SOJA’s first album was recorded independently with renowned sound engineer Jim Fox. Jacob notes, “Jim told us that he would work with us and so we could afford to make our first record, and when we ran out of money he started making up ‘discounts.’ It was awesome. I asked him why a while back, and he said ‘I didn’t want to see a good thing stop.’ What was even crazier was at the time he wasn’t working with bands that were from the US, just Jamaican artists. Big ones like Black Uhuru, Israel Vibration, Burning Spear, Don Carlos, and Inner Circle. Jim worked with us independently and recorded, mixed, and mastered the whole thing. That is how it all started.” SOJA’s first album, “Soldiers of Jah Army EP” was released at the beginning of 2000.
In 2002, SOJA released their first full-length album, “Peace in a Time of War.” Though the band was young, the album had hits. “True Love,” “Rasta Courage,” and “Peace in a Time of War” were the first songs to bring the band strong attention nationally and internationally and cement them in the reggae world. Tours became larger, their fan base expanded rapidly and they grew up smart in the independent music industry. In 2006, the band released “Get Wiser,” their second full-length album. The album was a break through for the band, as they explored the duality in their music, combining beautiful, longing melodies with hard drum and bass, and layered with intricate lyrics. SOJA created their musical style with a new complexity and depth that they would carry with them to their future albums. Jacob shares, “When you listen to an artist you can either have a series of one liners, or you can tell a story with your music. We set out to tell a story, it’s like poetry – dancing around an entire theme, but never putting a period on anything. It is like the two sides of a coin, but you can see them at the same time.” “Get Wiser” debuted in the Top 10 Reggae Albums on iTunes and has remained in the top 100 since its release. Singles off the album including “Open My Eyes, “You Don’t Know Me,” and “Can’t Tell Me” remain in heavy rotation on college radio across the United States, and have also received major radio play internationally in places such as France, Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Costa Rica, Mexico, Venezuela, Guam, and Tahiti. The success of “Get Wiser” took the band on three years of intense touring nationally, and internationally. In 2008 SOJA released their EP “Stars and Stripes.” They blended new sounds and new rhythms with their existing reggae sound, growing into what SOJA was becoming. The EP contained three new songs plus remixes and new versions of popular songs. In early 2009 the band released the documentary DVD “SOJA Live in Hawaii: A Marc Carlini Film,” showcasing the power and energy of their 2008 Hawaiian tour which included four islands, five cameras, four shows, and everything in between.
Now, SOJA is ready to unleash their third full-length album “Born in Babylon” - the culmination of all past efforts on their label DMV Records. Set to be released August 25, 2009 exclusively on iTunes, “Born in Babylon” focuses on telling the same roots story that reggae artists have been singing about for decades, but their way, from the flip perspective of kids who grew up not in poverty, but in a government saturated community in Arlington, Virginia, across Mason-Dixon Line from the White House. SOJA shares about their new album, “This is the album we’ve been wanting to make for ten years. At first we were hard-core old school, then we got new school and inventive. This is what we’ve learned from all that. ‘Born in Babylon’ is hard roots drum and bass, big wide guitar and vocal melodies, and two and three sided lyrics, with two and three sided messages.”
For the rest of 2009 and moving into 2010 – SOJA plans on touring the United States extensively while promoting “Born in Babylon” with mainstay horn players Hellman Escorcia (saxophone) and Rafael Rodriguez (trumpet). Currently, SOJA averages 150 shows a year and the group has toured every major city in the US and internationally throughout Canada, Puerto Rico (avg 2500), Brazil (avg 4000), Argentina, Uruguay, New Caledonia (16,000 in attendance) Palau, Saipan, Guam (avg 3500), Hawaii (avg 2,000 on each island), Sweden, Switzerland, France, Portugal (avg 2000) and Holland. The band has also shared the stage with notable artists such as Citizen Cope, Matisyahu, Ben Harper, Slightly Stoopid, Damian Marley, Govt Mule, Umphrees McGee, and Steel Pulse to name a few.
In addition to their new music and touring, the band remains committed to creating real music, music that cant be ignored. Jacob pauses, “Bob Marley’s fans all feel like when he is singing a song, it’s to them. You could be from anywhere, any situation, rich, poor – it doesn’t matter; the song is directed at them. He speaks to you, the love songs too. That is what we are after. Not one side of the story, the whole thing, both sides of the coin. Just listen to ‘Born in Babylon.’”
disambiguation:
If you're looking for a US act:
http://www.last.fm/music/Soldiers+of+Jah+Army
Over the years, the Washington, D.C. music scene has become best known for its hardcore (Minor Threat) and go-go (Trouble Funk) alumni, but as evidenced by the great Bad Brains, reggae has been represented as well. SOJA has risen to the forefront, picking up right where the Brains left off – creating their own blend of conscious roots music entwined with the traditional rhythms of reggae, it “comes across with passion and depth.” (Washington Post ’06)
That said, SOJA is not that easy to define. Although they are rooted in reggae, they are not limited to it; their fan-base reflects this with a very diverse population. The music includes and embraces all walks of life - it has no prejudice – it is for everyone. The band grew up listening to reggae, hip-hop, and rock. In their sound, reggae became the predominate influence because it is dedicated to a real message and promotes revolution.
The group, which includes a pair of lead singers who also pull double duty - Jacob Hemphill (guitar) and Bob Jefferson (bass) – as well as Patrick O’Shea on keyboard, percussionist Ken Brownell, and drummer Ryan Berty, originally came together in 1997. Since 2000, the quintet has issued three full length albums and one EP – their latest, ‘Get Wiser,’ is their third for the group’s own label, Innerloop.
Hemphill explains the meaning of the album’s title. “The new album is called ‘Get Wiser’ – that’s the idea. We as a society tend to have blinders on. We are trying to uplift peoples’ consciousness by breaking down what makes us blind. To do this, we got to bring back truth. People get wiser.”
“Every song is different of course.” Hemphill continues, “I found music to be a way to express myself - through my life I’ve never been able to express myself well in conversations, but I can do it through music. It’s like my way to talk.”
Ever the road warriors (SOJA averages 150 gigs per year), the group will be supporting their latest release with a healthy amount of live dates this year on the “Get Wiser Tour”. With such a list of accumulated live dates, a specific high point is hard to pin down, but Brownell remembers a particular performance. “One of the shows that remains in the front of my mind was playing in Guam for the first time for nearly 6,000 fans. That was an amazing experience.”
With SOJA calling their own shots, ‘Get Wiser’ proves that the band’s message and music will only continue to grow stronger with each successive release. In support of their latest album, “Get Wiser”, SOJA is embarking on a journey around the world.
The Band
Jacob Hemphill - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Bob Jefferson - Lead Vocals, Bass
Ken Brownell - Percussion
Ryan Berty - Drums
Patrick O’Shea- Keyboards
Never Ever
Soja Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Felt all this before
Yeah like shes seen
All of these sings
I'll understand if she can't
Do this anymore
She'll understand iff
Because i never ever
Wanna look around
Out of my sight and i'll be
Out of town...
She asks me "look, how could
This all be so simple?"
"simplicity is in your mind."
I'll understand if she just
Walks right out that door,
I keep my love on the inside
Because i never ever
Want to slow down
I've got no moss and she's got
No hope now
Somentimes i wonder
What is all this running for
You know the thought's
Crossed my mind
But then i out my feet
Right back down on earth
And this word spins
One more time
The song "Never Ever" by Soja speaks about a relationship that seems to be falling apart. The singer recognizes the signs that his partner has reached the end of her rope and cannot take the relationship any longer. She feels like she's already been through this situation before and is tired of it. The singer doesn't want to face the truth that their relationship is crumbling and prefers to ignore all the red flags. He fears that if he acknowledges the problems, it will lead to a breakup. However, he understands that it might be too much for his partner to handle, and he will have to accept the consequences.
The second verse of the song delves into the complexity of relationships. The partner asks the singer how it could be so simple, yet the answer lies within his mind. The singer understands the paradox of relationships- they can be so simple yet so complicated at the same time. He sympathizes with his partner, who may be overwhelmed with the relationship's complexities, which may cause her to walk away.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I never ever wanna look around" and "I've got no moss and she's got no hope now." The singer is scared of what he might find out if he looks more closely, and he fears losing his partner forever. He doesn't want to face the fact that his partner might have given up on the relationship, and he prefers to be ignorant of the situation. The phrase "I've got no moss" may suggest that the singer doesn't want to be bogged down by problems in his life, and he wants to stay free of any difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
She's looking like she might've
Observing her facial expression, it seems as though she has emotionally experienced this situation in the past.
Felt all this before
She has gone through a similar experience in the past and can relate to the current situation.
Yeah like shes seen
It appears that she has witnessed comparable circumstances before which could lead to empathy towards a current situation.
All of these sings
She has recognized the warning signs and their implications for this present situation.
I'll understand if she can't
I will comprehend and have empathy for her decision if she decides not to proceed due to this situation.
Do this anymore
She may not be able to handle dealing with this situation any longer and may opt out of it for her well-being.
She'll understand iff
If I choose to ignore certain factors and proceed, she will comprehend my intentions and give me my space.
I stay blind, you know
I choose to ignore and stay unaware of potential negative ramifications and consequences because it may be easier in the short-term.
Because i never ever
I will never intentionally choose to
Wanna look around
It is preferable not to acknowledge any negative occurrences and to avoid confronting problems head-on.
Out of my sight and I'll be
Removing myself from the situation entirely and outrunning it may be seen as the best solution.
Out of town...
I will distance myself from the situation, both physically and emotionally, as a coping mechanism.
She asks me "look, how could
She has asked me the question, 'How can this be so simple?'
This all be so simple?"
She is requesting me to explain why the situation is not more complicated or multilayered.
"Simplicity is in your mind."
I reply that perceiving the situation as simple and choosing ease of mind is simply a matter of interpretation.
I'll understand if she just
I acknowledge that it is reasonable if she chooses to
Walks right out that door,
depart from this situation by leaving, either physically or emotionally.
I keep my love on the inside
I retain strong emotions inside, rather than expressing them outright.
Because i never ever
I choose to never
Want to slow down
I avoid pausing or slowing down in life, anticipating that it could bring feelings of discomfort or anxiety.
I've got no moss and she's got
I am easily adaptable to new surroundings and situations, while she is finding it difficult to adjust.
No hope now
She may have lost faith in positive outcomes or the situation altogether, devolving into negative feelings.
Sometimes i wonder
Occasionally I contemplate
What is all this running for
What is the ultimate goal or purpose of consistently moving forward without pause or direction?
You know the thought's
It is apparent the notion has
Crossed my mind
been has considered or contemplated.
But then i out my feet
I become grounded and stable
Right back down on earth
to steady myself in reality before continuing forward.
And this word spins
The world continues to revolve and move in cycles
One more time
and will continue to do so with or without my control or influence.
Contributed by Savannah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tara Mashay
on Here I Am
This guy is in love with a girl and tries pushing her away. They both care a lot about each other, for her own well being he tries to ignore her. But due to his life style of traveling she knows when he's around (tour dates posted online,etc) "she sees on her screen I am so here I am, here I am" he can't keep from seeing her because deep down they both want to be there so here he is. Neither of them care if they date other people normally because they both know they can't be together (maybe distance? Or he cares more about his passion for music?) "She don't call me one and only no she just calls me when she gets lonely" she gets lonely when she's not getting attention from other people where she is so she calls him to feel better because she's lonely and be gives in a lot to talk to her because he enjoys it. "I'm just a passing plan" sometimes he's able to stay away because he doesn't want her to be dependent on him when she's lonely. She knows he's always come back.