Tjaka nimbly combine the ancient and modern on their statement-making debut EP. Comprised of brothers Geoff and Jake Fabila, their cousin Luke Fabila, and family friend Felix Fogarty, the Meanjin (Brisbane) quartet mingles hip-hop, dance, and rock elements with First Nations instrumentation like a slide yidaki. (Their moniker is adapted from the Fabilas’ skin name Tjakamarra, a proud part of their heritage as descendants of the Jabirr Jabirr tribe.) The four members’ musical chemistry shines through on the sharp lyrical exchanges and lively layers of “Marching Band,” which mentions running from overeager labels rather than cops these days. Inspired by A Tribe Called Quest, “In a Box” layers snappy samples, jazzy drums, and vintage record scratching before foregrounding some gritty, chugging guitar. The rapping is nuanced and charismatic throughout, from Geoff spinning his name into a sly Game of Thrones reference on “Aeronautics” to the more rapid-fire flow matching the anxious breakbeats on the closing title track. The latter points out the dedication required to rise to the next level in one’s chosen art—a challenge that Tjaka has clearly accepted.