Oakland-based Beats Antique takes an old-fashioned approach to the cutting edge. Their expansive, genre-defying sound incorporates dub, Middle Eastern folk, hip-hop, Gypsy ballads and a plethora of other styles from all corners of the globe.

[Note: Beats Antique will be playing the MadeLoud stage at the Monolith festival this year]. Drawing together the talents of multi-instrumentalist David Satori, DJ Sidecar Tommy and world-renowned belly dancer Zoe Jakes, the trio has developed a passionate following amongst fans of electronica, world music and indie rock. Satori recently took the time to speak to MadeLoud about the band’s unclassifiable sound and the surprising resurgence of belly dance.

Yours is a mighty tough style to put into words. What do you tell people when they ask what kind of music you play?

We use lots of different words, like electro-acoustic, Gypsy, breakbeat, Underground Circus Glitch, Brass Band Dubstep...we span many genres and keep trying to push boundaries. I’d imagine an act as elaborate as yours has a pretty interesting origin story. How did you get into this style of music, and what brought the band together?

We were brought together when Zoe Jakes was approached by Miles Copeland from I.R.S. records (who signed The Police, R.E.M., etc.) to make a belly dance album. Zoe is part of The Bellydance Superstars dance company; Miles is the manager and owner. So she asked Sidecar Tommy and myself to help produce an album. It all started around making albums, which was exciting for us since we were mostly touring live musicians up ‘til that point.

Your stage show is obviously very visual, what with the belly dancing, the slideshows and such. How do you translate that kind of energy onto an album?

For us it’s been more about how to translate our albums into a live show. We have just started to develop improvisations and tracks that leave a lot of room for growth. For instance, we just released a free MLK/MJ mash-up in honor of Michael Jackson's passing, available here. This track came from us mashing up different tracks together and playing around with different samples [during live sets]. I think more tracks are developing this way because were gigging a lot more.

Your show must generate some pretty enthusiastic crowd response. Any especially notable audience experiences?

Well, we have been known to have spontaneous horseback rides while delirious old-timers take over the controls and cause mayhem for a bit. But besides that, it's smooth sailing.

Judging by online reactions, you’ve developed a strong following in the belly dancing community. Could you see Beats Antique being part of a revival for the genre?

I believe belly dance has been getting more and more popular over the past 10 years. Zoe Jakes has had a big influence with the tribal belly dance scene and I think Beats Antique has helped inspire new dancers to come to the art form. Some dancers have come up to us and said that they started dancing because they were inspired by our music. So if we can help give dancers that extra push, then it seems in a way we are helping grow the belly dance scene.

What's the best venue you've ever played for your style of music?

We've been fortunate enough to play some beautiful venues. Recently we played The Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England. We've also played the Fillmore and Great American theaters in San Francisco and The Bowery Ballroom in New York City on tour with Bassnectar last fall.

Any other acts in the Monolith lineup you’re particularly excited to see perform?

We're excited to catch our friends the Glitch Mob do their thing, along with Girl Talk. Mars Volta is always intense. We Were Promised Jetpacks has a cool name, but I've never heard them.