Steam Down

Name, where are you from?
Steam Down, London.

Describe your style in three words?
Afro, Energetic, Co-creative.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Roy Hargrove RH Factor at Queen Elizabeth Hall, the vibe and energy was just contagious. It's also the first time I saw two drummers play in a large band. That always gets the energy going.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
D’Angelo Voodoo band, the rhythm section is the epitome of hip hop and soul combined. They pioneered a style of playing that was fluid and boom bap at the same time. The second band would be any of Herbie Hancock's bands from the seventies, his music from that period has ridiculous groove.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
There are so many to mention but notable ones would be the broken beat scene which is closely aligned with Jazz re:freshed. The nights, events, producers and musicians were so dope, they pioneered a new sound and the audience was so invested in the movement.

Second would have to be sound system culture, the energy of the dance is always about everyone moving as one, the DJ is the brain of the organism that everyone is an intrinsic part. Also the ingenuity of the engineers that built the sound systems and spent so much time working and crafting a sound to hit your body in just the right places.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
There are too many great people, it's impossible to answer.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
Passing Clouds in Dalston, unfortunately, it’s no longer around but in its time it was a hub of creativity. There was diverse programming and a creative community of people that regularly passed through the space.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
King Tubby. One of the first DIY producers, engineers and technologist.

Steam Down are an artist collective, weekly event and music community hailing from Deptford, SE London. Steam Down's debut EP will be released in Spring 2020.