Female voices are not just an ornament in music—they are a source of inspiration for audiences around the world. Sound System Rendezvous 2 proudly presents an equal number of female and male artists, with women taking a leading role on the lineup. Headliner Hempress Sativa will perform in Croatia for the very first time. Known for her powerful voice and sharp lyrics, the acclaimed reggae artist takes the stage on Friday, April 24 at Boogaloo Club. She will be joined by Paolo Baldini DubFiles and a range of local artists. AmpliFyah Music Crew, with Dr. Obi alongside singers Anja G, Roo T, and Sistah Tena, will also bring their energy to the stage. Representing the female presence behind the decks is Systamatic, who will deliver her selection together with fellow selectors Dubolik, DUBMX, and MMMeniga before and after the live performances.
Hempress Sativa’s first appearance in Croatia has already generated significant excitement. The respected reggae artist says she is aware that she inspires many people—and she embraces that responsibility with pride.
Hempress Sativa: “Naturally as an Artist with exposure, I believe whether I want to be or not .. I am an influence / inspiration to many women, young and old. It is in the music, how I carry self, speak and act. I am aware of that young girls are impressionable especially in this day and age. Regardless of whether i want to accept or not, the fact is that i stand on the world stage means i have an onus, a duty to showcase to women globally that we are not underlings. We have a very powerful presence, a distinct voice necessary to be heard, a beautiful energy necessary to be understood.”
Born Kerida Johnson into a Rastafarian family, Hempress Sativa revealed who has influenced her the most and how much female support means to her. Hempress Sativa: “Throughout my existence theirs always been an inspiring Woman who led by example. The very first woman to ever inspire me is my mother Doris Ray Ricketts, the Queen of my world. I would admire her patience, passion and dedication to her family. She is a beautiful being inside out and I am most grateful to be her child. Growing up my family struggled with poverty, my parents did their best to shield us from the reality! The real star though was my mom. Despite not having a lot she would sacrifice herself to ensure we had what we needed. She worked odd jobs, to support our family, never complained, always eager to fix any problems we’d encounter. I credit her for my writing ability as i would often read her journals- which were mostly spirited poems or prayers. She’s a wordsmith! I credit her for even the way how I dress because I emulated her fashion to the point i would alter her dresses to wear during performance, when i first started out in music.
My sisters are also inspirational women who’ve influenced me while growing up. They have so much compassion, love, kindness and genuine respect for each other and I as well. They were the best part about being in a family. To have people you can relate to, rely on and connect with especially as a youngest girl really helped to shape & mold who I am today.”
Anja Nigović – Anja G, Hana Šeić – Roo T and Tena Starčević – Sistah Tena are active on the music scene as authors, vocalists and instrumentalists in various artistic projects. They have joined forces within AmpliFyah Music Crew.
Anja G: “In this predominantly male world, it is important that the female voice is heard! That’s why the three of us sing together—to make our message louder. Our music carries a very important message, one that speaks about emancipation and equality, and stands against discrimination in all its forms, against aggression and corruption. We need to give strong women space so that their messages can be heard and their work seen. In doing so, we will also make this world a more pleasant place to live.”
Roo T: “Mutual support is something that lifts all of us together, and I would really love for girls/women to feel less afraid to get involved in the things that interest and excite them. I’m sure we all have people we would call our role models—people we watched doing something new, challenging and maybe even controversial, but without giving up. People who inspired us enough to decide to try it ourselves. I think it’s important to take the chance if you love something, because maybe you will be the one to inspire the next person to do the same, and that’s how we build change together!”
Sistah Tena: “Although I believe that the local alternative scene is open and progressive, there are still not enough women in sound system and dub culture. When a woman appears on the microphone, behind the mixing desk, or as the leader of a particular project, it is still perceived as some kind of exception or novelty within the genre. In reality, it should be completely normal, and that’s why it’s important for us to be present and visible. The more female voices there are on the scene, the stronger, more diverse and more authentic it becomes.”
Ivana Matić – Systamatic, besides her selections as a DJ, is also breaking prejudices in the music world through her work as a sound engineer and technician.
Systamatic: “I always find it wonderful to see how many women actively participate in the reggae scene. Whether they are on the microphone, behind the selection, or on the dancefloor in front of the soundsystem, women bring reggae in a special way and always add warmth and atmosphere to the evening. The artists who have been on the scene for a long time, before me, welcomed me with open arms from the very beginning and supported me. As a woman on the scene, I mostly feel safe and confident in what I do. Sometimes it happens that someone has certain prejudices, especially when I work as a technician or sound engineer, because women are still less represented in the audio world. But that is changing every day, and I’m always happy when my work can break such stereotypes and show that love for music and sound has nothing to do with who is standing behind the mixing desk.”
Tickets Sound System Rendezvous vol 2
Pre-sale tickets are avaliable for €25, at the door tickets will cost €30. Tickets in pre-sale are available through online and physical platforms Stereoticket, Entrio and Core event.
