Public Address, or PA, is the technical term used to describe the set of speakers, amplifiers, microphones, and related equipment assembled to communicate with an audience. The Sound System culture originated in Jamaica as a way to bring new music — often produced in the United States — to local communities.
Vans were outfitted with all the necessary gear to throw street parties, making it possible for the sound to reach everyone. This practice gave rise to communities — not only among those who gathered around the speakers to dance and enjoy the music, but also among those who took interest in building and operating these systems, sometimes even competing with other groups. Music remains one of the most beautiful and ancient forms of communication: it conveys emotions, messages, ideas, and even techniques — all in a uniquely powerful way.
This zine presents visual explorations of the systems’ aesthetic, combining raw elements with organic shapes and fictional environments.
