Item details
Item ID
WM2-038a
Title Kalja Riddim Klan (KRK) - Here We Come
Description Kalja Riddim Klan (KRK) is a name taken from Bislama – the lingua franca of Vanuatu – which means the tribe of cultural rhythms. This is the essence of KRK. They are true exponents of world music forming a rhythmic base on traditional instruments of the Melanesian archipelago such as the tamtam slit-gong drum, nalaklak ankle-shakers, bamboo and pan-pipe flutes, and other percussion tools. They blend this with Brazilian pandeiro and tamborim and djembe and doumbek then layer their sound with violin, jew’s harp and other flutes from Tunisia, Morocco and Spain. Unique vocal arrangements round off this eclectic yet hauntingly simple and folky sound. The end result is an intoxicating dreamlike experience that leaves listeners skin tingling, eyes wide, and often speechless.

Having been influenced by the collaborations between George Telek and David Bridie, the leader of the band, Mars Melto, formerly of XX Squad, changed musical directions in 2005 when he brought together a group of young men and introduced them to violinist, Monika Stern, a Polish ethnomusicologist. Mars and Monika had been working together on some traditional rhythms and their sessions turned into full-blown jams. After a while they realised that they could actually make some mellifluous music out of the Melanesian rhythms and the violin.

Mars has always been an outstanding singer and songwriter and this new format freed his creativity and took his composing to another level. His arrangements, his compositions, and his innovation are unparalleled in Vanuatu. For three years he worked closely with junior vocalist, Steeve Williams, allowing him every opportunity to develop his own skills. Now, Steeve brings his toasting and raga style vocals to add another dimension to this global phenomenon. Steeve’s energy and stage presence have allowed Mars the opportunity to focus on harnessing the diverse rhythmic elements into a simple and solid rootsy sound.

KRK are the only group actually fusing instruments, sounds, languages and cultures in Vanutau, and consequently they are the most sought after band in the region. Vocalist and lead guitarist, Mars, is also the only ni-Vanuatu to publish a novel, he writes plays, is a story-teller, journalist, and visionary. Under his guidance the band has toured all over Vanuatu. They have toured through New Caledonia several times. They have peformed on the main stage at the legendary Fest’Napuan (Vanuatu’s five-day music festival attracting crowds of 50,000) every year since 2006. They have performed in Fiji and the Solomon Islands.

KRK are committed to producing music that highlights the value of traditional and customary life in Melanesia and the role that traditional values can play in creating a positive future. The critically acclaimed debut KRK CD “Long Taem Bifo” (2007) blends indigenous instruments with modern technology, incorporating a diverse range of languages, and exploring issues like land tenure and alienation, inter-generational conflict, customary practices, and cultural heritage. The album heralds a coming of age for Vanuatu music. It spent months in Radio Australia’s top ten chart.

KRK is:
Mars - lead vocals/rhythm guitar/flutes
Steeve - vocals
Richard - vocals
Monika - violin
James - lead guitar
Darren – bass
Ben - drums
Adriano – percussion/panpipe/backing vocals
Berry - percussion/backing vocals
Yannick - bamboo flute/percussion
Joel - turanambe
Origination date
Origination date free form
Archive link https://catalog.paradisec.org.au/repository/WM2/038a
URL
Collector
David Bridie
Countries
Language as given
Subject language(s)
Content language(s)
Dialect
Region / village Oceania
Originating university University of Sydney
Operator Jodie Kell
Data Categories
Data Types
Discourse type
Roles
DOI 10.26278/6zr2-9169
Cite as David Bridie (collector). Kalja Riddim Klan (KRK) - Here We Come. MPEG/VND.WAV. WM2-038a at catalog.paradisec.org.au. https://dx.doi.org/10.26278/6zr2-9169
Content Files (30)
Filename Type File size Duration File access
WM2-038a-001.mp3 audio/mpeg 3.08 MB 00:03:21.639
WM2-038a-001.wav audio/vnd.wav 111 MB 00:03:21.612
WM2-038a-002.mp3 audio/mpeg 3.83 MB 00:04:10.644
WM2-038a-002.wav audio/vnd.wav 138 MB 00:04:10.592
WM2-038a-003.mp3 audio/mpeg 3.87 MB 00:04:13.439
WM2-038a-003.wav audio/vnd.wav 139 MB 00:04:13.388
WM2-038a-004.mp3 audio/mpeg 3.55 MB 00:03:52.723
WM2-038a-004.wav audio/vnd.wav 128 MB 00:03:52.673
WM2-038a-005.mp3 audio/mpeg 2.37 MB 00:02:35.36
WM2-038a-005.wav audio/vnd.wav 85.2 MB 00:02:34.984
WM2-038a-006.mp3 audio/mpeg 2.22 MB 00:02:25.187
WM2-038a-006.wav audio/vnd.wav 79.7 MB 00:02:25.135
WM2-038a-007.mp3 audio/mpeg 2.93 MB 00:03:12.26
WM2-038a-007.wav audio/vnd.wav 105 MB 00:03:12.0
WM2-038a-008.mp3 audio/mpeg 2.8 MB 00:03:03.718
WM2-038a-008.wav audio/vnd.wav 101 MB 00:03:03.693
WM2-038a-009.mp3 audio/mpeg 3.69 MB 00:04:01.502
WM2-038a-009.wav audio/vnd.wav 133 MB 00:04:01.449
WM2-038a-010.mp3 audio/mpeg 3.48 MB 00:03:47.709
WM2-038a-010.wav audio/vnd.wav 125 MB 00:03:47.657
WM2-038a-011.mp3 audio/mpeg 4 MB 00:04:22.269
WM2-038a-011.wav audio/vnd.wav 144 MB 00:04:22.216
WM2-038a-012.mp3 audio/mpeg 3.59 MB 00:03:55.102
WM2-038a-012.wav audio/vnd.wav 129 MB 00:03:55.50
WM2-038a-013.mp3 audio/mpeg 1.92 MB 00:02:06.13
25 files -- 1.42 GB -- --

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Collection Information
Collection ID WM2
Collection title Wantok Musik Foundation (WMF) - Music Label Recordings of Oceania Region.
Description The Wantok Musik Foundation is an Australian-based not-for-profit Music Label that records, releases and promotes culturally infused music from Indigenous Australia, Melanesia and Oceania. The brand “Wantok Musik” is a Melanesian term that reflects talking with a common language “one talk” although in the diverse cultures of the region that may have different sounds, different beats, different instruments, the music we all share is common and singing about the same things such as our history, our lore, our education, our hurts, our joys, our injustices, our struggles, our lives, our communities and our stories. This Collection preserves rich musical talents and artists of the Oceania region where the Wantok Musik Label through album recordings and collaborative projects has fostered cross-cultural initiatives and exchange. Through music and language within the diverse cultures of the region, we hear, share and learn about entertainers, performers and artistic and creative expressions where over the years, the Wantok Musik label has recorded, released and promoted of music from First Nation Australia, Melanesia and Oceania. Wantok Musik promotes local and international profile of First Nation and world music groups based in the region by supporting and providing greater economic opportunity for artists, long-term career sustainability at the same time by managing the various activities addresses social issues with creative and culturally focused approaches.
Countries To view related information on a country, click its name
Languages To view related information on a language, click its name
Access Information
Edit access Mihka Chee
David Bridie
View/Download access Mihka Chee
David Bridie
Data access conditions Closed (subject to the access condition details)
Data access narrative
Metadata
RO-Crate Metadata
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