JabbaWockeeZ branch out from dance with ‘Robot Remains’
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Having conquered the dance world by winning the first season of “America’s Best Dance Crew,” touring with New Kids on the Block, and headlining their third stint of their own Las Vegas show, MUS.I.C. (muse-eye-see), JabbaWockeeZ are making the logical leap with their next project: releasing a single.
With their producing partners the Bangerz, the dance group has released “Robot Remains” on iTunes. Many in the crew had already dabbled in music production, but they found symbiotic artistic souls in the Bangerz, and decided to go all out.
The Bangerz “are like brothers to us,” says Phil “Swaggerboy” Tayag of JabbaWockeeZ. “We were listening to them before we even hooked up to do music. Their intricate beats and sounds vibe well with the way we move.”
As for the Bangerz, they’d also known of the JabbaWockeeZ, and saw a kindred interpretation of what both groups are calling “the sight and sound movement.”
“They’re the visual component of the sound that we create. If our sound really looked like something, it would look like the JabbaWockeeZ,” says Goldenchylde, a member of the Bangerz.
“With the JabbaWockeeZ being trendsetters in the world of dance, they were really the only ones who got what we were trying to do with our first album -- building a visual representation of our music,” added Cutso, another member of the Bangerz. “They really got the message from us. And not only got the message, but responded.”
That response resulted in numerous collaborations for “ABDC,” the tour, the Vegas show, and now the single. “Robot Remains” -- unveiled during the Champions for Charity episode of “America’s Best Dance Crew” (see clip below) -- is the culmination of their interaction, and it, like the groups who created it, was approached from many angles.
“It’s like this robot that went to war, and with wires still hanging out and stuff, it still keeps on fighting,” says Tayag. “Really ... well, we all have different interpretations of what it means, but in the end, it all comes together.”
“You’re going to hear a mixture of musicality and production tricks, a style the Bangerz have been known for for years. The JabbaWockeeZ, though, have made our sound noticeable and recognizable to the world,” says the Bangerz’ Nick Ngo.
They may not be the first dance crew and production team to collaborate on a track -- “ABDC” Season Two favorites Fanny Pak just released an EP on iTunes as well -- but with the success they’ve had and the popularity they enjoy, who knows how far this release could go? Replay, another member of the Bangerz, knows it’s just a starting point.
“I feel like the song ‘Robot Remains’ is sticking our flag in the Earth as the JabbaWockeeZ and the Bangerz, telling everybody about this new movement.”
If you can’t wait, you can download the mix tape here.
-- Jevon Phillips
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