Brighton ska, reggae and punk band Dakka Skanks release their new single Stay Sharp on 30 October on their own Dakka Skanks Music label. It is an openly anti-racist song about standing against prejudice, questioning misinformation and refusing to let fear and division turn communities against each other.
The title comes from SHARP – Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice, the anti-racist movement within skinhead culture. The band say the message feels particularly pointed right now, with political division and heated rhetoric around immigration, race and identity. They are concerned by far-right campaigning framed around "protecting women and children", which they believe can be used as a cover for racial prejudice. The song asks: "Who stands for truth? Who protects the youth? Who fights the lies?" It also celebrates the multicultural roots behind the band, with the line "Roots run deep, from Kingston to UK steel".
Musically, ska and reggae rhythms collide with punk attitude and the intensity of their live sound. Fronted by Clara Wageli-Byrne, they have built their reputation on ferocious live shows and on making music that can move a room while still having something to say.
A ska band taking its title from the SHARP movement, from a band who crowdfunded their own album, is the sort of thing I'm happy to back. Putting your name to an anti-racist single is a clear statement, and the history behind the title gives it real weight.
Stay Sharp is one of a series of singles leading to their forthcoming album The Game. The band crowdfunded the recording, set a target of £25,000 and hit it in just two weeks. They then worked with five-time Grammy-winning producer Steve Dubs. September's single I See Fire tackled the financial and physical strain of everyday life, and Stay Sharp turns to racism, misinformation and division.
Website: https://dakkaskanks.com/
Listen on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-671544479/dakka-skanks-stay-sharp/s-8ecs4oneGlR