It’s a strange way of thinking to me that people casually climb other countries’ mountains just because they’re famous, like those rich Westerners who hire sherpas to pull them up to the top of Everest. Sure the view’s great, but it just seems like the most obnoxiously touristy thing to do. Members of the tropico-themed congo-bashers Jinja Safari have more or less had a similar experience, but this time they’re the ones carrying you up the mountain… of fun that is with their new single, Kilimanjaro.
Jinja Safari continue to chase the meerkat that is their African influence on new single Kilimanjaro. Need a summer jam? This is what you’re looking for.
Frontman Marcus Azon, in exclusive correspondence with Happy, tells a story of how Kilimanjaro (the song) was inspired by a climbing of Kilimanjaro (the mountain), in which the other half became stuck halfway in ascension, and had to be carried to the top and back down again by rather unportly Tanzanian porters.
They expand on that experience, Azon says “The lyrics reference that moment when you stop to look at where you are, and you can’t see where you came from, or where you want to go. It relates more personally to the development of a romantic relationship”.
It’s hard to really think about anything serious or reflective during this song, though. If you haven’t heard Jinja Safari before, at the barebones they’re just another indie pop band. But layered on top that – rather cleverly, to give them credit – is loads of just je ne sais quoi ‘African’ sounds that one might find watching the Lion King, or any sort of fantasy that involves monkey butlers.
So immediately, and with their entire discography, there’s a thick coating of joyousness (provoked by the thoughts of monkey butlers in my case) in all of their songs which make them all incredibly fun and relaxing. The downside is that it makes it hard to reflect on relationships.
As visceral as some of the lyrics get – “Talking about you when I should be saving my breath / Nobody should own the air in my lungs / This time you’re on your own” – the chirpy, seashell-zylophone riff in the background that sounds like a winning klaxon from an Ancient China-themed pokie machine nullifies the sorrow like a well-timed fart ruins a preacher’s sermon.
It’s undeniable that Jinja Safari is a good time; in other words, they’re audible incense. To be honest, this has been clear since the band’s birth, Azon having hit it up with future bandmate and co-founder Pepa Knight at a beach party on the Central Coast. Seeing as it’s summer soon, it looks like Jinja Safari are a safe bet for good tunes to add to your summer party selection.
