HAVEN TO A HEAVY SOUL by Kenya's REFUGE

Heavy rock day continues here in The Swamp. REFUGE's debut album HAVEN TO A HEAVY SOUL delivers flat-out 70s style Southern heavy rock. Very heavy music from a such a young band, too! Check out the video for DOWN THERE and also you can hear the album on Spotify below. Don't miss the jam on the last track -- it's great! Band info below!

REFUGE is a 6-person band of international teens based in Nairobi, Kenya. Their sound is high-energy, guitar-driven rock n’ roll with strong influences from the ‘70s greats of classic rock and blues.

 

The band’s youth and diversity is unmissable – members are 12 (singer) to 15 years old and they have roots in 7 countries and 4 continents. The lead guitarist and singer are also siblings.  All of the members come from parents that work in humanitarian aid and development, which is what brought them to Kenya in the first place. 

REFUGE started in late-2016 when Patrick (guitar), Gabe (drums) and Silas (guitar) would get together to jam at each other’s houses. It went better than expected during those early jam sessions, and the boys soon realized that they had the beginning of a band. Over time, they developed a very clear preference for the blues, classic rock, and improvisational jamming. That led to them expanding in order to bring in all the necessary elements to complete the band, eventually adding Ben on bass, Teresa on vocals, and Ike on piano/organ.

 

The band’s influences are broad but some of the artists they admire and learn from include Santana, Allman Brothers, Black Sabbath, Grateful Dead, Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton and Blues greats such as Albert King, Elmore James and Buddy Guy.