Steam Down - 'Overcome'
A weekly jam session turned cultural phenomenon, Steam Down’s newest release overflows with the strength and passion which has made the collective one of the most influential and powerful of its kind.
Describing themselves as an artist collective, Steam Down return a year after they dropped their debut EP ‘Five Fruit’ with the sensational track ‘Overcome’. Founded by Ahnansé, producer, composer and instrumentalist with too many talents to name, Steam Down began as a weekly jam session where artists and producers could find community and create magic together. Spontaneous, sensational and at times even spiritual, the collective quickly gained a following for the way in which they can communicate the universality of music. This track has everything from the depictions of daily experiences and soundscapes of the city to deeper conversations about empowerment, social justice and the greater meaning of music.
‘Overcome’ above all is a song about resilience and strength. The last few years have been incredibly hard within the arts; performers have not been able to do what they do best and extended periods of isolation have meant that potential connections through music have been lost. More than just a financial burden, many artists have spoken about how the pandemic either could ‘make or break’ someone’s ability to create. Within this track, Steam Down reflect on their difficult experiences through this time and with this song call all creatives to be resilient and overcome their adversity and struggle.
‘This is not a political message, it is a message for people, for society, for all of us who have through being isolated in lockdown or otherwise, being made redundant, livelihoods taken away and the uncertainty of not knowing what's happeing next in our current times. We may not know what is happening next, but we can trust the resilience we as humans have shown throughout history to make it through the most difficult of circumstances’
The track opens with a call to arms. Straight away the tone for the rest of the track is set; this is to be intense, urgency but most importantly, uplifting. The sound of many voices saying the same phrase exudes strength. You feel as though you are part of a movement; as though you’re a gladiator getting pumped up for a fight.
‘We shall, we shall overcome. We shall, we shall overcome’
The rap, vocals and instrumentals chase the chant, giving the track an immediacy and momentum which continue throughout. Moments when the vocals slow down are made all the more significant as the beat drives everything forward in the background. They deliberately draw your attention to the lyrics; you are made to listen to their manifesto.
‘Overcome, get out. Tell them move, move out. When we come, watch out. The work don’t stop, don’t clock out.’
Delivered with desperation and grit, the vocals in the chorus are effortlessly compelling. There is a choral section which comes in towards the end which elevates the track to a new height. If you hadn’t felt the spirit of the artists involved in this track yet, you certainly feel them now. The pace of the track doesn’t waver for a second, indicative of the way Steam Down are making up for lost time. Their amalgamation of genre, style and music are incredibly powerful. They give the cultural melting pot of London an instantly recognisable sound and you can’t help but listen over and over to try and identify the little sprinklings which different artists have brought into the mix.
Seeking out to continue shattering barriers, this track of vengeance and resilience is a taste of everything to come from the collective. They have hinted at more releases to come and in the meantime have encouraged fans new and old to come and experience their sound in their weekly sessions. Having already been tipped for performances all over the UK next year, including a confirmed show at SXSW, it is a very exciting time for this group.
Words by Kirsty-Ann Thompson
