Last year we featured Blk Jks on our site and blog and caught up with them for 5 minutes after the release of the first album ‘After Robots’, which received international recognition.
Today described by the Rolling Stones Magazine as ‘Africa’s Best New Band’, Blk Jks had the chance to rock with CNN, as CNN put it!! Here is a snippet of what they shared with CNN….
Drummer Tshepang Ramoba told CNN, “It is important to know where you live, where you come from, your history, what’s happening in the world.”
Guitarist Mpumi Mcata told CNN, “In the beginning people were like, ‘oh, they are black, they play rock …’
“South Africa is still segregated, so you have a situation where they put us in front of a white audience and the white audience is confused, and you put us in front of a black audience and the black audience is confused. So it’s not an easy crossover.”
But Mcata said the band’s music is ultimately traditional, with their rock sound based around “ancient rhythms.”
Ramoba agreed that South African traditions are at the heart of the band’s music. “The last song on the album is called Tselane, a story we used to be told when we were young before we would go to bed,” he said.
“Those fables connect to how we’re living now,” added Mcata.
“In Soweto, if they don’t like you, they don’t like you. They’ll throw bottles,” said Ramoba.
“So in Soweto, the fact that they liked us is a huge thing. When we started playing everyone just stayed and danced. It was the best.”
Click here for the live interview!!
Blk Jks will be performing at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, make sure to check them out if you are in Cape Town.
Continue checking our blog for updates on what going on with the Blk Jks
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