“From The Roots” is Ohana’s debut release that hit all major streaming platforms in 2018. The five-track EP is colourful, grungy and edgy. Displaying great musicianship and writing skills from all members of the band.
The line-up consists of Jack Brooks on drums, Luke Smith on lead vocals, Jamie Dale on lead guitar and Ben Morris on bass. The band have had an extremely promising start to their time together, having the chance to record at Abbey Lane Studios in London, appeared on the Now Introducing podcast, played at Notafest 2019 and still have more brilliant opportunities to come, such as playing Glastonbudget 2019 and competing in the Bring The Chaos final this March.
This modern grunge record has no shortage of piercing guitar riffs, beautifully raw vocals and cutting edge drum beats. They have perfected the messy grungy sound down to every last detail - this is a must-listen for those that enjoy music with attitude and meaning.
In my opinion “Ello Alexia” and “17” are the two strongest tracks on this record. “Ello Alexia” provides an inventive and exciting rock sound. The track is exploding with energy and is a crowd pleaser in it’s own right. It includes some heavy, well written riffs and is so tastefully and artistically rough around the edges, perfectly reflecting the classic grunge feel. “17” displays a brilliant understanding for the indie genre and it’s really refreshing to hear a track that comes away from the rest of the record. It’s extremely well written and the lyrics are poetic. These songs really show that the band are capable of being versatile in terms of genre and have very strong song-writing abilities that any musician within our scene should envy. I think “Because of Another” also deserves some recognition for Smith’s vocals. They are particularly impressive on this track – he boasts the ability to sing soft and delicately as well as with a satisfyingly rich belt, with edge and attitude. To hear a vocalist with such a huge range of talent is just the start of what the future will be like for our music industry.
The EP has a nice balance of aggressive and soft tones, it is absolutely overloaded with energy and passion and you can tell their material is written with live performance in mind. “Time Bomb” and “Generation” are brilliant examples of the potential this group has. The playing ability from all members is very strongly displayed and also show off how good they are at playing for the grunge genre. I’m very happy to be able to have such positive opinions, despite these being my least favourite tracks on the record. It’s promising to know that this young and upcoming band are already releasing solid and constantly highly-praised material.
If you’re a fan of cutting-edge, energetic and passionate music that has potential – this is the EP for you. The group have already made their mark within our local scene and I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up making a professional career out of their work. If you’re intrigued to see what all the hype is about, be sure to get your tickets to Glastonbudget and the final of Bring The Chaos this year to see them storm the stages there.
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