Heatwave are the first and last word in Dancehall and Bashment in the UK. Regulars on Rinse FM, the DJ collective host some the biggest club nights with the biggest beats. Here, member Gabriel talks to Ctrl.Alt.Shifter Kieran Yates about refugees, young Jamaican artists, and why it's important to support talent coming out of the developing world...

What are you doing at the moment?
We're doing this weekly thing at The Big Chill House in Kings Cross. The last year we've been doing club nights, and we released something with Soul Jam records. Now we're just gearing up to do Summer festivals; The Big Chill, The Secret Garden, Glade festival, one in Amsterdam, one in Croatia, Boomtown festival... it's going to be a really busy time.

You went to Bristol University, which famously has a big music scene from the 90s with the likes of Tricky and Massive Attack, did that inspire you to want to be a DJ?
Yeh, definitely, that's why I went to university in Bristol - I loved Tricky, Portishead, Massive Attack, Roni Size. I wanted to go somewhere that was musically thriving, and it was a really interesting time.

What are you listening to at the moment?
I don't really listen to music in the mainstream that much, basically I spend all my time listening to new music coming out of Jamaica. I love Dancehall, Bashment, and seeing the influence that it has had on the UK urban sound, in terms of basslines and vocal samples.

Tell us about the Crossworld FC football team stuff you have done with refugees...
We played at a football club in south London in May for young people from refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds that are separated from their families. You know the thing is, the way that refugees are treated is so bad, in places like Kent, they pretty much have prisons where refugees from war torn countries are detained, with no access to medical care. They are treated like sub humans with no basic human rights.

What do you think needs to be done to aid this problem?
I just think to understand not to treat people like they're criminals - but as people who have the same rights as everyone else; access to medical care and freedom from incarceration.

You're also working with young people in Jamaica aren't you?
Yeh, we're working on bringing young Jamaican artists together with UK producers, who wouldn't necessarily have a chance to be heard. Just because you're from London, you have more of an opportunity regardless of talent, where as in places like Jamaica you're denied that recognition as an artist, because of your social climate. There's been a recent surge of interest in world dance music, from places like Angola, which has taken off in Britain, but the artists aren't able to take advantage of that. They have no visa, no promotional network, and it seems wrong and unfair. So to be able to promote people with that sort of talent is great.
 
 

As a DJ, you're around a lot of young people - do you think that's the reason you have a vested interest in working with young Jamaican artists and refugees? Because you're aware of the contrast?
I hadn't really thought about it like that but yes, I see what you're saying, there is a stark contrast. But really, it's nice to see anyone fulfil their potential. Especially when you've come from some of the most harrowing conditions in the world. I mean, Jamaica is rife with corruption, with massive political and social problems, but it has so much amazing innovation and creativity on a small island, and it doesn't necessarily get that recognition. If your music is amazing and interesting and creative, then you should have a chance and an opportunity, which is what we're trying to do.

Photo: Of Gabriel and Masta G from www.myspace.com/heatwavelondon