Zumba
Deeply addicted to bass, Zumba has developed his artistic lexicon through participation in the tribal dance community. A rooted connection to the Earth has been another focus and inspiration to all his artistic projects. This is especially interesting as Zumba is a digital artist, thus this deep ecological connection creates and interesting fusion between the organic and the electronic.
As an artist, Zumba’s main focus is on sound and music. However, Zumba also enjoys Photography, improvising with video, installation and spatial design. Zumba has performed in festivals, forests, film studios, clubs and art galleries throughout Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, San Francisco, Nevada, Taiwan and Switzerland. Zumba has performed alongside many of the best producers and dj’s within the global electronic movement: Bassnecter, Banco de Gaia, State of Bengal, Shpongle, Vibrasphere, Adham Shaikh, Bluetech, Solar Fields, The Orb, Jonah Sharp of Space Time Continuum, Deadbeat.
Zumba plays with sound either by DJing OR by creating his own music. In the live setting, Zumba creates his own sound; sometimes uptempo dub n’ bass, and sometimes downtempo ethno-breakbeat dub depending on the event and the vibe. Part of the uniqueness of Zumba’s live set is the improvisational approach to LIVE performances, Zumba reworks, remixes and jams each show out so that it is original and reflects the mood of the moment. In the studio, Zumba uses a combination of samplers, drum machines, synthesizers and computers to compose original and dynamic sounds and songs. As a DJ Zumba plays a selection of dub, breakbeat, downtempo psychedelia, or minimal techno depending on the show and what is most appropriate. Zumba was a member of the electronic jam band Telefunk Soundsystem for over 5 years. Zumba composed 4 original songs for the film Twelve by Lester Alfonso.
Zumba plays with images by taking a lot of digital imprints both in urban and natural surroundings. Often finding small details that attract his eye. These images stills, and video, are often altered using a computer and then sometimes incorporated as part of a live visual mixing environment. Often these image mixing experiments are also collaborative with other visual artists, namely Peter Mettler, Siren Sativa, and others in the Toronto VJ community.
Zumba has coordinated events and developed spatial installations for over 10 years. Often, these projects have involved collective participation into large scale projects and festivals. Some of the collectives Zumba has worked with are Sumkidz, Zero to One/Blue Dot, and the Om Reunion Project. Others projects are smaller more personal art projects that have been shared with audiences at festivals such as Burning Man and the Om Festival.
Zumba explores connection and community through education as well. He enjoys facilitating interesting workshops for children, youth, and adults -introducing them to sustainable technology and DIY art and media. In addition, Zumba loves to travel around in Alice Watermelon Lurch, the biodiesel bus with a solar powered sound system spreading good vibes and teaching about renewable energy, and ways that each person can affect the world around them. Presentation and workshops have been done in schools, festivals. museums, and in gardens in Toronto and around the World. Lastly, Zumba is an elementary school teacher, and enjoys working with people of all ages!
