BLK JKS

A Joburg-based alternative rock band made up of Mpumelelo Mcata (guitar), Tshepang Ramoba (drums) and Tebogo Seitei (Trumpet).

Formed in 2000, the band immediately turned heads with an experimental post punk and psychadelic afro prog-rock sound that drew on a complex range of influences, not quite like anything ever heard before in South Africa. After years spent touring the country, they were spotted ar SXSW and signed by American label Secretly Canadian, opening the band up to a global audience, BLK JKS quickly becoming darlings of the international music press.

In 2009 they released the EP 'Mystery', record at the famous Electric Ladyland Studios in New York. Quickly followed by their debut full-length album 'After Robots', which was also recorded in the US, this time at Russian Recordings Bloomington Indiana. Their debut received vociferous praise from the likes of Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) and John Paul Jones (Led Zepelin). In 2010 the band performed a duet cover in honor of Brenda Fassie with Alicia Keys at the Fifa World Cup Kick-Off Concert. That same year BLK JKS released 'Zol!', an EP that further enforced the band’s status as leaders of intelligent, proudly African yet internationally accessible rock music.

Following the departure of their frontman, the band took time to explore new music in other projects including with Thandiswa Mazwai, realigning themselves and returning in 2018 with a blistering 7" vinly release of a tribute to the late great Hugh Masekela featuring Bra Hugh's son Selema. This was closely followed by their long awaited sophmore 'Abantu/BeforeHumans" (2021) co-released by We Are Busy Bodies and Glitterbeat Records it was almost a decade in the making but eventually recorded in 3 days!

Still one of the best and most exciting live bands you will ever see, today, as cult heroes, BLK JKS continue to tour and perform.

Picture source: Brett Rubin