Tesfa Williams - Beyond Today EP [Heist Recordings]

Tesfa Williams celebrates his personal heritage and the diversity of Black electronic music with a name change for his Heist Recordings debut.

First things first: T. Williams is now Tesfa Williams. And though the dot after the T is gone, in doing so, the artist has opened up a world of meaning, personal history, and recognition of his roots.

"Originally, when I first started as 'T. Williams', I felt my African name Tesfa would not be well received in the scene. Something I've experienced in general, from school, university, work, etc. I grew up in a Rastafarian family with Caribbean heritage, and my parents decided to give me and my brothers African names to connect us to our ancestry. I now feel I am ready to embrace this part of myself as an artist and share it with the world."

Tesfa Williams is an artist with a long track record in UK club music. Long before his acclaimed 2024 debut album Raves of Future Past, he was already deeply embedded in the UK grime scene. Over the years, he's built a solid reputation in UK funky, soulful house, and garage, with remixes of Disclosure and Sam Smith’s Latch (yes, that track), impactful originals on Strictly Rhythm, Local Action with Julio Bashmore, and much more. For his Heist debut, the artist dives deep into his Black roots and delivers an EP that celebrates his eclectic sound with 4 energetic original tracks.

The Beyond Today EP kicks off with Moments Ahead, a filter-house classic with delicious soulful chops and just the right amount of raw grit. It's the kind of funky, energetic dancefloor track that ignites any venue with its irresistible groove. Get It Together combines classic R&B vocals with an infectious warehouse-style groove. This is one of those tracks that grabs attention from the very first listen. The breakbeat loop in the background gives the percussion a dry immediacy, while the melodic stabs and irresistible vocal chops turn this track into an absolute dancefloor monster.

On the B-side, the London producer fuses his love for soulful house with contemporary electronics on Brighter Life. There's something deliciously fresh about this track, where vocals, chords, sweeps, and stabs deliver a groove that is both laid-back and powerful. The electronic parts of the track are cleverly arranged to contrast with the melodic sweetness of the vocals, highlighting the artist's ability to effortlessly blend genres.

The EP closes with Futures, a late-night track with deep bass, in the style of Dam Swindle's Soul's Lament on their 2023 Heist release or the hypnotic percussion of Alma Negra tracks like Conversation. There's a perfect blend of psychedelic electronics and Rhodes stabs that make this track ideal for those moments when you just want to go deep, put your head down, and feel the music.

With Beyond Today, Tesfa Williams has crafted a body of work that pays homage to many of the genres that have influenced him, as well as his Black roots. Beyond Today is a contemporary club record that radiates positive energy, just the way we like it, and we can't wait to share it with all of you.

Enjoy the music and get ready to dance!