The word “Mokoto” comes from the Shona language and is known throughout the nation of Zimbabwe as a sudden and unexpected deluge of rain that catches one far from shelter. When Mokoto the band releases its sound on audiences, expect a soul-quenching blend of African high-life, roots-reggae, R & B, and folk funk to rain down on the dance floor. Lead singer J. Hoff, sings in both his native language Shona and in English about his memories of home and the tribulations he now experiences in modern American society with equal parts strength and beauty. Supporting musicians Kwamina Ewusie, Max Berry, and Jason Crane dig deep into their eclectic musical influences to provide a fertile and nutrient-rich landscape for Hoff’s storytelling, which shifts between the introspective and the ecstatic, not unlike the weather.