A Pioneer of Golden Age Indie Rock: Kele Okereke
Stephanie Phillips takes us back to the British indie boom of the early '00's - and pioneer Kele Okereke
An Abstract Image of Soundwaves by Maria OrlovaTRENCH
The British indie boom of the early 2000s launched a slew of well-cut, guitar-wielding acts into the cultural stratosphere, but among them, Black musicians were few and far between.
One of the handful of Black artists to achieve success at this time was Kele Okereke, lead singer and guitarist of the London-based indie quartet Bloc Party. Okereke was born in Liverpool in 1981 and raised in London to Nigerian immigrant parents.
An Abstract Image of Soundwaves by Maria OrlovaTRENCH
Growing up, his love of music was incited by his older sister, whose classical guitar would regularly end up in Kele’s grip.
After bumping into Russell Lissack (who he knew through friends) at Reading Festival in 1999, the two decided to form a band and started writing songs in their rooms and placed ads to find other members.
Their search led to drummer Matt Tong and bassist Gordon Moakes joining the band. After releasing a string of well-received singles and EPs, Bloc Party released their debut album, Silent Alarm, in 2005 to critical and commercial acclaim.
An Abstract Image of Soundwaves by Maria OrlovaTRENCH
The band drew from the wiry post-punk of bands like Gang Of Four and Joy Division.
Led by Lissack's angular, hook-driven guitar riffs, the band were able to break America—a difficult accomplishment for most British bands at the time—and helped shape the British indie sound for that generation.
Weekend In The City followed in 2007 and Intimacy in 2009, and with each new release, the band evolved to incorporate new elements to their sound, never allowing the listener to be able to guess what they would do next.
An Abstract Image of Soundwaves by Maria OrlovaTRENCH
As an introspective, bookish figure, Okereke perfectly fit the role of the indie heartthrob, adorning covers of music magazines and teenage bedrooms across the country.
After he released his first solo album, The Boxer, in 2010, Okereke came out as gay after being reluctant to discuss his sexuality for years.
The artist has continued to push forward his solo career, moving from throbbing dance beats to experimental electronic soundscapes.
With the noughties indie revival in full swing, and Bloc Party set to tour with pop-punk giants Paramore in 2023, it is clear Okereke's impact as a guitarist and emotive songwriter grows stronger with each new generation of indie fans.
This digital work has been produced in collaboration with PRS Foundation and POWER UP. The article first featured in TRENCH x Union Black's Chapter One: Game Changers zine.
Words by Stephanie Phillips
Videos by Bloc Party, Wichitarecordings, Coolbritannia626
Commissioned by TRENCH
