Rayowa

What kind of music soundtracks summers yet to come and the best nights out you’ve ever had? It’s a code that modern disco collective Rayowa seem to have cracked.

Forming the band are Dan, Reece and Luke Baker - three brothers from Essex that are all self- taught producers and multi-instrumentalists, playing guitar, bass, and piano. Tripling the size of the outfit when playing live, Rayowa incorporate additional musicians including bassists, percussionists, drummers, trumpeters, and vocalists.

“The live band are an incredible bunch of people, and we are all such close friends,” Rayowa say. “We honestly can’t describe the energy we have in the group. It’s not like anything any of us have experienced before.”

Rayowa’s new EP Believe is right around the corner and is full of infectious melodies, funky basslines and catchy lyrics. You can expect to hear it far and wide in the months to come. They’re fresh off the back of a sold-out gig at Brixton’s Hootananny, and are set to play alongside Diana Ross and Nile Rodgers & Chic on 11th June at the Cambridge Club Festival.

Since they were children growing up on a council estate in Basildon, the three brothers have played in bands together – despite having no classical musical training. It’s here that the boys found their swagger, charisma, and shaped their sound. From dancing with their nan to disco, to soaking up soul and R&B with their mum and rock with their dad and grandad, the group had a wide-ranging set of influences that found their way into the Rayowa sound.

The finished cocktail of these inspirations and passions combine aspects of disco, funk, soul, and R&B, sounds that are designed to move – emotionally and physically. “People need music that makes them feel good and makes them want to dance. With the madness that’s been going on in the world in recent times, people need a pick me up – a light in the dark,” the band say.

The group’s first EP, Keepin’ Me Under, certainly does just that. It’s packed with crystal clear falsetto, groovy basslines, melodic synths, and the sort of guitar riffs that would make Nile Rodgers sit up and listen. Full of feel-good disco vibes, all the EP’s songs, from opener “Chance” to title track “Keepin’ Me Under,” fuse a classic yet contemporary sound, updating the genres the band are influenced by and bringing them into the twenty-first century.

Single “Better Man” has certainly captured the ears and imaginations of listeners – racking up more than 1.5 million streams on Spotify alone. However, the tune’s upbeat feeling belies a deeper message. “It’s an important song,” explain the band, “it’s a song that battles with anxiety and depression and it was really important for us to vocalise those vulnerabilities we all have.”

That mix of deeper messages and dance-inducing rhythms have won a wide range of big-name fans, as well – despite the band still being its early days. Radio 1’s Nick Grimshaw played “Keepin’ Me Under” on his drivetime show, which the band describe as “surreal.” Rayowa have also supported the legendary Craig Charles twice at his Funk & Soul Nights.

With the band’s singles and debut EP getting love from disco fans and celebrities alike, it’s clear that Rayowa are set for an exciting future. The group will bring out its 9-piece live band again this summer with shows and festivals across the UK – which will no doubt bring the feelgood vibes to everyone watching.

“It’s an eclectic mix of people which is absolutely amazing,” say the band of their live shows. “We’ve seen people from all walks of life dancing side by side and it feels like we are creating a really inclusive environment – it’s perfect.”

With their new Believe EP releasing imminently, Rayowa are marching the disco renaissance forward. Long may it continue.