Live Review: Shakka 'Say Nada' Ft. JME

We’re going to talk about SHAKKA, but not the Aussie variety. The UK artist and producer has stepped out of the shadows with a post-break up pumped up dub reggae single, ‘Say Nada’. He’s certainly not feeling sorry for himself with lyrics like ‘I don’t need a shoulder, I’m just looking for a freak’ ­– maybe his is actually the Aussie variety, what with his hang loose philosophy to the split.

The track also features bars from grime’s vegan teetotal good boy and brother of Skepta, JME, who offers up a bouncy, Rasta-inspired verse. The hip hop-reggae beat and reference to Kendrick Lamar’s ode to the cholesterol-lowering Caribbean ‘Collard Greens’ further entrenches the touched up reggae tone. The heavy brass horn and thuddy drums encourage a nod-ya-head-and-jump-around messy party vibe.

There’s something so satisfying about Shakka’s simple nursery rhyme couplets –

“My ex left saying she ain't got the time yo,

I double take and pray the e-mail was atypo,

I call my mate and now we're in the same lifeboat,

The same day, his was cheating with a shite bloke,

Come on now, it's kind of peak”

- not that this is a nursery rhyme, really it’s more like the London equivalent of Fetty Wap’s ‘Trap Queen’.

In the past Shakka has provided vocals for Basement Jaxx, worked his skills on Wretch 32’s ‘Blackout’ and totally flipped Ten Walls’ EDM one hit wonder ‘Walking With Elephants’ on its head with a dub-grime rework of the party hit. Now you’ll be able to hear more of his work on his recently released The Lost Boys EP, on which ‘Say Nada’ features, out now on RME.

Watch the frisky, partly animated party video below:

Words by Katie Rowley

LISTEN TO MORE NEW MUSIC HERE

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