Nubiyan Twist

There’s nobody doing it quite like Nubiyan Twist. The nine-piece collective have built a sound that defies boundaries – jazz, soul, Afrobeat and hip hop meeting in a heady rush of rhythm and feeling. Formed in Leeds and now firmly rooted in London, they’ve become one of the UK’s most forward-thinking live acts: joyous, accomplished and endlessly inventive. Fronted by Aziza Jaye and led by guitarist and producer Tom Excell, the group’s albums Freedom Fables and Jungle Run glow with warmth and groove, their collaborations with legends like Tony Allen and Soweto Kinch only adding to their reputation as scene leaders. Live, they’re something else entirely – a kinetic mix of brass, rhythm and soul that leaves the room pulsing.