Rok Ali and the Addiction have today premiered their new single titled ‘Ponder This’ releasing tomorrow. It’s good to be a beginner, in awe of the new worlds around you. But, it’s also good to have years of experience. If you can find a healthy balance between the two, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish. Rok Ali and The Addiction prove that a beginner’s mind coupled with years writing rock and roll music can yield incredible results. Their newest single, “Ponder This,” reminds us that good things happen for the patient.
For Alison Krebs, known as Rok Ali, music has always inspired and guided her life. Ever since her older siblings turned her on to rock and roll, Rok Ali’s has fixed her gaze upon that riffy mountain. Though addiction sometimes took her eye from the path, she has returned to music with a newfound passion. Her new band The Addiction features Chris Nix on guitar, Lee Beverly on bass, and Kevin Murphy on drums. These four musicians have decades of experience, and their recording and performance credits include household names (James Brown, Tonic, Jonathan Davis of Korn, and Mickey Thomas to name a few). After the success of their 2022 eponymous debut, the band returns with a fiery new single.
“Ponder This” is full of deep riffs, haunting vocals, and a sonic palette that can capture the imagination of modern and classic rock fans alike. Chunky, distorted chords pair with otherworldly slide solos to create an atmosphere that feels truly fresh and original. Beverly and Murphy hold down the song’s sonic center, with bass and drums so tightly in sync together. This allows Nix the freedom to freakout on solos. And, it gives Rok Ali the bedrock upon which to place vocal melodies that bring together rock’s brilliant past and its glowing future. During the chorus, she holds long sustained notes that play off the chord changes with ease. You can hear the pain but also the joy in Ali’s voice. Rock and roll for so many of us provides a place to channel emotions that are liminal – that exist somewhere between happy and sad or angry and calm. For Rok Ali, those emotional divisions don’t exist. It’s all here in this vocal performance.
This is the sound of a band that has spent a long time honing their craft. Every decision feels like it’s a combination of the players’ gut instincts tempered by their arranging prowess. “Ponder This” is a song of experience – and I can’t wait to hear what other beautifully crafted songs come from Rok Ali & The Addiction!
“Ponder This” will be available on streaming platforms September 19th.
About Rok Ali and the Addiction
Alison Krebs, known as Rok Ali, ignited her musical journey in the embrace of the sacred music community, while simultaneously being captivated by the burgeoning emergence of rock & roll, as orchestrated by her older siblings. The allure of rock’s sound captured her heart, sparking a lifelong love affair. Yet, the path she walked was marred by the shadows of addiction, a tempest that veiled her spiritual and musical pursuits. Alison’s voice is now accompanied by a renewed passion – her addiction to music.
Emerging from the darkness, she has now ascended to the forefront of Rok Ali and The Addiction, a formidable hard rock collective comprised of remarkable musicians. At the heart of this resurgence stands Chris Nix, a guitar virtuoso who saw his early years jamming with luminaries from James Brown’s band in a jazz club setting. His journey led him to perform, tour, and record with names like Jo Dee Messina, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tonic, and a five-year partnership with Jonathan Davis of Korn.
Bassist Lee Beverly spent nearly two decades backing the legendary Eddie Money. Lee’s bass became a foundation for legends like Mickey Thomas, Lou Gramm, and others. Kevin Murphy, the rhythmic heartbeat of the band on drums, is a name that resonates with musicians and fans alike. Sharing stages with a diverse range of genres and artists, from Tonic to Daughtry, his drumming prowess is an auditory spectacle.
Together they form Rok Ali and The Addiction – a seamless blend of sophistication and darkness, their sound resonates with complexity and surprise, a true testament to their creative prowess.
In the wake of their monumental self-titled debut album’s success in 2022, Rok Ali and The Addiction return in 2023 with a resounding promise – with a brand new album already in the making. ‘Ponder This’ serves as the first instalment, a hard-hitting heavy-rock marvel. From the onset, Rok Ali’s vocal prowess and charisma shine, embodying the essence of rock’s greatest personalities. Sonically, the track catapults listeners into the golden era of 90s rock, conjuring echoes of iconic bands like The Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails.
As time marches on, the reverberations of that era persist, a testament to the eternal spirit of rock. ‘Ponder This’ exemplifies this truth, encompassing luscious guitar licks, infectious melodies, and a dynamic structure that dances on the edge of change. The chemistry between this formidable quartet ignites a sonic blaze, each element amplifying the others in a symphony of rock-infused power.
‘Ponder This’ serves as an anthem for those who wait, a bold proclamation wrapped in layers of rock, prog, and every shade in between. With September 19th as the date to mark, prepare to embrace your new favourite rock band, as Rok Ali and The Addiction blaze a trail through contemporary rock’s uncharted terrain.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/RokAliMusic/
https://www.instagram.com/rokalimusic/
https://twitter.com/rokalimusic
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2LIBmNEFBvgXxkqVw91tAg?si=2Cx3uJwYRLKUMYNN3I05aA
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVwZ3u3a_6fyy3BBqBc3XTQ
