Banx & Ranx On Their Love Affair With Dancehall

Canadian producers/songwriters Banx & Ranx might be thousands of miles away, but their creativity seeps through the works of many Jamaican favorites such as Shenseea and Beenie Man (Henkel Glue), Sean Paul (How We Do It, Mad Love, Bad Love, Calling On Me, Only Fanz), and most recently Demarco and Konshens on Balenciaga.

On an international scale, they are credited for projects by Dua Lipa, BLACKPINK, J Balvin, Ty Dolla $ign, Sia, David Guetta, Ellie Goulding, Diplo, Major Lazer, and Gorillaz.

Since signing with Universal Music Canada earlier this year, Banx & Ranx have proven they are two of the most prolific songwriters and producers in Canada.

The duo, made up of Zacharie “Soké” Raymond and Yannick “KNY Factory” Rastogi, have definitely stamped their name in the music industry as being one of the most sought after to perfect singles or albums—especially when it comes to Jamaican acts. But what keeps them coming back? DancehallMag had a chat with the men where they told all about their fascination—not only with the tiny island nestled between the Americas but its culture and the long-term relationships that they have formed.

Have either of you ever visited Jamaica, if so, when was it and what are your thoughts about its musical culture?

Yes many times! Ocho Rios, Kingston, Ste-Ann, Port Antonio… We always felt connected to Jamaican culture, the people, the music & the food. Yannick is from Guadeloupe where Jamaican music and slang is part of everyday life and Soké’s daughters are half-Jamaican. It’s definitely one of the most interesting cultures in the world.

Jamaicans created their own genre from American R&B, Blues, Rock, Jazz, Calypso etc. From the “invention” of the off-beat guitar skank by mistake (allegedly) to the experimentation with analog effect machines from England… The creativity is top-notch. Adding the concept of soundsystems and patois to the mix, there is nothing like Reggae and Dancehall. It’s important to understand that this island spawned new genres all over the world: Hip Hop, Ska, Punk Rock, Reggaeton, Dembow, Jungle / Drum & Bass, Dubstep to name a few.

You’ve worked with a slew of Jamaican acts, what is the fascination with dancehall/reggae?

Most definitely the vibe, the feeling, the bassline. It’s hard to describe in words. It’s just something that attracts you and locks you in. It’s been a passion from a very young age with artists like Bob Marley, Sizzla, Capleton, Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Buju Banton. The riddim sessions, the sound systems, the dubplates… The rose that grew out of concrete. It’s all very fascinating.

How do you usually get in contact with Jamaican artists? Do you reach out, or is it vice versa?

Throughout the years, we’ve been working mostly with Sean Paul. We got linked up by a mutual friend—Richie who manages Chimney Records. Usually, it’s like that. Someone knows someone. Demarco reached out on Insta and we made a bagga tunes.

Overall, what has the experience been like working with these artists?

It’s always refreshing. The vibes , the rum, the herbs, the food, the dominoes, the entourage… Night sessions are cool as well. We love how improvisation / freestyling is always a big part of the creative process.

Assuming that you keep current with what’s happening on the local music scene, what are your thoughts on the fresh dancehall acts?

It’s the evolution of Dancehall music for sure. The gap between Afrobeat, Afro-Swing and Dancehall is smaller than ever. There’s some cool stuff happening for sure but we both remain big fans of the 90’s/ 2000’s Reggae & Dancehall classics. Big Up to the new generation though, evolution is key. 

How did the Demarco and Konshens track come about? 

Demarco reached out on Instagram and we sent him some riddims. He came back with some fire including Balenciaga. We knew we had to use the song for our next single so we finished it with him and he suggested adding Konshens. Done deal.

How pleased are you at how it has been received by fans?

We love this song and really hope it translates to the rest of the world. 

You played a role on Shenseea’s album “Alpha”, as well as Sean Paul’s “Scorcha. What are your thoughts on both projects?

In our opinion, both projects are some of the best albums from Jamaica in the recent times. They are two extremely talented artists and elite performers. Also, the productions and the collaborators are amazing.

Are you currently working with any other Jamaican artists?

We recently worked with King Cruff from Kingston, now established in Canada. We crafted a blend of Dancehall, Afrobeats and Funk music… Big Vibes!

Can we expect more collaborations with Jamaican artists for 2023?

Absolutely, we’d love to release an ECM (Electro Caribbean Music) EP in the near future. This music is the foundation of Banx & Ranx.

Balenciaga, which was also co-produced by Canadian-Dominican Real Mind, was released on October 27, 2022.