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Blacktro
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Blacktro Blacktro is black new wave, the sound of the early 1980s when electronics were introduced in pop. Blacktro is black electro – blacktro.. Characteristics Blacktro music is characterized by sweaty bass lines, soulful vocals, funky synths, guitars and heavy electronic beats. Blacktro's retro roots give it a familiar ring while still being very much today's music through the use of new experimental sounds. The futuristic sounds and beats combined with melodic retro influences of Funk and Soul make Blacktro very dancable. The Blacktro style is best described as "retro-futuro". History At the start of the 1980’s, the prevailing mood among youngsters in the ‘industrialized West’ was not up. Economic decline, established industries becoming obsolete, the Cold War in full swing, conservative politicians – like Ronald Regan (USA) and Margaret Thatcher (UK) – in the driver’s seat, students trained for the dole: the optimism of the 1960s and ‘70s had evaporated. Life was grim. What future? This sense of doom was expressed by British post-punk bands like Joy Division and The Cure. The attitude: party like there’s no tomorrow. ‘The world’s falling to pieces, grab as much fun while you can.’ Representing this attitude in particular were white and frequently well-trained youngsters. In the early 1980’s, new wave appeared to be a predominantly white middle class affair. Retro-Futuro But looks deceive, for a new spirit was spreading among the black music culture as well. New wave’s arsenal of electronic tools (analogue synthesizers, drum computers, primitive samplers) and attitude (party like there’s no tomorrow) were working their charm in the black underground community. Prince was doing funk on synths, his track Controversy (recorded in 1981) is the archetypical Blacktro track. Obviously inspired by the likes of James Brown and George Clinton, though updated in sound and driven by a different attitude: not idealism, but individualism. In Harlem, New York black youngsters from the projects started fooling around with turntables and using them like instruments – the start of hip hop. This new music was partly inspired by Jamaica’s dj culture of sound systems, dubplates and toasting, the prototype of rapping. In Western Europe new wave bands started to use synthesizers to produce tracks for the dancefloor, the start of electro. In their earliest incarnations, hip hop and electro were the same type of music, produced in communities that were divide by a socio-economic rift: hip hop black, electro white. Add them up and mix them - Blacktro is the result. The roots of Blacktro is the rich history of 20th century Afro-American music: rhythm & blues, soul, funk. Music that is build on the groove, music for the dancefloor, party music. That’s the retro part of Blacktro. However, Blacktro is produced with electronic gear and references the future. That’s its futuro element. Blacktro is retro-futuristic. It’s science fiction music for the dancefloor. Black new wave. Parties In 2006 a couple of Blacktro parties where organized in the Sugarfactory in Amsterdam. The first party was emphesized on Blacktro-retro music, followed up by the second party were Blacktro-futuro was the central theme of the night. The third party , had the goal to let the DJ's give their own interpretation of the Blacktro style. DJ's The music genre Blacktro is supported by many DJ's like Felix da Housecat, who just published a new album called "Virgo Blaktro" , which is dedicated to the Blacktro style. Other DJ's who are playing Blacktro are categorized by Retro and Futuro style. Blacktro-retro: * Afrika-Bambaata * Arabian Prince * Cybotron * Kraftwerk * Prince * Egyptian lover * LA Dream Team * The Jonzun Crew * Arthur Baker * Hashim Man * Parrish * The Rocksteady Crew * Cameo * Jazzy Jay * Mantronix * Whodini * Captain Rock * Kurtis Blow * Midnight Star * Unknown DJ Blacktro-futuro: * 2020Soundsystem * Comtron * Jimmy Edgar * Stijn * AUX88 * Detroit Grand Pubahs * Jordan Dare * Reeno * Ben Mono * Discokaine * Lotterboys * The Trickaz * Captain Funk * DMX Krew * Chreomeo * Felix da Housecat * Seymour Bits 
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