Afla’s uncanny ability to get into creative flow, combined with his open heart, percussion expertise, stirring vocals and joyful persona, plus his root from Africa’s rich cultural history, complements Raz’s expertise perfectly. Their connection was instant. After Afla enlisted Raz’s help to refine a couple of his solo tracks, the spark was already there.
Both artists embody a curiosity about the other; their experience, their skills and knowledge - there’s a mutual exchange and thirst for learning that drives their creativity. They encourage each other to explore the breadth of their individuality. This polarity led to the conception of their own personal manifesto, rooted in their shared vision of sound and identity.
A steady flow of releases came out of their studio activity; with releases with Beating Heart, to Mo Black’s Afro Zone and their own Fossil Sounds imprint now finding a home with Parisian label Mawimbi Records. The balance between Raz’s production style and Afla’s Afrocentric flavours ignited dance floors and earned the duo a glowing reputation from the very beginning.
In the studio they are prolific, working rapidly and effortlessly on their music; which is why it embodies such a captivating energy. It was inevitable, then, that their connection would lead to a full-length collection of their music. Through the pandemic, they capitalised on the downtime, and their continued momentum, to work remotely; Raz was stranded in Thailand and Afla in London.
Afla would go to their studios in London with an assistant, and allow the music to pour out of him. This would then be sent to Raz, who would cherry-pick ideas and refine Afla’s raw expression. From there a process of back and forth would ensue, both artists contributing honesty and integrity to the process of refinement that would eventually distil all of their raw material down into an eight-track album full of bold flavours and styles. Through the madness of this unprecedented period, they remained committed to the music, building a core selection of tracks that would eventually become 'The Cycle EP.'
From funk-fueled open ‘Survive’, to its politically astute title track The Cycle EP condenses Raz & Afla’s magical chemistry into a collection of music that is authentic, compelling and contagious in its enthusiastic energy. You’ll hear ancestral funk on ‘This Cycle’, contemporary highlife with ‘Check Yourself’, cosmic Afro-electronica on ‘Mofanya’ and jaunty grooves on ‘Shall Prevail’, simply pure good vibrations across the eight-track LP, which marks the start of the next phase of Raz & Afla.
This is the twosome expressing themselves to the world; vulnerable, truthful and exposed, it’s a personal statement that will resonate with listeners all over the world. Through the universal language of music, they communicate sincerely, with music that has pure intention. Dance wildly, pay close attention to the lyrics and let the spirit of Raz & Afla transport you away from everyday life into another dimension of rhythm and sound.