Established as a pioneering voice in the UK for future soul, jazz and Afrobeat, the mighty Nubiyan Twist have recently dropped a new EP that oozes with funk and groove.
The tracks are energetic, spirited and sassy and the message of artistic unity between cultures and musical styles resonates in familiar fashion with a Wormfood Records release that showcases their talent for fusion of world music and jazz styles with modern soundsystem elements.
The 12-piece band from Oxfordshire have now shared stages with the likes of De La Soul, Bonobo, Quantic, MF Doom, Robert Glasper Experiment, Gentlemen’s Dub Club and DJ Yoda. They quote their main influences to be Fela Kuti, J Dilla, Herbie Hancock and King Tubby among others. No surprises then that they indulge us in another groove-busting journey through modern experiments with dub, reggae, Afrobeat and jazz, filled with uplifting horns, syncopated rhythms and soulful vocals.
Here is their first track which goes by the same name ‘Siren Song’. The group describe the opener as “one from the EP that represents a more live feature of the band. The tune is heavily revolved around a bass line that our baritone player Joe wrote while sound-checking and we used to jam it for a long time until finally turning it in to a track.”
You can find the Siren Song EP on iTunes, including the lead single ‘Headhunter’ (below). And on our most recent radio show you can listen out for our play of their sassy, downtempo number ‘Crocodile’.