afropunk premiere: gaika battles against police brutality in brooding new mixtape, ‘machine’

Last month, genre-bending UK artist GAIKA unleashed the gritty visuals to “Blasphemer”, today; he premieres his new 10-track mixtape from, ‘Machine’ right here at AFROPUNK.com. 

By Ayara Pommells, AFROPUNK Contributor

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The mixtape kicks off with the “Enoch’s Drone” a meshing of whimsical soundscapes and punctured percussion. A sharp insight into what’s to come. ‘Machine’ is not your standard listen. It’s an emotive, rollercoaster of a journey into the abyss with dancehall peaks and grimy accents.

“Blasphemer”  seamlessly blends dubstep instrumentals and looming synths as his West Indian influences dominate both the mic and the bass line. “Blasphemer” delivers the state of or culture, tackling police brutality, poverty and social injustice through a captivating lens.

The new visuals for “Heco” see the Brixton visual artist/musical activist training for warfare.  With a backdrop of riotous images, GAIKA is this generation savior of the youth.  Armed with a baseball bat and a the backing of an equally masked crew, GAIKA is prepared to tackle police brutality head on, literally… With his masks becoming more and more revealing, could there be a possibility that the masked man will soon reveal his identity? Perhaps. But the mystery surrounding GAIKA makes him all the more intriguing. As well as being an artist, GAIKA is a writer and a filmmaker, details not lost in his offerings. Described by his team as having a vibe that “vibe lies somewhere between Basquiat, Peter Tosh, Tricky, The Weeknd, Skepta and Prince”, looks a stretch on paper, but you will be able to both hear and see influences of all the artists referenced.

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“I called this Machine because I’m from the future and the past. Only now matters though. I’m non-stop. No sleep no food no nothing just non-stop until I collapse and reboot. This is my art forged under strobe lights set in utter darkness. Each pulse a personal illumination back to life. The human spirit is digitized but never fully, you could call this record an emotional back – up or some shit. I called this Machine because every badman has one in his waist ready to shower down his enemies get the money and leave, i’mma do that too. I live in many worlds and float in gleaming Machines between them. I love it; from such height I see the connectedness of us all the Human Machine.  I called this machine because I’m the son of a scientist and the father of a ghost. I called this Machine because Gucci man should be free. There levels to this shit.” – GAIKA

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Listening from beginning to end, Machine is undoubtedly a concept album of sorts. GAIKA’s tales may not be remarkably upbeat, but his benevolently passionate appeals serve to highlight society’s ills attempt, signaling hopefulness, in the fight against the Machine… Stream ‘Machine’ below:

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*Ayara Pommells is Owner of UK website Rawroots.com and a music writer for Respect-mag.com, Soultrain.com, TheSource.com & AFROPUNK.com. Follow @YahYahNah.