THE ORIGINS OF SOUND SYsTEM CULTURE

Sound System culture emerged in the late 1940s/early 1950s in its home of Kingston, Jamaica. A sound Systems is a super-amplified mobile system that can be set up in any location, with a specific name and manned by a team of people who each have a valuable role, all coming together to blast music. 

Sound Systems were designed to be big, loud and bass-heavy but also mobile. The curators of the systems’ key goal was to be loud enough to drown out any competition in the neighbourhood; birthing what we now know as ‘Culture Clash’. 

To get specific; sound systems feature speakers, generators, amplifiers, mic’s and turntables all controlled by a mixer. It was common to these set ups rigged up on the roadsides providing a place for people to dance, connect and celebrate within their community. 

’Tom The Great Sebastian’ is rumoured to be the first well-know sound system. It was owned by a hardware store worker named Tom Wong who made the blueprint for the culture as we know it today. 

It took a village for this operation to be a success. From the drivers transporting equipment from location to location in the back of vans, to the MC’s, technicians (who make sure nothing goes wrong) and the ‘box boys’ who help carry and build the speaker set up. 

With Mr Wongs influence, more people started creating their own sound systems which created a natural reaction of competition, causing the birth of the musical sound clash. This informal rivalry would see different Sound Systems take turns to play their best records. It was then up to the crowd to choose a winner based on their musical mixes. Sound Clash remains an important part of reggae culture today! 

During the 1950s & 60s, migration from the Commonwealth countries began to take place in the UK. Many Caribbean people found British pubs and clubs a hostile environment, and main stream radio stations didn’t play their music. This forced West Indian communities to create their own social spaces. 

The underground scene of Sound System parties was born and Sound Systems were introduced to Notting Hill Carnival in 1973 which platformed Sound Systems from London’s underground scene to nationwide popularity. 

Today, the likes of Saxon Sounds, Channel One and Rampage Sound continue to champion the culture and keep the art of Sound Systems alive.