My sound is shaped by my dual British-Mauritian heritage. Like many artists with mixed South Asian roots, I’ve been inspired by the way desi sounds fuse with UKG and dance music. But I’ve always wanted to carve out a space that feels authentically Mauritian/Indian Ocean orientated, weaving those influences into my tracks as a way of bridging the gap and introducing the Indian Ocean islands to the UKG world. Makalapo specifically samples an extract from an old documentary I stumbled across on YouTube, explaining how the nearly extinct Makalapo harp is played (an instrument native to the Chagos Islands). With this track, I wanted to stay true to the speed garage sound with a heavy reece bass and 4x4 UKG drum pattern but instead of leaning on a typical amen break for the breakdown, I layered in a ravanne, the traditional drum of Mauritius and sega music. Overall, my aim is to create tracks and edits that merge Creole, Francophone, and South Asian sounds as a homage to Mauritius’ cultural melting pot, while working within UKG and bassline frameworks. My love for this music comes from wanting to hear more Creole and Francophone influences represented in the speed garage, desi and UKG scene.

Mimiii - Makalapo

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