OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

For Immediate Release December 8, 2008

BLK JKS SIGN WITH SECRETLY CANADIAN
MYSTERY EP TO BE RELEASED MARCH 10

"A movement unto themselves."—Fader
"The band's quick-fingered, multilayered vamps well up out of murky echoes, piling jubilation atop the anxiety, before submerging again."— The New York Times

Secretly Canadian is pleased to announce the signing of South Africa's BLK JKS. After an action packed 2008 that found the band playing its first U.S. shows, receiving critical acclaim from the likes of The New York Times, Billboard, The Guardian and Dazed and Confused, the band is poised to build on their initial success with a March 10 release of their MYSTERY EP, which has been re-mastered and re-sequenced. As a preview for fans, MYSTERY will be available for free digital download from eMusic and Other Music Digital December 8 through January 5. In addition to the free digital preview of MYSTERY, a documentary about the band premieres on December 8 at www.digforfire.tv.
BLK JKS came to the U.S. in the spring of 2008 after a chance meeting with über-producer Diplo while he was on tour in South Africa. Landing on the cover of the Fader, as well as sets at the Fader issue release party and South by Southwest, sparked recording sessions at New York's famed Electric Lady studios that resulted in the MYSTERY EP. The record was produced by Brandon Curtis of the Secret Machines, who came to BLK JKS as a fan of the band.
BLK JKS consists of childhood friends Linda and Mpumi who grew up on the same block in Johannesburg's East Rand where they taught themselves guitar. They initially formed the band in 2000, and early BLK JKS shows and recordings garnered attention for their stacks of guitar drone and head-nodding beats. After the band's current lineup took shape with the addition of bassist Molefi and drummer Tshepang, both of Soweto, they embarked on a schedule of heavy touring throughout South Africa that earned them a loyal national following. The limited edition release of BLK JKS' now out-of-print 2007 "Lakeside" vinyl-only 10" marked the band's international debut, selling at select record stores worldwide.

Link to MYSTERY EP artwork: http://secretlycanadian.com/artist.php?name=blkjks

For more information, please contact Brian Shimkovitz at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000, brian.shimkovitz@sacksco.com.

WEEKEND VIBES AGAINST VIBES: HR SPEAKS

Watch more The DL videos on AOL Video

HR from Bad Brains putting it down, giving new meaning to the term "double speak."
Wow.
Respect!

THE VERY BEST NEW MUSIC

It's your boys Esau Mwamwaya and Radiocliquot in Pitchfork with an 8.6!!!

Along with boldface names like MIA, Santogold, Vampire Weekend and Architecture In Helsinki, BLK JKS get a shout too:

Once you get through the indie-guarded gates, Mwamwaya and Radioclit are open here to everything from South Africa's marabi and kwaito music to Hans Zimmer scores to French and American hip-hop to Michael Jackson-- and in most cases, it's the tracks that lean furthest away from the familiar that work best. The regal "Sister Betina", BLK JKS collaboration "Salota", and Radioclit productions "Funa Funa" and "Kada Manja" are as immediately likable as the rest of the mix.

Check out for more TVB x BLK JKS collabs in 2009...and 2010 as Malawi and South Africa make their way to the World Cup!

For now, well done gents and respect for sharing "the best new music" with the world
for free. Here's "Salota" on reload. And REWIND!!!

IT WAS A GOOD YEAR

One of America's best radio deejays just turned in his homework...

Garth Trinidad's Top 10 of 2008

1. Janelle Monae - Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Atlantic)

2. Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It (Sony)

3. The Roots - Rising Down (Def Jam)

4. Keziah Jones - Nigerian Wood (Because Music)

5. BLK JKS - MYSTERY EP (SELF-RELEASED)

6. Bigga Bush Pres. Lightning Head - 13 Faces of Lightning Head (Lion Head)

7. Seun Kuti - Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (Disorient)

8. N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds (Interscope Records)

9. Kissey Asplund – Plethora (R2)

10. Grupo Fantasma - Sonidos Gold (High Wire Music)

Thanks to everyone who went in on the MUSIC. Much more to come in 2009.

THIS WEEK: NIGHT OF 1000 DRAWINGS

NIGHT OF 1000 DRAWINGS : Doodle for a Difference
book launch benefit show
Thurs 27th November starting at 19h00
Bus factory, 1 President Street Newtown, Jozi

*******BLK JKS*******
with Johnny Neon, Tale of the Sun and the Cutout Collective

All proceeds go to Paballo Ya Batho, a Jozi inner city homeless care organisation.
Book available in Cape Town at Biblioteq from the 29th Nov

LOL check out the guys getting they drawings ready...democratically!

BLK JKS IN RODEO MAGAZINE (SWEDEN)

"Clash City Rockers" Rodeo magazine November 2009.

Wicked photography by Liz Johnson!!

BLK JKS IN BLEND MAGAZINE (HOLLAND)

"Heulen Met De Vijand" Blend magazine Oct 2007. Rankin photo of a paint-splattered hit-looking white girl on the cover.

Not sure whats going on in this (awesome) picture but it's pretty obvious what the band was on when this was snapped on their first trip to Amsterdam.