Nubiyan Twist – Azimuth
Nubiyan Twist drop “Azimuth”, the second single from their fifth studio album “Chasing Shadows”, out March 20, 2026 on Strut. The track introduces new lead vocalist Eniola, a recent Trinity Laban Conservatoire graduate, bringing energy to a song about losing your way in life’s rush and finding the courage to realign.
“Azimuth” leans hard on what the band does best: blazing electronics, afrobeat rhythms, and soulful vocals. The title nods to Brazilian jazz-funk legends Azymuth, while the song itself searches for orientation and clarity—recalibrating your inner compass when everything feels off track.
“Chasing Shadows” arrives after 2024’s “Find Your Flame”, which earned praise from Rolling Stone, Jazzwise, and NPR. Bandleader and producer Tom Excell pushed the band’s sound further into new territory, bringing together a stacked lineup of collaborators. Malian star Fatoumata Diawara lights up the title track, Joe Armon-Jones (Ezra Collective) leads the dub workout “Rhythm Of You”, and Patrice Rushen plays piano on “Threads”. The band also reconnects with their hip-hop roots through collabs with The Pharcyde’s Bootie Brown, Ghanaian MC M.anifest, and London dancehall artist Mr Williamz.
Excell describes the album as a statement against algorithms and screens: “You can get an AI to write a fugue in seconds, but it can’t capture the chemistry and chaos that happens when musicians lock in together. ‘Chasing Shadows’ is our way of holding onto that.”
Tracklist:
- Azimuth
- Chasing Shadows (feat. Fatoumata Diawara)
- Red Herring (feat. Bootie Brown)
- How Far (feat. M.anifest)
- Sunlight
- Message (feat. Mr Williamz)
- Mlonje: Voices Joined (feat. The Zawose Queens)
- Echoes
- Body Flows
- Threads (feat. Patrice Rushen)
- Rhythm Of You (feat. Joe Armon-Jones)
