BLU: Where did Sonic 71 start?
Sonic 71: Sonic 71 started in Wire’s basement located in the DC Metro Area with a thought; we wanted to hear quality-sounding music; we strongly believe that nothing beats a quality product. We wanted to play quality music, provide quality sound, you know the saying you get what you paid for, and so we invested in quality equipment. We hold ourselves to such a high level, that we wanted to enter the arena properly or we would not have entered at all. The logo explains it all, the Black Bird a.k.a. SR-71 is one of the few machines that can cause a Sonic BOOM. The BOOM is reached under the perfect measures of sound, performance, and speed. The BOOM can come at any time when our sound is playing and when you hear it you know that Sonic 71 APLAY! It is the perfect blend of music.

BLU: Who does Sonic 71 consist of and what does each person do?
Sonic 71: The foundation consists of Wire, Jason, Ticka, Prince, Digi, and Gee, but there are also members in New York, Atlanta, Jamaica, and of course Trinidad that have been down since day one. Every member basically has a specific job that connects like a right angle and when all the angles connect a perfect unit is formed, sort of like the Sonic BOOM…Sonic 71 APLAY!

BLU: In 2007 the sound took it to another level, what is coming in 2008?
Sonic 71: In 2008, we are looking to set our foot firmly in the West Indian and American communities’ party scene, not just DC. We will be doing more community events, collaborating more with positive folks like BLU. We also have a few surprises for 2008 that I can not let out now, but I will use the following example…we are like a plane taxing to our runway, and we are about to take off, and when we take off the DC scene will never be the same, that we say! Sonic 71 APLAY!

BLU: I see you guys play out a lot out of state and country. Where can we expect you this year?
Sonic 71: Well since the Black Bird can travel at the speed of a sound, LOL, every time you hear the BOOM you know Sonic 71 APLAY! LOL

BLU: So Mixa Chris is now officially part of Sonic 71 now…tell us about that?
Sonic 71: Like most of the selectors in the DC area, we have always held a mutual respect for Chris, I can not tell no lie, the boy knows music and not just reggae music, if he can bring in more dates then welcome onboard, here are your wings…LOL!.

BLU: When are you going to throw your hat in the clash arena?
Sonic 71: Who says we have not already! Have you heard the Boom Tunes and Rub-a-Dub Dubs CD! Gee, get her a copy! LOL Have you listen to the tunes on our page, that is www.myspace.com/sonic71! Honestly though, although our motto is the Big Bad Sound a.k.a. the Monster Sound given to us by the immortal Stone Love, we are not a clash sound. The whole scene knows we have a whole heap of dub plates and they can respond to any request or comment. If a Sound wants to clash the Monster Sound, they have to bring their sound out, because our understanding of a clash dance is not all about who can chat better. Imagine this, you are a selector and you want to clash the Big Bad Sound and your talk have the ladies weak, but you use Sonic 71 mic, your voice comes out of the Monster, you lost already! The quality of Sonic 71 BOOM makes you sound better…LOL. What we want to see is folks rock back and forth, and listen to some good tunes, tunes that make you dance, tunes that make you think, tunes that remember that Sonic 71 APLAY! We come to party not to clash, but just in case a clash presents itself… it is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

BLU: Are they any sounds you would like to play alongside before the year’s end?
Sonic 71: I’m kind of confused by the question, do you mean selectors or SOUNDS, because we have played alongside hundreds of selectors, hundreds of selectors have their fingerprints on the mixer but if you mean SOUNDS we are open to play with any sound and/or selector, ya git me. We are ghetto professionals in the business and since the beginning it has always been about building community, building connections, particularly in DC we need to work together and play together.

BLU: What do you think is missing from DC’s dancehall scene?
Sonic 71: More venues and more musical variety, how many times can you introduce Mavado, you understand!

BLU: What is Sonic 71 contribution to building back our vibes?
Sonic 71: Playing feel good music, playing conscious vibes, you know, the kind of tunes that Mommy and Daddy can dance to, the kind of tunes that kids can Superman to. Most of all we will be collaborating more with promoters and selectors because no one sound can do it alone!

BLU: Why do you think more promoters don’t use you guys?
Sonic 71: From our understanding the lost of venues like B&G and King Solomon hurt everyone from the promoters to the selectors to the patrons to the Monster Sound. We believe most promoters want to use Sonic 71, but have been restricted. As wicked a selector Jason is…most promoters want the whole package which makes it tougher. But once Jason is signed on an event, the promoter is guarantee professionalism from our end.

BLU: Anything you would like to add?
Sonic 71: Well first and foremost all praises are given to the Almighty! We would like to special thanks to BLU for the interview and opportunities. Big up the Sonic 71 ladies! Big up the Mighty Emperor Family for the guidance; Raw Deal for the inspirations; Stone Love, Afrique, Massive B, Reggae Vibrations, Jam Rock, and Swatch International for leading the way and all the other sounds that play conscious music for the masses. Big up the artists for believing in us, there is a message in the music. Big up all the promoters, the market is tough and risky, but when you provide a quality event, it gets easier. Big up all the selectors that have their fingerprints on the mixer, continue to play music, continue to entertain. Well, you know the slogan, Sonic 71 APLAY! Look out for us to drop more music on the scene, we have two CDs on the road now, one called The World Is Yours, which is a mix of culture and lovers rock tunes and another one called Sunday Brunch with Wire, which is soulful mix of music, I play this one every Sunday while I tend to house.....timeless