Checkpoint 303
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Checkpoint 303 is a non-profit musical collective from the emerging Arabic and Middle-eastern underground electronica scene. The activist musical project was launched by Tunisian SC Mocha and Palestinian SC Yosh in 2004 and has secured an avant-garde position on the Arabic underground music scene (see also tunisian underground music and palestinian underground music). The non-commercial aspect of this musical project is a fundamental dimension of the band's work since it allows for creative freedom and the liberty to express activist opinions. Checkpoint 303's compositions are inspired by the ongoing conflict in the Middle-east and the suffering it causes to the civilian populations throughout the region.
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[edit] Origin
The name Checkpoint 303 was inspired by the Bethlehem Checkpoint, known as Checkpoint 300 (one of numerous Israeli checkpoints restricting and controlling passage between the Palestinian self-controlled areas and Israel. See also Machsom Watch). A co-founding member of Checkpoint 303 lives and performs field recordings in Bethlehem.
[edit] The Music
CheckPoint 303's arrangements are grounded in electronica and experimental music with a touch of oriental tunes. The compositions are a blend of field recordings, audio samples, oud (the oriental luth) and keys embedded into loops of electronic beats ranging from downtempo, drum'n'bass to breakbeats and minimal techno. Several artists from around the world contribute to CheckPoint 303's compositions, these include Cheikh Julian, Ms K SuShi, MonaLisa, Noise Generator SoM, Melski and Damski.
[edit] Discography and Live Performances
The collective's debut album Checkpoint Tunes will be released by the end of 2007. However, the band also makes its compositions available via a Creative Commons License. Checkpoint 303 live performances also include DJ sets, for example as supporting act for Massive Attack in a series of benefit concerts that took place at the Carling Academy in the UK (February 2007).
[edit] In the Press:
- France Inter: The electronic music project Checkpoint 303 was presented on a french radio show called Et pourtant ça tourne broadcast on France Inter April 27th, 2007. The brief review (in french) can be downloaded as mp3 here: [1]
- Le Monde: Checkpoint 303's music and activism was portrayed in an article published in the french newspaper Le Monde on April 18th 2007. Online version of the article here: [2]
- Le monde diplomatique: An article published in December 2006 in Le Monde Diplomatique (monthly newspaper, 1.4 million readers worldwide) entitled Chanter l’amour, chanter la guerre cites Checkpoint 303 alongside other Palestinian artists such as Kamilya Jubran, Samir Joubran, and the Palestinian hip-hop act DAM. Full article (in French) here: [3]
- La Presse - Montreal, Canada: An article published in February 2007 in La Presse (Canadian newspaper) (a large-circulation French-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) discusses Checkpoint 303's concept and music as well as its February 2007 UK shows with Massive Attack. Full article (in French) here: [4]
- Electronic Intifada: An article published in February 2007 in Electronic Intifada (a non-profit, independent online publication) entitled DJ Revolutions: Spinning Beats for Freedom rewiews Checkpoint 303 innovative musical and militant approach and its performance as opening act for British trip-hop band Massive Attack in February 2007. Full article here: [5]
- The Independent: An article published in February 2007 in The Independent (a UK national daily newspaper with a circulation of 253,737 in November 2006) entitled Massive Attack, Academy, Birmingham rewiews the Massive Attack show in Birmingham on Feb 6th, 2007 and briefly comments on Checkpoint 303 opening act for the show. Full article here: [6]
[edit] External Links to Checkpoint 303
- Official Website: www.checkpoint303.com [7]
- Myspace page: www.myspace.com/checkpoint303 [8]
- Recommendations: Checkpoint 303's music was selected by the websites of Channel 4 (here: [9]) and British Airways (here: [10]) as a suggested example of Tunisian Electronica.
- Reviews: unlikelystories.org [11] and France Inter (listened here [12] or downloaded as mp3 here [13])
- Heard on radio: Checkpoint 303 songs have been aired on numerous FM and online radio stations. To cite but a few examples: Checkpoint 303 was selected to represent Tunisian breakbeat music in a World Cup Special broadcast on The Joint on RDU-FM (RDU 98.5FM) a New Zealand student radio station. Checkpoint 303's music has also been aired on radio channels in various countries ranging from micro-broadcasting alternative stations in the US (e.g. The Peace Train 1610AM [14], in Arkansas), community stations throughout Europe (e.g. Radio Pimienta 100.3 FM [8], Tenerife, Canary Islands, or RCT 99.3 FM [9], Lyon, France), college radio stations (e.g. CHYZ 94.3 FM [15], Quebec, Canada) to private mainstream stations (e.g. Jawhara FM [16], Sousse, Tunisia).
