HEARTICAL HIFI OUTERNATIONAL. Bio


The project started in 2002 when Derek Heartical began to draw up the plans
for what was to be Victoria’s first Dub Reggae sound, dedicated to
forwarding a ‘Sound System culture’ in Australia. It was self funded on
a shoestring budget and so took many years until it was ready for play
for the first time in 2006.
Now consisting of custom built audio equipment, a number of speakers and amps etc, Heartical HiFi boasts the ability to deliver the music like no other. At the heart of the system a special type of pre-amp is used, built by the UK’s legendary soundman Jah Tubbys. This enables the sound system to be played live, and by
using using extended EQ control, echo, reverb and special effects this
all gives Heartical HiFi its unique sound. Heartical HiFi’s live shows
deliver the music in fine style, forwarding only quality selections in
conscious reggae and dubwise from vintage classics to latest releases,
and exclusive specials - all with the anticipation of a mighty bass
line drop!

The Heartical HiFi crew: Derek Heartical, Cassawarrior, Boover Banton.

Derek Heartical grew up in Liverpool Uk and became interested in the music
through discovering a pirate radio station called Toxteth Community
Radio that played mostly Soul, RnB, Jazz and Reggae during the mid to
late 80’s. A friend introduced him to veteran reggae singer Roy Cousins
(The royals) who ran a record shop called Cousins Cove in Picton Rd at
the time. It was visits to this shop that helped nurture his growing
appreciation of reggae music, and after attending London’s Notting Hill
Carnival and experiencing Jah Shaka dance sessions in Finsbury Park,
Derek was enlightened to the soundsystem culture of black Britain and
would travel near and far to hear the music. A decade later he gave
DJing a try playing records at the Zanzibar Club in Liverpool and
within the underground party scene. In 2001 Derek migrated to Australia
and continues to be based in Melbourne where he has played numerous
gigs under the name DJ Uptight at many of Melbourne’s top music venues.
He has been billed alongside various international artists including
Dub Syndicate with Lloyd Parks, Lee Scratch Perry, Mad Professor, Sly
And Robbie, Mykal Rose, Big Youth, Third World, Iration Steppas, Lucky
Dube, Luciano, Mikey General, Horace Andy and Bushman to name a few. In
2002 he began to build the Heartical HiFi sound in which today he
devotes much of his energy. In 2004 Derek became involved with
community radio where he presents Break The Chain formally the
Heartical Show on PBS106.7FM.

Boover Banton caught the sound system bug at the early age of 10 years old. Skipping his Friday night boys brigade meetings to attend the legendary Canterbury Sessions in Birmingham UK where in 1972 Quaker City Soundsystem used to host the dance. These where the days when sound system style toasting was emerging with the likes of U Roy and I Roy. Two years later Boover and his family moved to London. A good friend of the family was rock steady singer Roy Shirley who owned Third World records shop in Stoke
Newington and the young Boover Banton could be heard toasting to the
riddims being played in the shop. Determined to make his name on the
sound system circuit he would occasionally touch the mic for Warrior
HiFi. Another two years passed and the family moved to Cardiff and this
is where Boover’s reputation as a toaster grew momentum and would see
him travelling to Bristol, Gloucester and Manchester with his own sound
Lion Heart. Later Boover returned to London and made his way up the MC
league busting the mic for Intrepid Rebel before gracing the stage with
Gemi Magic one of the UK’s biggest sounds at the time. Nowadays Boover
Banton lives in Melbourne where he chats on the mic with Heartical HiFi
Outernational.

Cassawarrior grew up in Gisborne on the east coast of the north island in New Zealand and made his move to Melbourne in 2001 to pursue his musical interests. In 2006 he got involved with Heartical HiFi as a box man. Soon later he was given the opportunity become a selector on the sound and was then given his name in all due respect for his Maori background where music runs deep in the blood. A composer and musician in his own right he is in demand within the local
music scene, and his latest venture sees him locking down the bass
grooves for Ethio jazz group The Black Jesus Experience. He can also be
seen DJing at many different venues around town. ..