Bokaata have existed since the summer of 2007 and
now, with the arrival of 2010, the metamorphosis of their
epic alternative pop-rock-dance sound, once coined schizo-rock,
has come to fruition.
The band was the brain child of front man
Gavin Bates whose song writing, influenced by the Pumpkins,
Placebo, Feeder and the Manics, was the catalyst for Bokaata's
inception. By late summer 2009 Bokaata had evolved. The
rock backbone remained intact but with drummer Craig Conkie
and bassist Charlie Howell adding slices of dance and electronica
and the arrival of lead guitarist Tim Gifford, Bokaata now
had their own distinct sound. Direct, powerful, passionate.
Bokaata sing about modern living, the drudgery
of the everyday, the hypocrisy of religion, about loves
lost and the need for enemies. There is a gritty realism
to the songs which are counter pointed by powerful melodies
and catchy choruses. For Bokaata very much follow Gavin's
dark side / light side lifestyle which juxtaposes rapturous
moments of ecstasy and empowerment against moments of dark
reflection and realisation.
Since their inception Bokaata have become
a regular on the Cambridge music circuit having played most
of the local venues at one time or other, as well as The
Cambridge Rock Festival. One of the bands' live highlights
was supporting Jubilee at The Soul Tree, a night when they
upstaged the US mongrel band (made up of NIN and QOSA rejects)
whilst consolidating themselves as a live band before the
audience's very eyes. Bokaata have also played two successful
gigs at The Dublin Castle in Camden.
After early self-produced demos, including
the anthemic 'Faking It', Bokaata ventured into the studio
in spring / summer 2009 to record 'The
Everybody Needs an Enemy EP' at Zoo Audio in Cambridgeshire.
The debut EP includes; the power punk of 'Love Lost…,' the
grimy dance metal of 'Lifeline', the hypnotic synth-balladry
of 'Refugee' and the call to arms that is 'Everybody Needs
an Enemy'. R*E*P*E*A*T called it "a
very impressive, professional sounding debut", whilst
The Hunts Post called it:
“One of the most inventive releases from an unsigned
band”. Released December 2009, the official
EP launch will take place in February 2010 when the
band will make their official comeback to the live stage.
In the second half of 2009, as well as launching
their brand new website and EP and welcoming a fourth member,
Bokaata have been working on new songs and a re-working
of previous live stalwart 'You'. In addition the band are
taking part in the B-side project which sees bands and solo
artists team up with DJs and producers to remix an original
track. 'Lifeline' is being remixed by local producer Sigil
and the initial preview appears to be an interesting take
on the Bokaata style. The band recently appeared on Cambridge
University student radio in support of the project.
In recent years music appears to have become
more of a commodity than an art form. Everyone seems to
want to be in a band these days as if it were a fashion
accessory or a public statement and so we see endless carbon
copies of the same imitated styles; songs bought and sold
as if stocks and shares, the hottest thing in the playground
one minute and then discarded the next. Great music has
always lasted the test of time and a time will come when
that is remembered again. Bokaata aren't going to wait for
that time to come but they'll still be there when it does…