The EP ‘Louder Actions’ Vol. 2 shows Joka is not Afraid to Stand Alone.

This EP is yet another testament to Joka’s brave artistry.

After over a month of anticipation, and a deliberate teasing of an EP release via infrequent social media posts, Ntale Joram released his third studio EP, Louder Actions Vol. 2 (stylised as LXXDXR XCTXXNS Vol. 2.
Ntale “Joka” Joram, the Ugandan singer, music producer, and most importantly “FOCUS” crooner, has been a trailblazer in his own right. Finally, he emerges with LXXDXR XCTXXNS Vol. 2, his most anticipated body of work yet.

 LXXDXR XCTXXNS Vol. 2 is an experimental five-track genre-blending project which has three features, and shows Joka exercising his sonic range and superb pen game. Joka has always been an outlier in the Ugandan music industry. On the EP, he sticks to being neutral as he embraces genres like Soul, Afrobeats and others to preach his message.

The melancholic track, “WXMXN,” opens the play. It is a hushed Afrobeat song which has a prominent kick, with rising and falling backups. On this track, Joka lets his guard down, becoming vulnerable when he talks about how an undisclosed woman makes him feel. This song was heavily inspired by Soundlykbb’s JOANITA and a careful listener can’t miss the muse once he listens to it.

In an industry where artistes follow the trend to crack up hit songs, Joka doesn’t follow suit. It shows a firm believer in his sound despite the noise of the industry or fans. This spirit is splashed on the remaining four tracks.
Who is on his mind on track 2? According to Joka, initially the song idea was a clear definition of how Katumba Baker felt an undisclosed girl. Although some parts like the name of the girl didn’t make the cut, Joka and Baker shoulder the bulk of the song and deliver deliciously. Their vocals swim beautifully over the instrumentals, disguising clever, naughty wordplay with romantic, sugary melodies.

“XN MY MXND” is a soft and sweet offering that enlists the silky vocals of Katumba Baker. Wailing strings and a simple afrobeat drum pattern serve as the backdrop for a tale of enchantment to be spun. “On my mind, on my mind” Katumba Baker admits on the catchy chorus.

“XGXSLX” is a fantastic mix of emotions, feelings, and vibes. It is produced by Rack tide Executive producer, GEOX the producer. He bestows Joka with an instrumental in his signature style; a minimalist Afrobeats bop with energetic percussion-driven drums, thick bass runs, and sparse melodic phrases. On this song, Joka displays his mastery of melodies by once again adopting the sonic versatility heard in the first track WXMXN.

He employs an array of rhythms and tones that keep the listener engrossed and engaged. His singing is surprisingly strong, with smooth vocals and rich supporting harmonies. The lyricism on this track is simple yet witty.

“XGXSLX” embraces lust and remorse at the same time. Joka sings the first verse as he talks about a woman’s beauty and body features not forgetting her chokehold on the creator’s craft. He further expresses desire to be the only choice of this female figure but is slow to act due to an undisclosed reason. Joka seems to be more expressive and appreciative on this particular afrobeat track. This song is mid-tempo, perhaps because of the theme.

On “PXXSXNXXS,” Geoxwill basks on his prowess: his innate ability to rap at the same time creates timeless melodies in a rather alpha male vocal tone. The chorus is delivered as smoothly as the verses and features heavenly choral supporting vocals that lend the song an outer space sensibility which Joka heavily deployed in the execution of this project. The song sees Joka and GEOXwill reminiscing on the folly, infidelity, and toxicity of an undisclosed girl at the same time exhibiting lusty ambitions regardless.

The kicker is that the song isn’t approached through the lens of regret, but more along the lines of a cautionary tale that espouses the way of the world. As such, the instrumental is rather upbeat and lively, featuring fast-paced Amapiano drums, pounding basses, and bright chords. He had his hands full on this particular song, and it’s difficult for him to fully articulate his points. He swirls from praising the girl to asking her if she is interested in him or not. “Woba gwe tonfuna ngamba toyagala ngende,” he says. In the next line, he expressed utter admiration for her beauty “ Coz your body is very very, very very good for me”. This song is chaotic, and this EP wouldn’t have been all the better without it.

The EP closes out with “BXNXNX’S XNTXRLXDX” which gets its name from the creative that executed it i.e. Meya Banana. This track is built on smooth chords, and clacking percussions. The original song was performed by Zulitums and this track in particular is a karaoke cover version.
This particular track made the cut on this EP as a matter of faith. Joka met Meya Banana in the earlier days of their high school and their creative chemistry has been developing since. Although Joka is unheard on this track and it’s purely Banana from start to end, Joka has faith that the world needed to hear Banana for the soulful singer she can be.

On LXXDXR XCTXXNS Vol. 2, Joka breathes a fresh air to slow-rolling sounds, with his pen game meandering into a deeper state of mind. It’s a moving EP spiced with fresh music, different from what is obtainable in the Ugandan music industry right now. This EP shows Joka is not afraid to stand alone. It is another testament to his brave artistry as said earlier.

Stream Louder Actions Vol. 2 on all streaming platforms: https://songwhip.com/joka3/louder-actions-vol-2

Subscribe to Joka’s YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@jokaug6665

Stream Forest Green EP on all streaming platforms: https://songwhip.com/joka3/forest-green

Joka’s Forest Green EP