?UESTIONS: Dibia$e - SP-303 Master

A prominent figure, well-loved beat maker, producer, SP- 303 master...it goes on! Dibia$e is a true individual, pushing boundaries and experimenting in such a raw and innovative way.

What does making a beat mean to you?

Making a beat is another way of communicating to me. A lot of times people may overlook what I have to say, but when I press play on that beat I can get your attention. Whether it’s at a beat battle, performance or an instrumental album it’s whatever mood I’m in. It’s easier to express myself with the music especially since I’m more a lowkey person in general.

Can you share how your foundations have shaped your love for music?

My foundations started with my grandfather's Jazz collection and my uncle’s soul collection. Also my mother would play a lot of 80’s r&b when I was a kid. So all that was ingrained into my memory. Also playing a lot of Nintendo that music stuck with me as well. 

Growing up in watts especially in the 80’s and 90’s was tough. I had to find things that entertained me constructively very early. Once I got equipment I was consumed with learning that if I wasn’t playing basketball. Plus when I would play beats at the court they used to call me mad scientist jokingly because I was into more underground sounding hip hop. 

What led to making music was probably going to goodlife cafe and Unity . Seeing the  freestyle dance cyphers had me wanting to make beats that hopefully dancers would session to.

To create in the sunlight or in moonlight?

I have no preference now. But more daytime creating I can’t really do the all night cooks up like I did when I was younger.

I can cook up beats pretty much anywhere. Sometimes I’ll make beats at Panera bread or at my daughter’s school in the lunch room while she’s in dance class. Sometimes I cook up at the park with the view of a river out here in Sacramento. That’s the plus of having a portable set up nowadays.

Do you have any wisdom to share in general?

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Starting out with MPC 2000 as my first serious sampler. I kinda had that mindset of hardware only for years. Until I messed with software many years later. Once I combined both worlds together it opened more pathways to creativity more personally.

I know some people go by that saying if it’s not broke don’t fix it mentality when it comes to creating, but I can’t fall in love with one workflow. If I hit a creative block I’ll try a different combo of gear and software and snap out of it. I’m not saying learn a million and one gadgets lol, but I recommend learning one hardware and one software. Don’t worry about the learning curve so much it’s not bad as you think starting out. 

Instagram: @darealdibiase

Facebook: Dibiase

?UESTIONS: Zélia - Narrative Style

A true storyteller, Zélia captures the essence of the unseen and shines the camera on those who are marginalised. Changing the narrative and utilising both the written word and photography, she captures everyday life and the real people within it.

_𝚂𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚍 (𝟶𝟿)

Can you share with us your earliest interest in photography?

My attraction to photography awakened at a very young age, probably around 4 or 5 years old. I loved handling my parents' camera to capture their portraits. Before I turned ten, I  took pleasure in immortalizing the faces of my neighborhood friends and capturing the seasonal transformations of the surrounding nature. At that time, I was already pondering about the passage of time and feared forgetting.

The camera had a kind of magical power for me, that of suspending time, of preserving forever a portion of it. Despite taking a break for a few years, I eventually found my way back to photography with renewed enthusiasm.

𝙻𝚒𝚏𝚎 _

What does the camera mean to you?

While in my childhood, the camera held significant meaning as an object, now it takes a secondary role, primarily serving as a medium to inquire, tell stories, and shed light on overlooked realities and marginalized individuals.

Although still a valuable tool, its worth now lies more in its capacity to stimulate reflection and spark conversations on important subjects, rather than its material aspect.

𝙰𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜

How has being of mixed heritage influenced your approach?

Being of mixed heritage has had a profound impact on my approach to photography and how I capture my subjects. It has made me more sensitive to the complexities of identity and representation, influencing the way I interact with and portray my subjects.

I strive to capture the essence of each individual I photograph, honoring their unique backgrounds. Furthermore, being both a woman and a biracial further motivates me to make an impact and amplify my voice.

𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙿𝙾_ _

How do you like to use language in both written and image form?

I am currently on the verge of concluding a retrospective piece where I aim, in part, to shed light on life narratives within marginalized environments, often overlooked. I adopt a similar stance in my visual work. I would say that the two complement each other but never merge as I use them separately.

My writing is very visual, echoing my photographic art, and often has a melodic, rhythmic quality – sometimes inadvertently poetic. This unintentional poetry adds depth to my storytelling and enhances the emotional impact of my work, at least, I hope.

-- 𝙴𝚜𝚝 𝟷𝟿𝟿𝟺

Images courtesy of Zélia

Instagram: @zelia_25

C*LTURE: Sanlé Sory - Anti Colonial Expressionism

A Burkinabe photographer, living and working in Bobo-Dioulasso. Sanle Sory's photographic journey began in 1960, the same year his country became independent from France as the République de Haute-Volta.

As a young photographer he documented the fast evolution of his own city, he captured the collision between modern life and centuries-old traditions from this culturally rich and rural region. He worked as a reporter, illustrator, an official photographer but most prominently as a studio photographer. It was here that he captured Bobo-Dioulasso's people with his unique wit, energy and passion. His work is captivates anti-colonial expressionism.

https://sorysanle.com