Raz & Afla

From their East London studio, Raz Olsher and Afla Sackey are creating a truly exciting brand of afro-house deeply anchored in West African musical traditions, with catchy vocal harmonies and percussion-heavy arrangements. An unprecedented musical fusion which owes much to its creators' experience, as true mainstays of the London music scene for the past twenty years. Since his arrival in the UK, Ghanaian musician Afla Sackey has been fronting his own band Afrik Bawantu and collaborating with afrofuturistic sound pioneers such as Osibisa, Tony Allen, Shabaka and Sons Of Kemet. As a producer, Raz Olsher has gradually built himself a reputation of hitmaker, whose multiple collaborations (Basement Jaxx, MJ Cole, Sam And The Womp...) say a lot about his versatility and spontaneous approach in the studio. Together, Raz and Afla came up with an exciting “afropean” fusion sound, offering a unique, West African take on afro-house, with big, lush vocal harmonies and an organic production style that lets acoustic instruments truly speak. After various releases for Beating Heart, Afro Zone (MoBlack) and their own Fossil Sounds imprint, Raz & Afla are unveiling “Mama Weja”, a new 5-track EP exploring even further their West African-infused take on afro-house with politically charged lyrics. The EP sets the tone for their upcoming debut album, "The Cycle", to be released by like-minded record label Mawimbi Records (Afriquoi, Jally Kebba Susso, Onipa, LOYA...)