SOJA getting irie in a city near you!

[Kevin Rouhan]

If somehow you had not heard of SOJA (Soldiers of Jah Army) before 2013, you definitely have now. Playing 101 shows in 17 different countries (from Poland to Peru and New Zealand to Germany), 14 music festivals,not to mention accompanying The Dave Matthews Band for some South American, and USA dates. With Dave spoiler alerting a new SOJA album set to release sometime in 2014!

Soja is made up of a group of life long friends, with vocalist and guitar player Jacob Hemphill and bassist Bobby Lee meeting in first grade. With remaining members Patrick O’Shea, Ryan “Bird” Berty, and Ken Brownell, to follow shortly after. Inspirationally adding once guitar tech for the band Trevor Young to the line up. And who can forget about the horns! Hellman Escorcia and Rafael Rodriguez are wailing from start to finish.

Drawing on a broad range of influences from Bob Dylan to the Wu Tang Clan, SOJA is a sound and message that goes far beyond rhythmic noise. Just listen to Waking Up, one time and you’re whole world view will be flipped upside down. “My church is blue and green from space I mean”, could come close to summing up (what I think) is SOJA’s main lyrical theme. They sing of an existence of a world without borders and of course, “No bad mind, no hatred, no envy and no grudge”(Faith Works).

With their newest album Strength to Survive speaking loudly to the current state of the World. Expressing a mass feeling of a duality that exists between World Leaders and the general populous. With very few people making profound, and implicating decisions that affect so many. But in the end “Truth and right is yours to control now”(Mentality). One of the most profound songs on the album is Everything Changes. You realize that we all live on Earth and are on the same team. The problems in the Middle East and across the World, are not in some far away place. “But it’s not happening over here”. The rolls could easily be reversed. It is over here over there.

If you have never been to a SOJA show before, take a boat, train, bus, bike, cab, or walk because they are an experience like no other. They are much more than a reggae band. With a unique sound that blends reggae, rock, hip-hop, and folk all into one. The bass line is always walking, the message simple, and the vibes good.

http://sojamusic.com/tour
http://worldwidereggae.wordpress.com/