic discography as K15’s.:

How to follow Black Bandcamp:

You can keep up-to-date with Black Bandcamp via their website, Instagram or Twitter.

You can follow NIKS @niksdelanancy here

You can follow KMRU @kamaru here

You can follow T-N @tanyaakinola here

You can follow baby k @_kafk here

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