SKIP&DIE, the sensational new genre-blending band formed by South African vocalist & visual artist Catarina Aimée Dahms (aka Cata.Pirata) and Dutch musician & producer Jori Collignon, have released their debut album on Crammed Discs, in October 2012.

"Riots in the Jungle" was written by Cata.Pirata and Jori while they travelled through South Africa’s Soweto, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Gugulethu, collaborating along the way with some of SA’s most inspiring music makers on the rise. The album portrays their experience of blazing sun, dusty roads, township shacks, cockroaches, skulls, bones and lovebirds. It contains songs in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, Spanish and Portuguese.

United by their love for Tropical and Global Bass music, hip hop, electronica and a broad spectrum of sounds from all over the planet, Catarina and Jori started writing songs and playing shows together in 2010. Catarina was born and raised in South Africa, and started moving around as a teenager, following her social activist filmmaker parents. She's lived in the Azores, the Netherlands, Ibiza and later also in Argentina and in the UK (where she completed her studies in visual and performance arts), learning to speak several new languages along the way. She then settled in Amsterdam, where she developed multiple creative activities, working as a visual artist, an editor-in-chief (for youth-literature mag Spunk), curator… until her passion for music eventually prevailed: she dived headlong into songwriting & performing and started developing her own unique style.

As for Jori, he started out in music as a kid, learning to play jazz standards on his dad's electric piano every morning before going to school… He switched to electronics after being inspired by The Beastie Boys, DJ Shadow, Daft Punk and many more, and  honed his skills as a musician playing with successful Dutch bands such as C-Mon & Kypski and Nobody Beats The Drum (of which he's still a member). Over the years, he's developed into an exceptionally gifted arranger and producer.

After an initial string of explosive shows and the release of a limited-edition single on a small Dutch label, garnering SKIP&DIE a devoted following, the pair set out to record a full-length album. Catarina – who has never lost touch with her homeland, where she often makes extended stays –  wanted to write and record basic tracks in South Africa. After extensive research, she reached out to a series of young, up-and-coming musicians she wished to collaborate with: rappers, rockers, electronic and tradional artists. SKIP&DIE soon embarked on an road trip in the regions of Capetown, Johannesburg & more, spending a couple of days with each of those collaborators, on their own turf, in order to write/record a track with them.

Catarina and Jori describe this adventure as "a magical experience" which lasted for two months, during which they met and worked with young South African peers such as vocalist Gazelle (with whom they share a common love for intertwining politics and dance music), hip hop crew Driemanskap, rappers Emza & Magebz, experimental rock musician (and BLK JKS collaborator) João Orecchia, the Season Marimba Stars & more.

Initial press quotes

SKIP&DIE make a bolshy good time carnival ruckus thats a bit like a less moany MIA. New single, 'Love Jihad', chucks in klezmer clarinet, all sorts of crazy bass and a clutch of hiccupping vocal stutters that hit the spot nice as ice cream on a blazing sunday
SupaJams - UK

A very own and unique sound that is fresh, urban but also in some way very traditional. Definitely a band that is worth the hype which will probably arise soon.
Nothing But Hope And Passion - DE 

‘Love Jihad’ opens akin to walking through Lower East Side on a summer afternoon with field recordings of birds hiding in the background of duetting clarinets. The mood is quickly ramped up with chopped vocals, carnival weight drums and a wonky synth line sounding like a peak time sound clash between Sinden and Diplo. The pace is relentless with a maximal assault of ideas and sounds creating a thick sonic wall for  Cata’s confident vocals to stand upon. It’s rowdy yet never brash with its mix of world club and political lyrics.
Beats and Beyond.com

Skip & Die's performance is intensely cool: South African rap, filthy beats and a lot of bass. The prominent front woman Cata.Pirata explodes on stage and spits fire. The audience and admirers certainly appreciate every bit. MIA better watch out! 
3Voor12 - NL