SOJA (Soldiers of Jah Army) is a Reggae band out of Arlington, VA that consists of Jacob Hemphill (guitar), Bob Jefferson (bass), Patrick O'Shea (keyboard), Ken Brownell (percussion), and Ryan Berty (drums). The band originally came together in 1997. Since then, they have released four albums, Soldiers of Jah Army, Peace in a Time of War, Dub in a Time of War and Get Wiser. They released an intermediate EP titled Stars and Stripes in early 2008 to promote their new album that’s about to release in the upcoming months. Check out their website, sojamusic.com for photos, tour dates and more.
I recently called Jacob, lead singer and guitarist of SOJA, on his cell phone for an interview about the band:
When did each of you start playing music? 13. I took guitar lessons when I was a little kid. My dad actually plays piano, guitar, and sings so he kinda gave me some of my first lessons. I kinda showed bobby how to play when he was 15 or 16. The rest of the guys around 17, 18.
Did you ever think you would end up in a successful band touring the world? No definitely not. I never thought I was any good. People started coming to shows and I was like okay this is a local thing and then people started traveling to different towns. It just kept getting bigger.
I’m from MD and I have noticed over the years that you have played in Ocean City, MD a bunch, what draws you to that area? We all grew up going to that beach and when we are home it's just a few hours away.
I notice on your tour schedule that you have a bunch of stops in France and not really many other places in Europe, is there any particular reason for that? I think the promotor who is bringing us is really into the French music scene but I actually asked the same question.
What else do you guys do for fun? Rock climbing, no I’m just kidding. On the road we throw the football, play beer pong. At home we play frisbee golf and I write music.
What was your favorite show you have played so far? Any one of the ones in South America. People just come in huge numbers. They make their own SOJA shirts. There is good things about everywhere you play. People in the states party the hardest, they like to get down. For people in the islands, it’s in their blood.
What’s the best memory you have had as a band so far? One time my manager Elliot asked if we had any names for the guest list and the bass player said Pat Jefferson and that was his mom’s name. I thought that was the funniest thing I had ever heard.
Who writes the lyrics for the songs? I write all the lyrics.
Has your style evolved at all since you first got together as a band? Yeah it has changed a lot. Where I am at right now is where I wanted to be the whole time.
What influences your music? Putting myself into other people’s situations. If I meet someone on the road and that person affects me I write as if I am them. Other people influence me.
Who put the band together? We all knew we wanted to be in a band. We were in another band. Me and Bobby left and started our own band. I wasn’t a singer, I was a guitar player (of the other band).
Who are your favorite bands? If you really love music it changes every week. Right now I’m listening to a lot of Bob Marley of course. I listen to a lot of my stuff actually, I know that sounds weird. The Fray just put out a new album and Ray Lamontagne.
What is next for you guys? Release the new album and take over the world I guess.(The new album is called Born to Babylon)
One last question, have you ever tried rock climbing? No I haven’t. I didn’t think I was strong enough. I have a friend who goes ice climbing in Peru every year though.
(After this response I told him he should definitely consider trying it out because there is plenty of good climbing, both indoor and outdoor, not too far from him!)
