DAMIAN ROBINSON – Producer Composer

Damian is the creative force behind WBSS.

Having spent his former years performing in various bands while working at The Sydney Opera House, Damian rose through the ranks and ended up sound designing numerous productions for Opera Australia, The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and various other one off events. Greatly influenced by new leaps in music technology, and inspired by the obvious new creative possibilities that that technology made available, he’s been dabbling with electronic music since childhood. From those early days, chopping up drum loops and vocals on his Akai sampler in his bedroom, he has become one of Australia’s most highly regarded composers and producers.

In the mid 90’s, drawn together by a mutual love of HipHop, Ragga and Dub styles Damian collaborated with well known Sydney DJ Dave Carnovale and various likeminded artists including vocalists Linda Janssen and Kye Heta and created what we now know as “Wicked Beat Sound System”. From their formative Jam nights at Sydneys now defunct Bently Bar WBSS became one of Australia’s leading electronica outfits.

Apart from his duties with WBSS, Damian’s unique production skills are in high demand. He has worked on remixes for the likes of Paul Kelly, Leonardo’s Bride, Abi Tucker, Renee Geyer, Yothu Yindi, Christine Anu, Darren Hayes, Iva Davies to name but a few.

Since 2015 Damian has concentrated on large festival events. He has  composed music for numerous Vivid productions including light projections onto the SOH sails and Harbour bridge pilons along with various NYE events in and around Sydney harbour. He has also composed  and designed music for The Parrtima Festival at Alice springs, an indigenous sound and light show projecting onto the MacDonald ranges hosted on Arrernte land.

Damian currently lives with his family on a property in NSW where they run cattle and indulges in a passion for growing winter Truffles.

LINDA JANSSEN – Singer songwriter

Linda Janssen is a singer/songwriter based in Sydney, Australia. She performs with various bands including WBSS. Live work started with Teddys Punky Reggae Jamdown at the Hopetoun in Surry Hills, followed by playing and touring with Sydneys Legendary funk outfit, Bellydance.

Her co-writing spans approx 10 years and includes: One Blood (Bellydance), Babylon Mixed Business (Bellydance) and Don’t Forget To Smile ( Coffee Protection Society) as well as Music from the Core (WBSS), Inna Styles (WBSS), New Soul Breaks (WBSS) and Hydromajestik (WBSS).

Linda recently independently released a song Alive, which earned critical acclaim via the Funk Corporation remix. Her influences are many and varied, from Bobby Gentry, Burt Bacharach, Elvis, The Undisputed Truth, Gladys Knight & Rufus with Chaka Khan, thru to Kruder & Dorfmeister etc.. Says Linda: Music is either good or bad and I like it good.

Previous members of WBSS include

MC Kye and Crucial D aka Dave Carnovale.