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UJU

UJU Radio

Music

FEATURED SONG
Spirit of Freedom
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Spirit of Freedom
Album:
Released: Jan 1, 2010
Label:

General Info

  • Genre: Afro-beat / Alternative / Experimental

    Location Johannesburg, Un

    Profile Views: 51079

    Last Login: 8/11/2011

    Member Since 9/29/2006

    Website http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnVqdWJhbmQuY29t

    Record Label Sony Music Pty Ltd

    Type of Label Major

  • Bio

    Together they draw on diverse musical references to produce a strangely accessible sound that challenges the current creative malaise hanging over a polarized South African music scene. Predictable they are not. Tied together by a shared vision to bring consciousness back through wit, intelligence and fun, UJU rejects obvious stereotypes in both form and content. UJU's musical references range from Busi Mhlongo and Thandiswa Mazwai to Goldfrapp and Sade, The Wedding Present and Radiohead to The Roots and Gnarls Barkley, Richard Bona and Fela Kuti to Janis Joplin and Patti Smith. Ordinarily this could make for a discordant mix of forced collaborations. Yet the band is able to distill this mismatched assortment of sounds and personalities into a distinctive fusion of Alternative Rock, Soul, Pop, Hip-Hop, Folk, Mbaqanga, Reggae, Dub and Punk. More than the sum of their references, what emerges from UJU is an edgy blend of pop melodies, layered over smouldering and soulful vocals, sometimes smooth, sometimes frenzied rhythms and scathing wit often peppered with earnest messaging. Not unlike the early career of the Beautiful South, Ndlovu's cutting lyrics can be matched to pretty melodies, balladic and swirling guitars or looping grooves. At other times her shamanic chants and soulful spoken word can be married to Molebatsi's frenetic raps and energetic vamps wrapped in Joseph and Nzimande's almost trance-like dub and rock riffs. With a career that began in a small rehearsal room in Johannesburg's Newtown district 6 years ago, the band has attracted an eclectic underground following and critical acclaim from numerous dailies, magazines and electronic media. Gwen Ansell of the Business Day said: "The compositions are memorable and the playing rather better than it needs to be. Whatever this new kind of popular music ends up being called, Uju do it exceedingly well."

  • Members

    Ntuthu Ndlovu (Lead Vocalist and Poet b. 1983) walked the creative line of poetry and spoken word before honing her singing voice to start a musical career. Wandile Molebatsi (Percussion and Rapper b. 1984) arrived as an accomplished Thespian with a penchant for percussion and Hip-Hop. Mosebetsi Nzimande (Bass Guitar b. 1979) is a consummate musician with a singular love affair with his bass guitar. Earl Joseph (Rhythm Guitar b. 1973) journeyed through numerous lives before his guitar forced him to accept his true calling.

  • Influences

    Busi Mhlongo Gnarls Barkley GoldFrapp The Velevet Underground Richard Bona City Lights of JHB Patti Smith Janis Joplin Beautiful South The Roots

  • Sounds Like

    Nothing and Everything you've heard before

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