World dub reggae
Tomorrow’s Sun
Born from the 2020 lockdown, Chaka Chouka and its album Sharka defies disruption with its vibrant energy. Simon and Bernard O’Neill channel decades of global touring and studio chemistry into this unexpected collaboration.
A blend of world music rhythms and improvisational flair, the album captures the duo’s signature live sound—crafted in isolation but made for movement.
The Beginning
Based on a drum and percussion loop that Simon had put on hold for a rainy day, he wrote “Gnaoua Reggae” on guitar and melodica in his studio in Meknès, Morocco. Mouna Eddrou, a French–Moroccan singer added her vocals and the Chaka Chouka sound was forged. The album project “Sharka” was born.
Gnaoua Reggae
Simon sent the track to Bernard who lives and works from his studio in the southwest of France. Bernard added bass and organ and made the crucial connection by sending it on to Cyprus to Haji Mike.
Haji had planned to record an acoustic dub poetry album in Cyprus with Bernard who he had met at Peter Gabriel’s Realworld Studios the previous December, a project now on hold due to the lockdown.
Haji added his vocals to the track and his socially committed and compelling dub poetry texts are complimented perfectly by Mouna’s Sufi inspired lyrics and singing. This vocal combination, thanks to Bernard’s excellent production remains a constant theme through out the album.
The Result
Four months later, with hundreds of files pinging back and forth across the Mediterranean, an album was complete.
Morocco is a cultural crossroads where North African Berber culture meets the Middle East, the Sahara, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. Chaka Chouka’s music is a reflection of this. It also links seamlessly with the African roots, traditional “mento” music and jazz/ R n B influences of reggae. Listening to the album will infuse your senses with a unique blend of flavours from the Carribean, North Africa and the Middle East.
“Sharka” means “share” in Arabic. Chaka Chouka’s music is an expression of their diverse musical roots and a desire for a fairer, more compassionate society.
Even though “Sharka” has lyrics in four different languages, the message is clear.
We are part of a world commune, we can make a difference with respect and love and understanding.
Due to the international nature of the band, Chaka Chouka remains a studio project….for the moment.
They are making their own journey, so come join them, on the peace train.
Peace Train
Simon Webster: drums, percussion, guitar, melodica, backing vocals.
Bernard O’neill: bass, organ, keyboards, baritone guitar, backing vocals.
Haji Mike: vocals.
Mouna Eddrou: vocals.
Track Descriptions:
Tomorrow’s Sun
Inspired by the Berber people of Morocco and their music. Mouna’s lyrics reflect their ancestral connection with nature and the philosophy born from this.
Gnaoua Reggae
The first track written by Chaka Chouka. It’s a fusion between Moroccan gnaoua music with its ancient African roots and Jamaican reggae. It is this combination between Moroccan music, reggae and funk that defines the whole album. Features Dubulah of Dub Collosus on guitar.
Gouli
Means “say it to me” in Moroccan Arabic. The rhythms of this track swop between reggae “steppers” and a version of the Moroccan “chaabi” rhythm, one of the Moroccan pop music beats.
Blaadi
“My country” in Moroccan Arabic and Mouna’s lyrics reflect the bittersweet feelings of the children of immigrant families towards a “homeland”. Haji Mike experienced this kind of uprootment from Cyprus to Britain and as a refugee in his own homeland.
Peace Train
Another lyric reflecting the difficulties of a locked down world and the existential questions thrown up by the situation. Get on board the Peace Train, Haji Mike says, so we can all reach a utopia of love and freedom.
Cosmological Funk
Spicy, Morocco infused disco-funk. “We are one people, all children of the Earth. Come together with our positive musical vibrations…..”. Just
dance!
Chaka Chouka
Rhythmically inspired by Rai music from the east of Morocco and Algeria. The lyrics, in French and English express the band’s philosophy about how music is sometimes unnecessarily pigeonholed. Ultimately the only thing that counts is whether it sounds and feels good.
Wanna Talk to You
Mouna’s opening vocal is a Sufi prayer. People need to talk more, person to person, to sit down and reason with each other peacefully is Haji
Mike’s plea on this tune.
Liberation Time
There’s a universal feeling, throughout the world of people waking up and throwing away the shackles and prejudices of the past.
Love and Understanding
The rhythm of the track is one of Morocco’s many trance rhythms and both Mouna’s and Haji’s lyrics reflect the spirituality of the “one love”
message.