BLK JKS ARE BACK ON THE SCENE!

Childhood friends Mpumelelo Mcata and Lindani Buthelezi grew up together in Spruitview, East Rand, where they founded the BLK JKS in 2000. After varying line-ups, they were joined by Molefi Makananise and Tshepang Ramoba from Soweto and the four played their first gig in Grahamstown in 2005.

A year later, they came second in the run-up to represent South Africa at the Global Battle of the Bands competition. After the release of their self-titled EP with five songs, the band began recording songs.

Dubbed “Africa’s best new band” by Rolling Stone Magazine, their debut album “After Robots” went on to blow down the walls of Rock ‘n Roll, before they left the scene for about 10 years. But BLK JKS is back!

BLK JKS is set to release their second LP “Abantu / Before Humans” this month.

For a couple of years, the enigmatic South African rock quartet was the darling of the underground scene. They’ve met everyone from The Mars Volta to TV on the Radio, two bands they have been often compared to. They have jammed with The Roots, snapped pics with Pharrell Williams, hung out with Lou Reed at the SXSW Festival in Texas and performed with Alicia Keys.

Playing double bills with MGMT at the Independent (SF), Squarepusher at South Bank (LDN) and Femi Kuti at the fabled Irving Plaza (NYC) Recording an EP aptly named “Mystery”, by chance at Jimi Hendrix’s iconic Electric Lady Studios. This and a Fader Magazine cover feature in March 2008 led to the band signing with Indie label, Secretly Canadian in 2009.

Listen to BLK JKS music on The Global Experience hosted by Just Mo every Sunday, 2PM-6PM.

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