German sound system creates history at Global Sound Clash - Selector says he spent lots of money preparing for showdown

Mattia Ruebenstruck, the man whose Warrior Sound International won the 2019 edition of Reggae Sumfest’s Global Sound Clash title, believes he has successfully carved his name in dancehall’s history.

The German sound beat out two Jamaicans, a Canadian and a Japanese en route to lifting one of sound clash’s biggest prize at the Pier One Complex in Montego Bay, St James, on Thursday night.

“I have been preparing for months and months and months and spent money upon money to prepare for this clash,” said an elated Ruebenstruck, after collecting his trophy.

Ruebenstruck said that he does weekly juggling and invests the proceeds from those events into his sound system business.

“Having this trophy in my hand as the winner of the Reggae Sumfest Global Sound Clash is almost unreal, is the biggest and best thing that has ever happened to me in my 15 years in music.”

This year’s sound clash featured sound systems and selectors Yard Beat from Japan, the Canada World Clash champions King Turbo, Germany’s Warrior Sound and Jamaica’s Ricky Sound Trooper and Pink Panther.

Warrior Sound outclassed Jamaica’s Pink Panther in the 10-song dub-for-dub face-off. The other Jamaican in the contest, Sound Trooper, was the first to be eliminated.

“I knew I had the songs to win, but coming up against seasoned professionals like Ricky Trooper and Pink Panther, I knew it would not be easy,” said Ruebenstruck. “I am now a part of dancehall’s history and it makes me very happy and proud.”