Vindata Talks ‘No Service,’ Black History Month And His New Sound

Branden Ratcliff, best known behind the decks as Vindata, is renowned for his distinct style and his roots in R&B and gospel music. His classic sound and latest style is best seen on “No Service.”

The track fuses garage and Amapiano sounds while also boasting rap, groovy tempos, bouncy basslines, slivering synths and more. Indeed, “No Service” sets the tone for Ratcliff’s new creative direction as he carries on the Vindata project alone.

In 2021, he embarked on a solo endeavor to continue as Vindata as he’s leaned into a new soundscape of groovier and funkier styles.

Last year, he graced the stages of festivals such as Ubbi Dubbi and Splash House while also headlining at venues including Bar Standard in Denver and Flash Club Room in Washington, D.C. In addition, he opened for DJ Hanzel (Dillion Francis) at Brooklyn’s Elsewhere venue.

Here, Ratcliff shares with Forbes the inspiration behind “No Service,” why Black History Month is important to him, finding his roots in the continent of Africa and more.

Kocay: Can you describe your sound in three words?

Branden Ratcliff: “Soulful, emotional and feel good.”

Kocay: What was the inspiration behind “No Service”?

Ratcliff: “I wanted to explore some other genres that I typically don’t do too much [of when] working. From the production side, it was more about being influenced by what’s going on in the Amapiano scene as well as the garage scene and house—taking some risks there and infusing those different genres. Then lyrically, working with Ozer, we wanted to explore this whole escapism sort of idea: being kind of cut off and in your own world for a minute, but still being fun.”

Kocay: Can you talk about why Black History Month is important to you?

Ratcliff: “It’s always been important to me because, obviously who I am as a Black man, celebrating and cherishing all of the hard work and sacrifices that our ancestors and our forefathers came to provide us with all the opportunity that we have today. I think we need to celebrate this more than just February. This goes beyond just one month. It’s part of American history in general. It’s a time to reflect and cherish those moments, so it’s always been important for me.”

Kocay: What do you think the industry could do to be more inclusive?

Ratcliff: “Obviously sharing, appreciating and supporting playing Black artists that are in the scene. I think there are a lot of people that have tremendous talent and they can go very far, as long as we look at them as true artists and not some sort of novelty or anything like that. We don’t need to like play the whole tokenism card, but we definitely need to recognize the people that are making huge waves in the dance scene. Share that music, support it and be there for them.”

Kocay: Who are some Black artists that inspire you?

Ratcliff: “There’s a ton like DJ Total Eclipse, Kaytranada, Green Velvet, UNiiQU3, HoneyLuv, Life on Planets, Prom Night…I can’t even remember [because] there are so many. That’s kind of part of the point: there’s a lot out there and I think more people need to hear them.”

Kocay: What can white people do to be better allies?

Ratcliff: “I think it’s looking at minorities the same way that they would look at white artists that are making music. I think the whole thing with dance music, if we’re speaking in dance music in general, I think white people shouldn’t look at people as visitors in this space. Especially when it comes to house and techno, which were created by the Black community. People in a large part of mainstream dance music sometimes don’t look at those people as part of the community, even though they’re the founders. I think recognizing that and supporting all different types of music and not looking at people in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable is all about inclusivity. It always started with inclusivity, and we need to be aware of that at all times.”

Kocay: What do you think is the future of Black dance music in America?

Ratcliff: “I can’t see the future for it, but I definitely think there is a wave of more Black people getting back into dance music and recognizing their roots in dance music. I think there was a bit of a separation, but over the years, I definitely see a resurgence of dance music being reintroduced to the Black community in a bigger and more profound way than it was before.”

Kocay: What’s your favorite song you’ve made and what was happening in the studio when you made it?

Ratcliff: “Probably ‘All I Really Need’ is my favorite song because it was the most natural thing—it kind of came out of nowhere. I was experimenting with different sounds and meshing them all together. That’s how the Vindata sound came the be. Working with Kenzie May was awesome, and she laid one of the best vocal performances and songwriting that I’ve heard, even today. I think that song was a hugely pivotal moment in the Vindata project. I like to think of that song as probably my favorite one. That was way back in 2014. There are other songs that I really like, but that song stands out in my head.”

Kocay: Where do you think your sound is going?

Ratcliff: “Dance floor friendly, more club-friendly and a little bit more energy. I would say more influenced by the continent of Africa. I’m very much more connected with what’s going on musically in Africa right now.”

Kocay: Is there something that made you get more into music that’s going on in Africa? Was there a catalyst?

Ratcliff: “Over the last few years, I wanted to really connect more with my roots. At the same time, there are a lot of people that are making very great creative music out there. I’m between the Amapiano scene, the Afrobeat scene and the Afrohouse scene—I love it. I’ve been listening to a lot of that lately and it’s something that I feel some sort of connection to. As African Americans, we tend to have this disconnect sometimes because of slavery. If you can find a way to try to reconnect yourself to the motherland, it’s a blessing. I’m trying to do that through music.”

Kocay: Where are your roots in Africa? Where in the continent are you from?

Ratcliff: “I don’t know. The thing about slavery is all of our ethnicity, all of our cultures were erased and completely cut off from that. So it’s difficult for a lot of African Americans to try to retrace all that. You can take DNA tests, and I’ve taken some stuff and it’ll show you around where it might be, but I don’t know how accurate that can be. Besides, it still doesn’t teach you enough about the culture that comes with it. It’s a little difficult for many people in my shoes. It’s still good that we’re still being welcomed with open arms by people in Africa that want to reconnect and share this culture that was forgotten or erased.”

Kocay: If you could go back in time to when you first started making music and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

Ratcliff: “Just be different and perseverance goes a long way.”