You know how you wish you had followed Sabrina Carpenter before she had millions of followers on Instagram, or known about Taylor Swift before she hit global fame. Well, now’s your chance to know Victoria’s best-kept secret: Baba Chaka. I first heard about them when they came to perform here at the Pearl in August. Their music was nostalgic to me. Their song “Yearning” is a gentle wave; it’s calm, and it makes you feel close and distant at the same time. It’s as if there’s an ocean separating something, either the person you love and you, or the person you yourself wish to be, versus who you are currently. The lyrics matter, yet the landscape of their songs matters more. What I mean by that is the way the song is recorded with intentional static. I imagine myself dancing to it in a black-and-white video. It’s a song that’s meant to be played on a recorder. Each of their song has its own vibe. Their song “Egg Mic”, is completely different, bursting with funky, infectious energy. Its playful groove makes you want to dance, the vibrant beat, almost nostalgic of 70’s rock. Their song “Afterglow” has hauntingly beautiful vocals. It’s their mastery of different instruments that lets them create the sound they want instead of depending on only using the ones they know.
Some bands are meant to play in a studio space, whereas others thrive on the stage. This band is somehow able to do both. Yet again, this contradiction is where they feel close and personal to you. They write about experiences that matter to you, yet some of their songs, recorded live, bring a totally different energy. They feel as if they were meant to be enjoyed with other people around. Their song “Summertime” was recorded live, and the clapping, the cheering, and the live commentary somehow add to the music instead of detracting from it at all.
Their indie spirit and raw talent had drawn me in, but their raw emotion and the way they record their songs authentically without any autotune kept me listening to them. Formed in 2023 at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, this band: Echowood, McMorran, Eli Swift, Ellis Frank, and Max Sharrett create music that feels both personal and universal.
The difference between each of their track’s highlights Baba Chaka’s versatility: calm one moment and pure fun the next and it totally mirrors the highs and lows of my own emotional landscape.
My strongest connection to Baba Chaka’s music comes when I let all their songs play back-to-back. Together, they capture a full emotional range, reflecting my quiet moments and my bursts of joy. Their indie spirit and emotional range make every listen a journey I’m eager to take again and again.
So, I suggest to you, dear reader, to hit up the next spot they play, because they aren’t going to be a ‘small’ band for long. They are going places, and you want to be able to say, I was there from the beginning. And maybe give me a little credit and let them know Manraaj told you about them!