The Dum Dum Project

Fans of speed garage and Indian vocals are equally enthralled by the hypno-groova-matic sounds of this New York-based hybrid. Anyone who has heard Goa trance is familiar with the concept of East-West fusion, but founder/vocalist/producer Sean Dinsmore (DJ Cavo) brought his reggae and rock sensibilities to bear on all Dum Dum Project efforts, ending up with a sound that is far more memorable than Goa. Dinsmore first received renown while fronting the ska band the Toasters and, later, the reggae group Unity 2. When Unity 2 finally disbanded in 1992, Dinsmore spent a couple of years reacquainting himself with psychedelic rock greats from the '60s and '70s — particularly with the Eastern-influenced later Beatles albums. His next foray into the music world was as frontman of Supercuz, a modern rock group with a substantial dose of Eastern sound. Two out of three of the Dum Dum Project's core members (Dinsmore and guitarist/sitarist Jason Goodrow) were in Supercuz. After a stint on RCA that led to EP releases in Europe and Japan (1995), Dinsmore was off on yet another soul- and beat-seeking journey. This one was a physical one. Not surprisingly, he chose India as his destination.

The journey inspired Dinsmore to start his own label, Grooovy Sounds Unlimited, in partnership with musical colleague Jeremy Hurley. Even as he continued to record and perform music for Supercuz, Dinsmore continued to research the idea of an East-West fusion album, and in 1999, he went into the studio with Goodrow and percussionist Phil Painson, not to mention several acclaimed Indian guest artists. Thus was born the Dum Dum Project. The debut album, Desi Vibes, made a splash in the underground electronica scene thanks to its innovative blend of Eastern vocals, Western spoken word, hip-hop, downbeat, and breakbeat. It received lots of spins on radio stations and at prestigious nightclubs in New York and Los Angeles. The song "Air India" became an Ibiza anthem, assuring the group's success on the international stage. Follow-up album Export Quality was released in the summer of 2001. ~ L. Katz, Rovi