Collection: Nubiyan Twist
Formed in 2011 at Leeds College of Music, led by guitarist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Tom Excell. Drummer Finn Booth, Excell's childhood friend, joined when he began studying at Leeds, along with percussionist Pilo Adami, Excell's roommate with whom he shared a Brazilian-based ensemble. Original vocalist and MC Nubiya Brandon provided soulful and melodic vocals. The band is a multicultural and multi-ethnic collective featuring both Black and white members. Their expansive, eclectic sound seamlessly blends jazz, hip-hop, Afrobeat, Latin, soul, reggae, Indian classical music, gnawa, soukous, and electronic dance music. Their 10-piece live show features a four-piece horn section, two vocalists, electronics, and an international rhythm section.
Their 2015 self-titled debut on Wormfood received strong support from jazz and hip-hop press, earning them support gigs with De La Soul, Hot 8 Brass Band, Quantic, and the Robert Glasper Experiment. In late 2018 they signed to Strut Records. In February 2019 they released Jungle Run. In 2021 they released Freedom Fables, produced by Excell, featuring vocalists including Pat Thomas, Ego Ella May, Soweto Kinch, Ria Moran, K.O.G, and band members Cherise and Nick Richards. In 2024 they released Find Your Flame and in 2025 they released their fifth album Chasing Shadows featuring new vocalist Eniola and collaborations with Fatoumata Diawara, Joe Armon-Jones, Patrice Rushen, The Pharcyde's Bootie Brown, M.anifest, and Mr Williamz.
