SOJA (Soldiers Of Jah Army) - PROFILE:
Band: SOJA
Location: Arlington, Virginia, United States
Band Members:
Jacob Hemphill (lead vocals, guitar)
Bobby Lee (bass, vocals)
Ryan Berty (drums)
Kenny Bongos (percussion)
Patrick O'Shea (keyboards)
Hellman Escorcia (saxophone)
Rafael Rodriguez (trumpet)
Trevor Young (lead guitar)
Biography:
SOJA is a Reggae band based in Arlington, Virginia in the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. area. Starting as an active band in 1997.
“I want to speak for people who don’t have microphones,” Jacob Hemphill says. “Our goal as a band is to stick up for the human race. We see the world and we try to make it better in the limited time we have here.”
This is the philosophy behind SOJA’s music, a simple statement that has driven the Grammy Nominated D.C. area band, who blend reggae, go-go, D.C. hardcore, Latin, rock and hip-hop. Originally formed by a group of friends while still in middle school and has built a massive, dedicated fanbase around the world since. In the years following, SOJA has sold more than 200,000 albums, headlined shows in over 20 countries around the world, generated over 4 million Facebook fans, and over 120 million YouTube views. The band has toured with Dave Matthews Band, Incubus, 311 and appeared at major festivals including Bonnaroo where they attract an almost Grateful Dead-like international fan base along the way, with caravans of diehards following them from city to city. After the release of their 2012 album Strength To Survive, the musicians started writing material for what would become their fifth full-length album, “Amid the Noise and Haste.”
For Hemphill, who pens the lyrics, chords and melody, each song starts with an experience: meeting someone, reading something, experiencing something that seems pertinent to the human condition. On this album, the songwriter is suggesting that “all of life’s problems, and all of life’s answers are within us. We’ve been conditioned to accumulate, compete and break others down around ourselves — not inherent to the human condition, but rather taught. Those things can be untaught. The real us is in there, somewhere.” All of this is translated into short, sweet packages of music.
The writing and recording process for Amid the Noise and Haste stretched out over a year and a half, mostly because the musicians kept finding new collaborators and new ideas along the way. The aim was to engage as many guest artists as possible, with each working on a song that had a legitimate connection to them. The album was produced by Supa Dups (Bruno Mars, Eminem, Rihanna, John Legend) and recorded at Circle House Studios in Miami and Lion & Fox Studios in Washington D.C. throughout 2013. Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley appears on “Your Song,” a buoyant, hopeful number that asks fans to remind the band why they got into music by singing along, while “I Believe” brings Michael Franti and Nahko together to offer thoughts on how to control your own destiny. Collie Buddz, J Boog and Anuhea are also featured on various tracks. “We wanted to bring together people who would help demonstrate each song,” Jacob says. “We wanted people who could either relate to or convey the message. The whole album is about the human race relating to itself and connecting with itself.”
For SOJA, whose live show is an explosion of energy and positivity, music is a means of helping people relate in a more affirmative way. It also asks people to look inside themselves and really ask what it is they want to do with their life and how they can be happy. SOJA’s music is about finding that happiness and peace we all deserve and helping others do the same, something Amid the Noise and Haste aptly conveys in its songs.
“I put words in my songs that I believe to be true,” Jacob says. “The point of the album is reconnecting people to the power inside themselves, getting them to fall back in love with life again. Look around, take a deep breath. All the answers are there.” ❖
SOJA (Soldiers Of Jah Army) - OFFICIAL DISCOGRAPHY:
1) Albums:
.2002 - Peace In A Time Of War
.2005 - Dub In A Time Of War
.2006 - Get Wiser
.2007 - Stars & Stripes EP
.2009 - Born In Babylon
.2012 - Strength To Survive
.2014 - Amid the Noise and Haste
.2016 - SOJA: Live in Virginia
.2017 - Poetry In Motion
2) EPs:
.2000 - Soldiers Of Jah Army EP - [DMV Records]
.2007 - Stars & Stripes EP - [DMV Records]
.2012 - Mentality EP - [VP Records]
.2013 - Everything Changes EP (Amnesty International Benefit) - [ATO Records]
3) Singles:
.2009 - I Don't Wanna Wait - [DMV Records]
.2010 - I Tried (Don Corleon Remix) [Soja feat. Gentleman] - [DMV Records]
.2010 - Everything Changes - [DMV Records]
.2013 - She Still Loves Me (Soja feat. Collie Buddz) - [ATO Records]
.2013 - F**k Your System (Jr Blender Mentality RMX) [feat. J Boog] - [ATO Records]
.2013 - Tell Me (Jr Blender RMX feat. Richie Campbell) - [ATO Records]
.2014 - I Believe (Soja feat. Michael Franti & Nahko) - [ATO Records]
.2014 - Easier - [ATO Records]
.2014 - Your Song - [ATO Records]
.2014 - Shadows - [ATO Records]
.2017 - Bad News - [ATO Records]
.2017 - More - [ATO Records]
4) Soja Production:
.2009 Syr Mabher - A Soja Production (Various Artists)
5) DVDs:
.2007 - Get Wiser Live
.2009 – Live in Hawaii
Soja - Discography
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1) Albums:
.2002 - Peace In A Time Of War
(Original Press):
"Peace In A Time Of War" 2002 - (DMV Records Label)
Reissue: "Peace In A Time Of War" 2011 with new packaging
"Peace In A Time Of War" 2002 - (Original Version)Tracks:
1) Revolution. 2) Reality. 3) Non-Partial, Non-Political. 4) Look Within. 5) Rasta Courage. 6) Peace In A Time Of War. 7) Creeping In. 8) Brothers and Sisters. 9) True Love. 10) Jah Atmosphere. 11) Mother Earth. 12) Forgive, Don't Forget. 13) Did You Ever. 14) Time Come Due. 15) The End.
[Labels: DMV Records (Cd: 2002), DMV Records/Innerloop Records (Cd: 2011)]
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.2005 - Dub In A Time Of War
(Original Press):
"Dub In A Time Of War" 2005 - (Original Version)Tracks:
1) Dub In A Time Of War. 2) In Jah I Must Fear. 3) Jah Protect Dub. 4) Dub You Ever. 5) What It Takes. 6) Fox Rocks. 7) Just Like The Land. 8) Only Dub Will Stand. 9) Frienemy Dub. 10) Real Dub. 11) Jah Love. 12) Within Dub. 13) Negativity. 14) Revolve. 15) Se Acabo Dub.
[Label: DMV Records/Innerloop (Cd: 2005)(Digital Release: 2005)]
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.2006 - Get Wiser
(Original Press):
Cd: "Get Wiser" 2006
Digital Release: "Get Wiser" 2006and
Reissue Cd: "Get Wiser" 2011 with new packaging
"Get Wiser" 2006 - (Original Version)Tracks:
1) Chapter 1 - Open My Eyes. 2) Chapter 2 - By My Side [Feat. Junior Marvin]. 3) Chapter 3 - My Life Alone. 4) Chapter 4 - Faith Works. 5) Chapter 5 - What Would...?. 6) Chapter 6 - Strong For Them. 7) Chapter 7 - Can't Tell Me [Feat. Carmelo Romero]. 8) Chapter 8 - Be Aware. 9) Chapter 9 - I've Got Time. 10) Chapter 10 - Sorry feat Go-Go Mickey. 11) Chapter 11 - Bring Back Truth. 12) Chapter 12 - You Don't Know Me [Feat. Junior Marvin]. 13) Chapter 13 - 911. 14) Chapter 14 - Devils [Feat. The Eddie Drennon String Quartet].
[Label: DMV Records/Innerloop (Digital Release: 2006)(Cd: 2006)(Cd: 2011)]
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.2009 - Born In Babylon
(Original Press):
"Born In Babylon" 2009 - (Original Version)Tracks:
1) Born In Babylon. 2) Losing My Mind. 3) Used To Matter. 4) Bleed Through [Feat. Black Boo Of Mambo Sauce]. 5) You And Me [Feat. Chris Boomer]. 6) Don't Forget. 7) Decide You're Gone. 8) I Don't Wanna Wait. 9) I Tried [Feat. Gentleman And Tamika]. 10) Never Ever. 11) Summer Breeze. 12) Waking Up. 13) Thunderstorms. 14) Here I Am [[Feat. Marley, Rory, And Eric Of Rebelution].
Digital Release Bonus Track:
15) Rest Of My Life.
[Label: DMV Records/Innerloop (Cd: 2009)(Digital Release: 2009)]
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.2012 - Strength To Survive
(Original Press):
Editions:"Strength To Survive" 2012 - (Original Release)
Tracks:
1) Mentality. 2) Strength To Survive. 3) Everything Changes. 4) Don't Worry. 5) Tell Me. 6) It's Not Too Late. 7) Gone Today. 8) Let You Go. 9) Not Done Yet. 10) Slow Down. 11) Be With Me Now. 12) When We Were Younger. 13) Gone Today [Acoustic 2010].
[Label: ATO Records (Cd/Lp: 2012)]
"Strength To Survive" 2012 - (Digital Release)
[Includes Acoustic Bonus Tracks]
Tracks:
1) Mentality. 2) Strength To Survive. 3) Everything Changes. 4) Don't Worry. 5) Tell Me. 6) It's Not Too Late. 7) Gone Today. 8) Let You Go. 9) Not Done Yet. 10) Slow Down. 11) Be With Me Now. 12) When We Were Younger. 13) Gone Today [Acoustic 2010]. 14) Jah Is Listening Now [Acoustic 2010]. 15) She Still Loves Me [Acoustic 2010]. 16) Prison Blues [Acoustic 2011].
[Label: ATO Records (Digital Release: 2012)]
Reissue: "Strength To Survive" 2012 - (Expanded Europe Edition)
[Contains New Bonus Tracks]
Tracks:
1) Mentality. 2) Strength To Survive. 3) Everything Changes. 4) Don't Worry. 5) Tell Me. 6) It's Not Too Late. 7) Gone Today. 8) Let You Go. 9) Not Done Yet. 10) Slow Down. 11) Be With Me Now. 12) When We Were Younger. 13) Gone Today [Acoustic 2010].
Bonus Tracks:
14) Jah Is Listening Now [Acoustic]. 15) She Still Loves Me [Acoustic]. 16) Prison Blues [Acoustic]. 17) Everything Changes [Feat. Danakil]. 18) Nothing Ever Changes [Feat. Gentleman]
[Label: Greensleeves/VP Records (Cd: 2012)(Digital Release: 2012)]
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.2014 - Amid the Noise and Haste
(Original Press):
Tracks:
1) Tear It Down. 2) Your Song [Feat. Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley]. 3) I Believe [Feat. Michael Franti & Nahko]. 4) Easier [Feat. Anuhea & J Boog]. 5) Shadow [Feat. Trevor Young]. 6) Once Upon a Time. 7) Promises and Pills [Feat. Alfred the MC]. 8) Signature. 9) She Still Loves Me [Feat. Collie Buddz]. 10) Wait. 11) Better. 12) Treading Water. 13) Lucid Dreams [Feat. Nahko]. 14) Driving Faster (Bonus Track) [feat. Bobby Lee]. 15) Talking To Myself (Bonus Track). 16) Translation of One (Bonus Track). 17) Like It Used To (Bonus Track) [Feat. Mala Rodríguez].
[Label: ATO Records (Cd: 2014)(Digital Release: 2014)]
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.2016 - SOJA: Live in Virginia
(Original Press):
Tracks:
1) Creeping In. 2) Sorry. 3) Mentality. 4) She Still Loves. 5) Open My Eyes. 6) Be Aware. 7) Lucid Dreams. 8) Samba. 9) Rest of My Life. 10) Morning. 11) I Believe. 12) Tear It Down. 13) Born In Babylon. 14) Promises and Pills ft. Alfred the MC.
[Label: ATO Records (Digital Release: 2016)]
Buy Album on ww.sojamusic.com
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.2017 - Poetry In Motion
(Original Press):
Tracks:
1) Moving Stones. 2) I Can't Stop Dreaming. 3) Tried My Best. 4) More. 5) Fire in the Sky. 6) Everything To Me. 7) Life Support. 8) Bad News. 9) To Whom It May Concern. 10) Sing To Me. 11) I Found You.
[Label: ATO Records (Lp/Cd: 2017)(Digital Release: 2017)]
Buy Album on ww.sojamusic.com
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2 ) EPs:
.2000 - Soldiers Of Jah Army EP
(Original Press):
"Soldiers Of Jah Army EP" 2000Tracks:
1) Nuclear Bomb. 2) Zion Livity. 3) Freedom Time. 4) Watch Them. 5) Atomic Dub. 6) Livity Dub. 7) Makonnen Dub. 8) A Stray Dub.
[Label: DMV Records (Cd: 2000)(Digital Release: 2000)]
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.2007 - Stars & Stripes EP
(Original Press):
"Stars & Stripes EP" 2007Tracks:
1) Stars And Stripes. 2) To Whom It May Concern. 3) Bleed Through. 4) You Don't Know Me. 5) Revolution. 6) Be Aware.
[Label: DMV Records/Innerloop (Digital Release: 2007)(Cd: 2008)]
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.2012 - Mentality EP
(Original Press):
Tracks:
1) Mentality. 2) Everything Changes. 3) Not Done Yet. 4) Everything Changes (Blanco Remix). 5) Everything Changes (Helmut Remix). 6) She Still Loves Me (Acoustic).
[Label: VP Records (EP Digital Release: 2012]
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.2013 - Everything Changes EP (Amnesty International Benefit)
(Original Press):
Tracks:
1) Everything Changes (Feat. Falcão) [Falcão Version]. 2) Everything Changes (Feat. Dread Mar I) [Dread Mar I Version]. 3) Nothing Ever Changes (Feat. Gentleman). 4) Everything Changes (Feat. Balik) [Balik Version].
[Label: ATO Records (EP Digital Release: 2013)]
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SOJA PRODUCTION:
.2009 - Syr Mabher - A Soja Production (Various Artists)
(Original Press):
"Syr Mabher - A Soja Production" (Various Artists) 2009Tracks:
1) Be Aware [Bobby Lee of Soja]. 2) Faith Works [Bobby Lee of Soja]. 3) Hold On [Luciano & Soja]. 4) Trod Again [Prezident Brown & Soja]. 5) Simien Breeze [Zedicus & Soja]. 6) I Rise Up [Queen Ifrica & Soja]. 7) Face Off [Ras Attitude & Soja]. 8) Rest of My Life [Jacob Hemphill of Soja]. 9) Decadence [Sister Carol & Soja]. 10) Unconditional Love [Ras Abel & Soja]. 11) Neck Tie [Batch & Soja]. 12) I Know [Tony Rebel & Soja]. 13) Beware Fear [Nuttin Band & Soja]. 14) What Do You See [Don Carmelo & Soja]. 15) No Way [Jah Dan & Soja]. 16) Damn [Junior Kelly & Soja].
[Label: DMV Records/Innerloop (Cd: 2009)(Digital Release: 2009)]
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SOJA - CONTACTS:
Soundcloud
Youtube Channel
Website: www.sojamusic.com
SOJA "More" (Official Lyric Video)
SOJA "When We Were Younger" - (Official Video)
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Discography, compiled by:
Marco of Reggaediscography
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