Nubiyan Twist - Find Your Flame [Strut]

Format: White LP + Printed sleeve.

Nine-piece outfit Nubiyan Twist embark on a new musical odyssey with their vibrant fourth album Find Your Flame. Across 12 tracks, the band seamlessly weaves global grooves, soul, and jazz, skillfully blended with electronic elements, horn-led melodies, and spontaneous improvisation. The album also marks a significant evolution for the group, as they welcome Sheffield vocalist Aziza Jaye to the forefront, adding a fresh dimension of Patois and RnB to their sound.

Bandleader and producer Tom Excell explains: “As with the making of all our albums, it's a snapshot of our collective influences and journeys over the time it was made. A catharsis for our struggles, but a vehicle for our joy. Navigating through COVID, the magic of becoming a new parent, going through life-changing leg amputation, recovering from car accidents, losing loved ones and forming new friendships have all shaped this music. But most importantly, the collaborative process helped to reignite a liberating fire of resilience in each of us.”

This intoxicating and sun-drenched release is dotted with impressive collaborations, including those from icons Nile Rodgers and Seun Kuti, who bring their signature disco and afrobeat mastery on Lights Out and Carry Me respectively. Embracing the roots of UK sound system culture, Find Your Flame takes dynamic turns, from the frenetic broken beat of the album's title track to the reflective lyricism and lo-fi beats of Reach My Soul and Battle Isn't Over. Nubiyan Twist delve into grime and hip hop territories with Woman and Pray for Me (Part 1), featuring emerging UK MC NEONE the Wonderer. The exploration continues into highlife and soukous with Pray for Me (Part 2), collaborating with longtime Ghanaian musician K.O.G. and neo-soul with the sensuous vocals of Ria Moran. Glasgow’s exceptional corto.alto features on You Don’t Know Me. Find Your Flame culminates with a sublime collaboration with former Salif Keïta backing singer Mamani Keïta, paying homage to traditional Malian music and the roots of the genres elegantly interwoven throughout the album.

After forming in 2011 whilst at Leeds College of Music, the band has toured the country, with Tom, Aziza Jaye and drummer Finn Booth now settled in Yorkshire. They cite Leeds’ Caribbean community and its carnival, Sub Dub, Sinai Sound (one of the country's top reggae sound systems), and Sheffield’s burgeoning music scene as some of the highlights of the county's rich culture.