Fresh from hitting Toddla T’s soundsystem at Notting Hill Carnival, west London collective Black Saint have today released a new dub mix of their track ‘Could You Love Me?’ on TMTR. The original mix of the track has already passed 1.2 million views at YouTube.
An inventive fusion of house, R&B, trap and hip-hop, the original mix of ‘Could You Love Me?’ personifies Black Saint’s own sub-genre of house music. Always focused on bass and beats, the new dub mix naturally pushes the original’s rhythmic pulse to new heights.
In addition to its dancefloor-orientated sound which can also encompass elements of garage, jungle and reggae, his spirit is grounded in an uplifting ethos which promotes a message of integrity, truth, beauty and positivity: unity over narcissism and humanity over materialism.
The choice of the Black Saint moniker also reflects the collective’s philosophy. As they explain: “Black represents the origin of our main music influences and in many ways reflects today’s modern culture, especially in regard to music. Thanks to the likes of Bob Marley and Soul II Soul, barriers in class, race, colour and creed have been broken down as we’ve all united in music.”
As for the Saint aspect? “That represents the desire for perfection in others and within ourselves. Even though that seems impossible, we’re driven by the sense that it’s attainable and we’re united as we strive towards it. Saints are also detached from self-seeking interests and can make a profound difference in the lives of others – and that’s something we’d like to achieve with our music.”
Inspired by the musical influences of London’s second generation Caribbean/West Indian diaspora, Black Saint grew up surrounded by the rare groove and soul that soundtracked long summer days at the Notting Hill Carnival, as well as the pirate radio stations at the forefront of the early garage and jungle scenes. Now, however, is their time to influence the world around them.
