South Africa's psychedelic dub-rockers BLK JKS (pronounced Black Jacks) have been signed by Secretly Canadian, an American-based music label, earlier this month.
The band played its first U.S. shows this year, receiving critical acclaim from The New York Times, Billboard, The Guardian, Dazed and Confused and The Fader. The band is set to build on their preliminary foreign success with the release of their Mystery EP on the 10th of March 2009.
The BLK JKS arrived in America in February, a visit that was prompted by their introduction to music producer Diplo, while he was on tour in South Africa. Shortly after arriving in the country the JKS were displayed on the cover of Fader magazine. From here the band managed some amazing feats for a South African group; they played sets at South by Southwest (one of America’s biggest music festivals) and enjoyed a recording session at New York's legendary Electric Lady Studios, which resulted in the Mystery EP. The EP record was produced by Brandon Curtis, of the Secret Machines, who offered his services as a fan of the band.
Since their arrival in the US, the JKS have been making waves with international music critics. The New York Times described their sound as "quick-fingered” and “multilayered”. Jaimie Hodgson, from The Observer, argued that, “you'd be hard pushed to find a better example of the post-apartheid nation's new cultural momentum and boundary-breaking sensibility.” And Fader’s Edwin "Stats" Houghton described the band as follows: “There’s a certain afropunk unity to their style that makes them seem like a movement unto themselves, yet even more striking is how strong a presence each member has, pulling away from that center in his own direction.”
Secretly Canadian is an independent music label in the USA, featuring some of the nation’s top indie bands on their release list. Animal Collective, Antony and the Johnsons, Jens Lekman, Scout Niblett and The War on Drugs are just a few of the groups that call the label home.
The BLK JKS consists of childhood friends Linda and Mpumi, who grew up on the same block in Johannesburg's East Rand, where they taught themselves guitar. They initially formed the band in 2000 with early BLK JKS shows and recordings garnering attention. The band's current line-up took shape with the addition of bassist Molefi and drummer Tshepang, both from Soweto. Their line-up complete, the band embarked on a schedule of heavy touring throughout the country, earning them a loyal national following.
As a preview for the fans, Mystery EP will be available for free digital download from eMusic, and Other Music Digital, from now through to the 5th of January. In addition a documentary about the band is currently showing on www.digforfire.tv.
Find out more about the BLK JKS at www.blkjks.com
