Celebrating the recent announcement of their self-titled debut album, due for release Friday 17th May through Island Records, Jinja Safari are set to embark on a run of intimate shows around Australia commencing 13th May.
To mark this momentous occasion, Pepa & Joe have programmed a mixtape of the songs they are currently diggin’, and as expected, they’ve delivered a fine selection international and local artists.
Big Scary – Phil Collins
“This is a new one from our friends from Big Scary. We have played a few Aussie festivals with these cool dudes and met briefly but we got some serious bonding time when we toured India together late last year. They are a two-piece so it was really easy to remember their names. I know we are all very keen to hear their new album (Not Art) get released. I love the classic tremolo guitar tone in this song and the simplicity is genius.”
Opossom – Fly
“We had the pleasure to tour with Opossom around Australia early last year. A lot of us had been fans of Kody’s old band, the Mint Chicks, and their brother-band Unknown Mortal Orchestra so it was mad to play with them. Their production is so tasty – I love how they use super crunchy drum sounds with heaps and heaps of snare fills and have that amplified Wurlitzer sound and flowy vocal melodies. The film clip for this song stars Joe’s brother, Steve Engstrom who is nearly ‘world famous’ from being the astronaut in our ‘Toothless Grin’ music video.”
Streets Of Loredo – Girlfriend
“These guys are our New Zealand buddies who just moved to New York. This is their first single release but they have a bunch of demos hangin round the net. It is a massive feel good track and has that old Cash/Dylan upbeat folk sound with some low baritone BVs singing ‘bah bah bah bah bah bah bah’.”
Sea Legs – Can I Get An Amen
“Sea Legs are our warm and fuzzy brother-band! Jacob and I used to play in a band for eight years with our older bros from Sea Legs. I don’t want to sound too biased but their songs are so bloody good and they really know how to write a yummy hook. In this film clip they asked Jacob and I to be in it and pretend to be hippies around the campfire. I think we acted pretty well… Its good laugh to watch. Who doesn’t want to see dudes dressed as nuns going rouge?”
Kishi Bashi – It Began With a Burst
“I could’ve chosen any track From Kishi Bashi’s trip of an album 151a. The album plays out like an epic theatrical piece. It starts at a sprint and takes flight on the wings of Eastern strings over electronic and orchestral beauty. This track is full of dizzying loops and euphoric energy. There’s a lot of life affirming and earth defying themes and sounds with amusing & intriguing lyrics weaving it together.”
Kurt Vile – Shame Chamber
“This track sounds like Kurt Vile on some sort of Americana road trip with the ghost of Elliot Smith. He has never reminded me of Smith this much, it’s there in the lyrics and guitar work. The song as a whole has a feeling of epiphanic release, some sort of refreshing celebration of self loathing.”
Snoop Lion – Here Comes the King
“Snoop throws one out for the haters. This album is produced by the incredible Major Lazer. With sub and snare to spare this song is best listened to through the loudest speakers you have. I don’t wanna call it early but I think this might be spun a lot in the tour van later this may.”
