Kotoa are a 5 piece band from Loughborough Junction, South East London, made up of drummer Laurie Campling, bassist Frank Black, keyboard player Sam Hillier, guitarist and vocalist Memphis Koloi & saxophonist and vocalist Maia Avery.
Having signed to Wah Wah 45s last year, Kotoa bring a refreshing sound, blending political rhetoric, soulful melodies & heavy bass lines. Deeply influenced by dub, triphop & the recent rise of African inspired jazz, Kotoa are a rising force in Brixton’s historic music scene.
On the back of the success of their recent singles, Love and Light and Butterfly House, which received much support from Jazz FM, Apple music and in particular from the likes of Colleen Cosmo Murphy and Robbie Vincent, comes their second full EP, entitled Out of the Dark, once again produced by revered musician and engineer Benedic Lamdin (Nostalgia 77).
The five tracker, their follow up to 2025’s acclaimed Earthwise EP, opens with the inviting dub offering, When We Dance – a song about finding a place of freedom, leaving a darker world behind through movementand music. It explores how dance is a powerful tool that can physically remove tension, providing moments of freedom and escape from a consuming and often negative world.
The Afrobeat flavoured Good Will Follow is a tune about empowerment and motivation to ‘do good’ and make a positive change in the world. It’s about acknowledging privilege in your life whatever that may be and celebrating this power by using it for positivity and helping others. It features erstwhile Youthsayers musicians Noah Black (baritone saxophone) and Fin Öhrström (trumpet).
The lead single from the EP, Love and Light, is a song about reconnection and a celebration of being around someone that makes you feel loved and seen.
“We want people to listen to it and feel gratitude for the people, places or memories that make them feel like this, with the groove getting people to dance and celebrate this feeling.” Maia Avery
Inspired by the mystical movement of vapor as it passes through light, EP highlight Smoke compares this to the same freedom and ‘care-free’ nature which can be achieved through listening to music and dance, and conveys it through Maia’s sultry vocals and Laurie’s unexpected changes in pace, underpinned by Frank’s steady bassline and gorgeous additional strings from Emma Smith.
Closing off the EP, recent single Butterfly House combines life affirming vocals and soothing sax, connecting nature and discovering self-acceptance, as Maia once again explains: “It’s a song about rebirth – having experiences in life that change and shape you ultimately for the better. It’s about letting go and embracing this change and becoming more open-minded to new beginnings.
”It’s a theme that runs throughout the EP, a positive and uplifting message that’s much needed in these troubled times, and one which delivers a sense of much needed hope.”
Reactions & Radio Play
Radio support from Gilles Peterson (BBC 6 Music), Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music), Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM) & David Rodigan (BBC 1 Xtra), Bobafatt (Soho Radio), Slow Life Sound System (2SER 107.3FM Sydney, Australia)
“Next generation.. great stuff!” Gilles Peterson (BBC 6 Music)
“A cool new EP!” Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music)
“My favourite new band.. marvellous!” Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM)
“Will support.” Rob Luis (Tru Thoughts, UK)
“Great EP, love the When We Dance track!” Nickodemus (Wonderwheel, USA)
Been loving all their stuff.” Chris Phillips (Jazz FM / One Jazz, UK)
“Kotoa show a depth and understanding way beyond their years … or maybe im just old …. london thru and thru and so so good.” For Mankind (Pikes, Ibiza)
“Beautiful!!” Jazzcat (Totally Wired Radio / Ness Radio, Italy)
“Exeptional musical vibes!” Nicole Finnerty (Dubtastic Music / Real Roots Radio, UK)
“Fascinating release! Full support.” Cesare Cera (Bologna Uno, Italy)
“Great tracks! Sure to get spins on the air and club.” Jason Palma (Footprints, Canada)
“BRILLANT! delicious blend of jazz, reggae and soul.” Veronique Prebolin (Radio Krimi, France)
“Am a fan since I heard their fiirst song!” Martijn Barkhuis (Jazz de Ville, The Netherlands)
“This EP has a beautiful organic sound!” Steve Johns (Solar Radio, UK)
“Amazing! Love all their music! Always full support! They should perform at Roots&Jazz inside the Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2027 ;)” Enrique Domenech (CKUT 90.3FM, Canada)
“Sounds great, looking forward to full listen.” Phil Gray (KPSU Radio, USA)
“Amazing music. A very talented outfit. #playlisted.” DJ Osric (RTR FM, Australia)
“Quality tracks!” DJ Angola (Wonderwheel, USA)
“”Very beautiful… soothing.” AHU (Istanbul, Turkey)
“This is wonderful music! – Full support.” Sven Thomschke (Radio Z 95.8FM, Germany)
“This is brilliant, so groovy and atmospheric…” El Conchitas (Various, Ibiza)
“This goes way beyond the usual UK afrobeat territory.” Rado Tomek (NuSpirit, Slovakia)
“Amazing!!” DJ Davine (Inbeats FM, UK)
“Superb.” Robert Lochmann (Radio X, Germany)
“Lovely jazzy soulful vybes..” Raj Selli (Solar Radio, UK)
“Wonderful EP.” Tony Heynen (Global Riddims, Belgium)
“Brilliant.” Mark Daley (Soho Radio, UK)
“Solid!!” Mark Ward (Radio 2SER 97.3FM, Australia)
“The 70s of the north, revolutionary, deep, dark seductive roots reggae with something to shout about. great composition, bringing that West Midland ska / bluebeat element while making sure lyrics are being told the contrast of a slice of west africa gives you the feeling you just walked into the next room ready to flow!” Roger Grant (Soul Partizan, UK)
“The afrobeat flavour of Good Will Follow ticks all the right boxes.” Steve KIW (1BTN, UK)
“Great EP!! Love these tunes. Thank you!!” Kid Hops (KEXP 90.3FM, USA)
“Lovely stuff… full support.” Cal Gibson (Secret Soul Society, UK)
“Will review for broadcast.” Whitney (CJSW 90.9FM, USA)
“Quality music all the way.” Markus Milz (Radio Corax 95.9FM, Germany)
“Brilliant!” Olivier Cavaller (De La Bonne Musique, France)
“Love all these, but think I will play Smoke on my next show.” Linda Boyle (Totally Wired Radio, UK)
“Nice tracks… thanks allot.. I’ll support.” Timos Koklas (Reverb Nation, Greece)
“Tasty blend of dub, triphop and afrojazz!” DJ Six (Various, UK)
“Some very sweet moments.” DJ Breakplus (Couleur3 Radio, Switzerland)
“Super groove… love it all.” Andrea Rheaume (Various, Canada)
“Nice mix of styles.” Sista Selecta (Buckets Radio, Australia)
“Will be playing on my “Random Jukebox” show.” Karl Phillips (Source 96.1FM, UK)
“Fantastic stuff! willl be supporting on The Global Rhythms show on Croydon FM.” DJ Asi (Croydon FM, UK)
“Another beautiful release from a fantastic group that continues to grow in stature. A great release.” DJ Mr Lob (Melbourne, Australia)
“As good I was hoping this EP to be – love it!!” Simon Harrison (Basic Soul, UK)
“Just pure musical quality from start to finish.” Jamie Renton (Chilli Fried, UK)
“Cool ones.” Tjerk Coers (Armada Music, The Netherlands)
“Lovely and a very nice spread of styles…. light jazzy to Afrobeat. I like it all!” Nigel Wood (Various, UK)
“The youth sayers come to adulthood – beautiful Wah Wah 45s.” Gerry Hectic (You And The Music, UK)
“A fabulously mature recording from such a youthful bunch. The three tracks here which we’ve not heard previously have great musical variety and there’s a sense of light & shade in the music as a whole which lends itself to the overall sophisticated ambiance…and Good Will Follow kicks like a horse, that will light up the dancefloor for sure.” Drummie Dave (Various, UK)
