Calamalka

Vancouver-based veteran skateboarder Michael Campitelli came to dub the way most skate kids would, through the Bad Brains. The sometimes hardcore, sometimes reggae group's dub tracks led Campitelli to the Jamaican dub of King Tubby, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Scientist, and Lee "Scratch" Perry. Already a fan of hip-hop, Campitelli saw the relationship between rap and dub. Both were electronic and studio-based music and both were to play a role in influencing his own dub outfit, Calamalka. Taking a break from his drumming and bass playing in the Vancouver bands Kinnie Starr, Lux, and Nefro, Campitelli worked on his own and released the Calamalka EP in 2000. Good reviews and positive feedback from like-minded producers (Ryan Moore of Twilight Circus Sound System, Stefan Betke of Pole, and Omar Celemetson of Supersoul) lead to a dialog with the Plug Research label, who expressed interest in adding Calamalka to their roster. Work on the album was underway when Campitelli was contacted by director Nathaniel Geary, who was looking for a soundtrack to his film On the Corner. Campitelli finished the soundtrack, finished his album, and released Shredders Dub in September of 2004.