Chris Dymond, sound system selector for Code Red, says although his team did not emerge victorious at the Reggae Sumfest’s Global Sound Clash, they are grateful for the experience.

“It was a challenge for us. We grew up inna Jamaica; we ah play music fi our country, [and] how we supposed to play the music, we cannot. A lot of things, overall, Jamaican people kinda fascinated when dem see any other race [or] nation play our music, especially if the person have a likkle knowledge of it and look like dem know weh dem ah do. Dem always fascinated by that, so it mek it a likkle harder for us. If we seh something or play the same exact thing is as if we saying it or we playing it nuh really have that effect…Big up the winner still ’cause it’s not a man weh nuh study di culture and know weh him ah do, but for us as Jamaicans the task a little bit harder,” he told the Jamaica Observer‘s Splash.

The Magnum Tonic Wine-sponsored event saw both local and international sound systems battle for the coveted title of the 2023 Global Sound Clash champion.

Jamaica’s Bass Odyssey, Code Red, and Magnum All-Star Sound Clash winner, Echo One battled against South Sudan’s Dynamq and Japan’s Jah Works. But, as the dust settled in the early hours of the morning, the South Sudanese-based sound came out victorious, walking away with a trophy and bragging rights.

Chris Dymond added that Code Red put its best foot forward, but it was just their unlucky night.

“To be honest, I don’t think there’s anything that we could have done better. The people enjoyed our segment. We represented from round one all the way down, but the people dem did just enthused and fascinated with the African and di bredda put on a performance and him just ketch the people dem an’ it work…” he explained.

Meanwhile, Code Red is gearing up to go on tour in Europe and Asia.

“The tour officially begins on the 4th of August. The first show will be in Germany. We have two shows in Germany then we have another sound clash in Germany on the 11th of August; we’ll be playing against a sound from Switzerland. We have shows in Italy, Germany, we have Rototom Festival in Spain, we’ll be going to Sweden. Then, we leave there on the 25th and head to Japan to start a tour. We’ll be in Japan for a week doing like six shows,” Chris Dymond said.

Code Red started in 2001 with Russell “ZJ Rush” Alexander, Stephen “Supa Hype” Davis, and Edward “Master Lee” Collins. Devin “Blade” Chambers joined the team shortly after. Its current members are Brown, Bogle, Alexander, Collins and Jim “Sigar” Parker.