SOJA, short for Soldiers Of Ja Army, is an American reggae band. The group has its roots in Arlington, Virginia where frontman Jacob Hemphill met Bob Jefferson, the band’s bassist, in first grade shortly after he returned from Monrovia, Liberia where his dad was stationed as a representative of the IMF. As the two progressed through middle and high school, other members of the group came on board until the group official formed under the SOJA banner in 1997. Before we continue we want to share some of the best seats available for the next SOJA concert. This is the best time to get tickets and the listings are right below.
August 12
SAT 06:00 pm
The band released two EPs, CREEPING IN (1998) and SOJA (2000), before releasing their first full-length studio album, Peace in a Time of War (2002). An obvious reference to the events following September 11, 2001. A music video on an unofficial channel for the “True Love” off of this album depicts men and women enjoying the beach and surfing. Dub in a Time of War, a dub remix of the album was released in 2005.
In 2006 the band released Get Wiser which debuted in the Top 10 Reggae Albums on iTunes and has kept its place in the Top 100 on that platform since. Born in Babylon the band’s 2009 album peaked at #38 on the Independent Albums chart, on which their 2012 album Strength to Survive would reach no. 2. An official music video for the song “You and Me off of the Get Wiser album have around sixty million views on YouTube. Strength to Survive reached the top of the Billboard Reggae Album Chart and reached no. 36 on the Billboard 200.
Since 2012 the group has released several promotional singles such as “Bad News” and “More” along with an album in 2017, Poetry in Motion. Over their career, the band has made a business of recording some of their live performances for release on DVD. The Get Wiser Live DVD was recorded in 2006 at the album release party the group held at The State Theater in Falls Church, Virginia. SOJA — Live in Hawaii was filmed over three nights at different locations across the islands.
SOJA tours with eight members including an extra percussionist, a saxophone player, and a trumpeter. In 2011, Trevor Young, who was initially the group’s guitar sound tech, became the group’s second guitar player next to Hemphill, allowing the group to opt for a half acoustic/ half electric sound at times. Many of the band members model their hair after the Jamaican reggae style made famous by Bob Marley. But on the other hand, some members, like the percussionist Ken Brownell, are white and cannot achieve this look. Either way, the band always appears in casual attire on stage.
Buying Tickets to See SOJA Live in Concert
Although they are especially fond of touring their home state, Virginia, SOJA is known to globe-trot occasionally. SOJA performed at the 2013 Woodstock festival and appear at festivals throughout the summer. They also play theater-sized venues like the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. SOJA has also teamed up with famous artists in both the reggae and dub genres. Damien Marley has played with the group, as J Boog Anthea and Collie Buddz.
More About SOJA
SOJA has very contemplative lyrics in many of its songs. Songs like “Everything Changes” make listeners reflect on their own nature. The lyrics call for the listener to question the meaning of their materialistic disposition and racial origin. The song’s music video which features Brazillian rapper, Falcäo of O Rappa, rapping in Portuguese to the reggae rhythm has close to 21 million views on YouTube.
Witness SOJA Live
This is the year you should be checking out a concert. This is also the best time to buy SOJA tickets. We hope this information has helped you come to a conclusion on whether you should go see a live show or not. Get the best seats now so you don’t get left out.
