Raz Olsher, Afla Sackey

Support by Marry-Anne Hobbes, Lauren Laverne, Jamz Supernova, Craig Charles, Laurent Garnier, Guts, Myd, Kamma & Masalo ...

Chemistry and the depth of connection formed when two people bond intuitively is the crucial foundation of a successful creative partnership. For Raz Olsher & Afla Sackey, this intimate connection fuels a dynamic and effortless musical relationship that has resulted in a stunning debut LP. The duo have been working together for two years, but such is the depth of their affinity with one another, it’s as if they have known each other for a lifetime. With their mutual admiration and friendship as a cornerstone of their output, Raz & Afla’s creativity knows no bounds. Their music represents a harmonious union of African influences with electronic music, full of soul, vibrant energy and captivating rhythms. As they prepare to release debut album The Cycle, Raz & Afla share their deep love for music with the world…

Originally from Tel Aviv, Raz has been based in London for most of his adult life. An award-winning, multi-platinum producer, his repertoire includes a broad range of solo electronic music productions while also lending his refined ear to composing and producing for other artists including Basement Jaxx, Sam Lee’s Mercury-nominated album and Lamar, among many more. Owner of Fossil Studios and a keen experimentalist who thrives on diversity, Raz brings a wealth of studio experience and intimate knowledge of electronic music to the duo’s collective offering. Afla’s Ghanaian heritage permeates into everything he does, invoking the deep ancestral roots of his homeland. His background as a session musician for artists such as Ginger Baker, Sun Ra, Oren Marshall, Osibisa, Ibibio Sound Machine, Tony Allen, also shared festival stages with the likes of George Clinton, Gabrielle, Nile Rogers, Kool and the Gang and Coldplay and later, as a dancer, embodies his lineage. Work with Sadler’s Wells and the Royal Festival Hall are among his many proud achievements to date.

Afla’s uncanny ability to get into creative flow, combined with his open heart, percussion expertise, stirring vocals and joyful persona, plus his descendance 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 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.

From funk-fueled open ‘Survive’, to its politically astute title track The Cycle 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…
crédits
paru le 14 octobre 2022

All songs written and performed by Raz & Afla
Lyrics by Afla Sackey
Produced and mixed by Raz Olsher
Recorded and mixed at Fossil Studios, London
Mastered by Peter Fletcher
Artwork by Michaël Sallit