Just A Band’s Triumphant Return
Just a Band is back.
Since 2016 when the band announced their hiatus, fans’ hope of a comeback burned eternal, as reflected by eager comments on the band’s official social media pages over the years.
The group might have been on hiatus but its members were not. Individually, the quartet have continued to make massive contributions to the artscene. Blinky Bill is now a globally recognised solo music act thanks to a consistent output that has resulted in a production and performance maverick. Mbithi continues to collect accolades for his filmmaking, the latest being a screening of his short film BABA at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Jim Chuchu has been championing creatives’ rights and non-discrimination through the lauded HEVA Fund and The Nest Collective which he both co-founded. The elusive Dan Muli is ostensibly still a sought after animator and graphic novelist.
These varying pursuits put together with the experiences accumulated now unite to give us a refreshed band. Still beloved and already legendary, this comeback is not merely a nostalgic trip but rather the beginning of yet another iconic cultural shift by a group that has honed its skill and seen enough stories to tell. The band is credited with many firsts in Kenya including their visionary pioneering of alternative sounds, challenging stereotypes around kenyan music and exporting their novel experimentation despite resistance faced at home.
The band has set the pace to this new era with its first two releases, ‘Save my soul’ and ‘Watu’. ‘Save my soul’ was the first release. An understated ballad layered on swelling harmonies and a delicate piano-led band backing, it provided a soft but compelling landing. This is a rendition of the song originally released in 2009. In a stripped down, mellowed version of the track, Jim Chuchu’s familiar and dearly missed vocals take center-stage with the help of a humanizing finger-snap. Unlike the original, this new version adds layers of depth to the messaging with the addition of raw, heartfelt verses which at first follow the seeking, questioning model prompting the listener to ponder on their own situations.
‘How do we stand still/ when the whole world is falling apart?
Will there be room for me/ who will remain to sing these songs?’
Released on the verge of Kenya’s general elections which was a time of anxiety and uncertainty, ‘Save My Soul was like a prayer and reassurance rolled into one. The final verse is an honest response to the questions posed throughout the song, with a momentous melody variation delivered in swahili metaphors providing a memorable closing.
‘Save my soul’ exemplifies Just a Band’s place in Kenya’s consciousness as a beacon of hope: an echo from the future of what we could be. Coincidentally, the release came with the Band’s announcement that part of their discography that has been absent on streaming platforms; the album ‘82’ as well as the specials ‘Boxing Day’ and ‘Winning in Life’, would soon be back online.
The latest single, 'Watu', picks up the pace and lightens the mood in the bandville. Inspired by the late 90s - early 2000s pop culture era, 'Watu' pays homage to that defining moment in history when the kenyan soundscape was a wild canvas of youthful influences from every corner of the country. As the band describes, it was ‘that time when last we could dance with wild abandon’. True to their word, 'Watu' is a percussive and synth-heavy production that will instantly have you bobbing your head along to its magnetic beat. It’s instant feel-good music with tinges of childhood flashbacks. Blink Bill’s gruffy bass register maintains a commanding presence oscillating between playful vocal ornamentation and a rapid, sheng’-packed lyric. The chorus is a simple chanted ‘Watu’, an alluring call to action for the audience to join in the simple, happy time.
'Watu' manages to have one dance, reminisce and laugh at one go. Beneath its catchy beat is a sleuth of culture-rich references packaged in funny, outlandish quips some of which are further added to the sound effects. This combination of thoughtful, relatable writing and inventive implementation has been a hallmark of the band from the very beginning and has been absent from majority of party songs on the scene which seem bereft of topical inspiration.
The band received a well deserved rapturous reception. In a time when the alt space is growing more than ever before, they are bound to enjoy a widened fanbase stemming from their already existing ardent fans. These are exciting times, and we can hardly wait for more.
Get Watu and Save my soul.
