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
Signature
Soja Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
way more than what we're getting
We don't remember what life is for
We believe in the wrong complications
your ties all stop at nations
When we could be so much more, so much more
Let it out and if it's true, it will flow out of you
Because the truth will never fall
it's been around before us all
and it's like a signature on your mind
We're the first, we're the generation
We are the ones to be one, this nation starts with us
it doesn't end when the water does
And we can see it when we think more clearly
and keep calm and you keep listening
or we could find ourselves past the point of no return
Let it out and if it's true, it will flow out of you
It's like a river in your mind
Because the truth will never fall
it's been around before us all
and it's like a signature on your mind
So get going with the new thought process:
remember birth and give away the numbness
Mankind was built on conquest
NOW'S the time that you give away the unrest
Unless we can undress all of the past concepts
and practice a little oneness
our future generations are just suspect
subject to our bullshit
Let it out and if it's true, it will flow out of you
It's like a river in your mind
Because the truth will never fall
it's been around before us all
and it's like a signature on your mind
Let it out and if it's true, it will flow out of you
It's like a river in your mind
Because the truth will never fall
it's been around before us all
and it's like a signature on your mind
on your mind
The lyrics to Soja's song "Signature" touch on the idea that as humans, we deserve more than the lies and illusions we are often fed. The lines "We don't remember what life is for / We believe in the wrong complications" speak to the idea that we often get caught up in the complexities of life and forget what truly matters. The song encourages listeners to let out the truth because it will never fall and it's like a signature on the mind. The truth represents the core of who we are as people and should be our guiding force in life.
The song then shifts to the idea that we are the first generation, and it starts with us. We have the power to create change, and it's up to us to start the process. The line "Mankind was built on conquest / NOW'S the time that you give away the unrest" speaks to the idea that in order to create a better future, we need to let go of the past and work together. The song encourages listeners to practice oneness rather than perpetuating "bullshit" that will harm future generations.
Overall, "Signature" is a call to action for people to remember their truth, let go of the past, and work together towards a better future. It encourages listeners to think more clearly, listen more carefully, and act with intention.
Line by Line Meaning
We deserve more than lies and illusions
We are entitled to a life that is not marred by dishonesty and delusion.
way more than what we're getting
We deserve a lot more from life than what we are currently experiencing.
We don't remember what life is for
We have lost sight of the purpose of life.
We believe in the wrong complications
We are focused on complications that don't matter.
your ties all stop at nations
Your connections and attachments are limited to just nations.
When we could be so much more, so much more
We have the potential to be so much more than what we are now.
Let it out and if it's true, it will flow out of you
Express yourself freely and what is true will come out naturally.
It's like a river in your mind
It will be a constant flow of thoughts and emotions in your mind.
Because the truth will never fall
The truth will remain constant and will never fail.
it's been around before us all
The truth has been there since the beginning of time.
and it's like a signature on your mind
The truth will be etched into your thoughts and will have a lasting impact.
We're the first, we're the generation
We are the ones that have the power to make a difference.
We are the ones to be one, this nation starts with us
We are the ones who can bring unity to our nation.
it doesn't end when the water does
The responsibility does not end, even when physical resources dry up.
And we can see it when we think more clearly
When we think more rationally, we can see the reality of situations clearly.
and keep calm and you keep listening
Staying calm and attentive helps us understand the situation better.
or we could find ourselves past the point of no return
If we don't act now, it may be too late in the future to make any real change.
So get going with the new thought process:
Let's start thinking differently.
remember birth and give away the numbness
Let's recall the beauty of life and be less desensitized.
Mankind was built on conquest
Our society has been built on a history of conquest and conflict.
NOW'S the time that you give away the unrest
It's time to let go of any unrest within us.
Unless we can undress all of the past concepts
Unless we abandon outdated ideas and beliefs.
and practice a little oneness
And aim to be more united.
our future generations are just suspect
Our future generations will only have limited prospects if we don't make changes now.
subject to our bullshit
They will be at the mercy of our destructive ways.
on your mind
The truth and its impact will remain in your thoughts.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DWAYNE CHIN-QUEE, JACOB HEMPHILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jah Weid
Soja, I would like to address you as a whole, you are all amazing. I really feel at home with your jams playing. This song speaks volumes about the way you think and the way you understand your role as a possible influence on the general public... I love you guys so much even though we have never met... we have been in the same place at the same time around 20 times (shows, festivals, etc) but I feel like I carry you with me always... I quote you, Jacob, throughout my day to day life. I tell my pops that you are my generations john lennon... his seem like big shoes to fill but they may be too small for you Jacob
Eric Scott
Amazing work! always puts a smile on my face
Jah Weid
Looks like its just me once again ... this song is heard by many even if the comments and other stats don’t show it.... I need you guys to keep going
Keep playing keep spreading the word of positivity