Coming together as Raz & Afla, Raz Olsher and Afla Sackey converge worlds through their dynamic fusion of electronic and traditional African rhythms, forging a path that is as bold as it is innovative. Rooted in their deep-seated passion for music and cultural exploration, they seamlessly blend their distinct musical backgrounds to create a unique sonic landscape that captivates audiences worldwide.
Raz Olsher is a visionary producer and composer known for his boundary-pushing electronic soundscapes, bringing his expertise in blending diverse musical elements to the duo. His meticulous attention to detail and penchant for experimentation form the foundation upon which Raz & Afla’s sound thrives.
Already part of the Wah Wah 45s family with his band Afrik Bawantu, Afla Sackey is an esteemed percussionist and vocalist with roots tracing back to Ghana. He infuses the duo’s music with rich traditional African rhythms and melodies. Afla’s virtuosity on percussion instruments and his soulful vocals add a visceral, organic dimension to their compositions, creating a mesmerising auditory experience that transcends cultural boundaries.
Together, Raz & Afla defy genre limitations, seamlessly weaving together electronic beats, Afrobeat grooves, and intricate percussive textures. Their music resonates with a deep sense of cultural authenticity and a forward-thinking approach that pushes the boundaries of contemporary music.
Shikor Shikor is the third single to be taken from the duo’s forthcoming sophomore LP, Echoes Of Resistance. It’s an uplifting, percussive piece, with Afla’s vocals echoing his intricate drum work and working in tandem with Raz’s beats and synths to tell of the pair’s admiration and love of women and the female form.
With a growing discography that includes critically acclaimed releases and collaborations with musicians from around the globe, Raz & Afla continue to carve out their place in the international music scene. Their electrifying live performances are celebrated for their energy and the profound connection they forge with audiences, making every show a vibrant celebration of musical diversity and unity.
Reactions & Radio Play
Radio play from Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music), Deb Grant & Tom Ravenscroft (New Music Fix, BBC 6 Music), Jeremiah Asiamah (BBC 1Xtra), Tina Edwards (Bandcamp Weekly), John Warr (Afrobase, Totally Radio), Michael Stukes (Mystic Vybes WHCR 90.3 FM, USA), Mark Hume, Coco Love, Djeff Afrozilla, Jask, DJ Moni, Jerry Bouthier, Hippie Torrales, Adriatique, DJ Wrighty, Pradip, Dr. StrangeDub, Laroye, Rap Saunders, DJ Harri, Eva Theotokatou, Robert Luis, Rob Da Bank, Laurent Garnier, Olgierd Zbychorski, Ian Friday, Makossa, DJ Nelson (Sunny South Beats), Amazing Radio, Jazz Radio London, Soho Radio, Reverb, Slack City and Claus Mitterhuemer
Featured in Apple Music’s “New in Electronic Music”
Featured in Youtube Music’s “New Dance 2024”
You And The Music published review 27/09: http://www.youandthemusic.com/2024/09/review-raz-afla-shikor-shikor-eno-be-me.html
Playlisted on Spotify by Radio Co-op (Italy) 04/10: https://www.radiocoop.it/le-playlist-spotify-di-radiocoop-del-04-ottobre-2024/
Featured published by Connect Everything Collective 04/10: https://ceconline.co.za/raz-afla-release-shikor-shikor-eno-be-me-singles/
Airplay: Radio Grenuille 07/10: https://www.radiogrenouille.com/cest-quoi-ce-son/
Airplay: Bandcamp Weekly (Tina Edwards) 08/10: https://bandcamp.com/?show=783
Airplay: ByteFM Germany 08/10: https://www.byte.fm/sendungen/out-of-spectrum/2024-10-08/17/flashing-lights/
Airplay: Radio X Frankfurt 11/10: http://www.radiox.de/sendungen/the-jazzmadass-radioshow/playlists/8993-the-jazzmadass-radioshow-11-10-2024
“Dope track” Djeff Afrozilla (Various, Portugal)
“SHIKOR SHIKOR for sure. Love this” Laurent Garnier (Owner of PBB Radio + Radio show on Radio Meuh + Worldwide FM, France)
“Downloaded” Richie Hawttin (Various, Canada)
“Vibing” Renaat Vandepapeliere (Various, Belgium)
“Great stuff” Chris Todd AKA Hot Toddy (Crazy P, UK)
“The percussion is divine. Excited to play this one out” Tina Edwards (Worldwide FM, UK)
“Downloading, thank you” Adriatique (Various, Switzerland)
“Super dope” Mr Shiver (Fabric/ East village/ Supper Club/London town)
“Will try thanks” DJ Paco Osuna (Various, Ibiza)
“Lovely stuff, will play and support” DJ Harri (Various, Scotland)
“Fab!” DJ Ritu (Various, London)
“Great!!” DJ Kid Hops (KEXP 90.3 FM, Seattle)
“Thank you” Alex Ruder (KEXP / 90.3 FM, Seattle)
“Wah Wah! Both tracks are ace!” Marshmello (NTS Radio London)
“Great tune full of percussion” Black Mighty Wax aka Cesare Cera (Nu Lounge / Gru Radio / radio Fujiko / Ex-Forno / Radio Bologna Uno)
“Great work mixing tradition and electronics, always exciting” Miqui Puig
“Yess these are vibes!” Papaoul (Various, UK)
“Lovely vibe” DJ Cottam (Various, UK)
“Impatiently waiting on the album….another cracking two-tracker will have to suffice.” DJ Martin Valentine (Various, UK)
“Shikor Shikor is just pure fire” DJ Wrighty (Soul Buggin’, UK)
“Nice will repeat play and groove on it” Chris Philips (Jazz FM, UK)
“Truly enthralling” Mike Fossati (Spirit Of House, Switzerland)
“Groooovy” Olivier Cavaller (De La Bonne Musique, Perpignan)
“GROOVY!!!!” DJ Robotalco (Various, Italy)
“Strong stuff” Olly Love (Various, UK)
“Forward thinking afro vibe on this release .. very nice and diverse” Raj Selli (Solar Radio London)
“I love this stripped-back sound.” DJ Osric (RTRFM, Perth, Western Australia)
“Funky as F$$$ with that killa sub bass.” Pradip (PBS FM, Australia)
“Incroyable, percussion chant, superbes arrangemets” Jean-Marc Baehler (Swiss National TV, www.rts.ch, www.couleur3.ch “Republik Kalakuta”)
“Love it all” Mark Hume (Soho Radio / Netil Radio / London)
“Killer Afrobeat” Simone Vimercati (Jazz It Up)3
“Solid little dancefloor track!” Mark Futuresounds (DJ Magazine, Notion)
“Loving it!” Marian Tone (Sonar Kollektiv, Germany)
“Loving this track!” Susan Schwartz (Platinum Rye Entertainment, NYC)
“Shikor shikor is ace!!!” Jaye Ward (Various, UK)
“Pulling together so many elements of what’s popping now – irresistible and sexy” David Tilapia aka DJ Skaface (Various, Uganda)
“Fresh sounds! will deffo play out” DJ Rob Da Bank (Various, UK)
“Great stuff” DJ Lil’ Dave (Eavesdrop Radio, USA)
“Wicked track, funky! Lovely percussive bizzness” DJ Expression (Whatshot Radio, UK)
“Love this one!!” Jane Cudworth (Big Chill, Garden Festival, Bestival, Rum Do, Womad, MTV, UK)
“Awesome!” Veronique Prebolin (Radio Krimi & Mosaïque FM, France)
“Clever and contemporary mix of flavors” Derek Rath (KPFK, Los Angeles)
“Beautiful fusion of organic and electronic elements” Grant Smith (The Face Radio)
“Love this. great track” Simon Kurrage (Various, UK)
“Nice heater!” Chris Astrojazz (Scotland)
“Nice one” Tjerk Coers (Armada Music, Netherlands)
“Driving dynamic dance track. Futuristic Afro style! Cool.” Oliver Korthals (Mojo Club + Out Of Spectrum)
“Great tune!” Matteo “Pzzo”” Chelini” (Various, Italy)
“Very nice!” Timos Koklas (Reverb Nation, Greece)
“Great, love their energy” Claus Mitterhuemer (BTO Spider / Radio FM4, Austria)
“Deep house meets Afro – Electronica… the beats work!” Steve Harrington (House FM, UK)
“Now this will get you dancing! Great percussion and likewise on the vocals!” Dr. StrangeDub (KFAI-FM / Minneapolis)
“Nice song & production” Hippie Torrales (Cyberjamz Radio)
“I love it” Rado Tomek (Radio_FM / Nu Spirit Bar, Bratislava, Slovakia)
“Strong release” Ket Shah (TWR / Soul On The Canal, London)
“All I can say is wow.” Måns Strömberg (Radio Helsinki Radio YLE 1, Various, Finland)
“Bomb!” Chris Exarchopoulos (Black Radio Berlin – Up’n’loud Radio, Germany)
“Nice tune!” Sven Thomschke (Radio Z 95.8, Germany)
“So So Good!” SumSuch (Colour and Pitch, BBE, 5 Magazine, South Coast UK)
“Mixbound!” Luke Andrews (KFAI, USA)
“Great track!” Jason Deckstatic (No.8, XL, Space Ibiza NYC, 1 Oak Southampton, London)
“Wow love this! top quality.” Nelson Ramalho (The Weekend Warm Up, Power FM)
“Nice release” Nick Davies (The Boogie Wonderland Show, Radio Winchcombe/ Gloucester)
“This is another excellent release…” Gerry Hectic (60 Million Postcards /Bournemouth)
“Great music!! Thanks and support” Jon Sweetname (Various, Spain)
“Love it” DJ Roman Jack (Various, Helsinki)
“Nice tracks” DJ Makossa (Radio FM4, Vienna)
“Nice!” Robert Lochmann (Radio X,Frankfurt, Soulsender.de)
“Tight” Tyrone Francis (USA)
“Shikor Shikor has a nice groove and feel to it. One to help build up a dancefloor.” Sean Innit (Midnight Riot, UK)
“I am here for the Afro-futuristic breaks” Wahine (Passion Ibiza Radio)
“Bumpin'” Chris Vogado (Fluid Ounce / zero dB / Ninja tune)
“I love this pairing – it’s expansive, experimental, joyous and remembers where its roots came from” Debbie Golt (Resonance 104.4FM / Wycombe Sound London/High Wycombe)
“Nice!!” Alex aka Soulist (Various, Paris)
“That perc and riddem is just too funky. love how it progresses and gives you room to breath in the middle. cant wait to put this one in the mix!” Dennis Lowrey (Selekta Recordings, USA)
“Great – will play” DJ Lamp (Coalition, The Hub, Radio Reverb, Coastway Radio, Brighton)
“Original and delicious” Richard Marshall (Openlab / Sub Sahara)
“Nice long player that will sit well in my sets” Dean ‘Sunshine’ Smith (Res.DJ/Music director-Garden Croatia, Various, UK)
“Interesting experimental sound” Amar Kabouche (Fauve radio, Hong Kong)
“Ungenreable!” Kate Magic (Soho Radio, UK)
“Gorgeous” Aja Allsop (Aja & Claire Simone’s Ketch A Vibe Show, UK)
“Nice space treatment percussion groove.” Dazzle Drums (Various, Japan)
“Shikor Shikor bubbles along nicely!” Steve KIW (1BTN Radio, UK)
“Love it! Thanks” Enrique Domenech (Freeforms Podcasts, UK)
“Nice one!” DJ Junior (Eavesdrop Radio WKDU 91.7FM, Philly)
“Dynamic percussive intro and backdrop.” John Warr (Radio Reverb Brighton/ TotallyRadio, Brighton)
“Love it!!” Makala (Global Funkers, Boom Shaka Laka Radio Show, Spain)
“Dancefloor vibes for the times! Love it!!!” Gordon Wedderburn (GW Jazz, UK)
“Good groove” MP Marcus (Choice FM, UK)
“Wicked!!!” Markus Milz (“Further in Fusion” Radio Corax 95.9 FM, Germany)
“Heavy production, killer grooves!” Ex-Friendly (Truth & Lies, UK)
“Excellent work!” David Montoya (Modern Soul Radio, USA)
“Love it” DJ Snuff (Universal Magnetic Bboy, London)
“Very funky.” Jim McMaster (TNGC Radio, UK)
“Absolutely love this modern afrodisco banger.” Glyn Griffiths (Jelly Jazz club nights / Rambunctious Social Club/ Southwest UK)
“I like the broken beat vibe” François Renoncourt (Pan African Music, France)
“Nice one!” Daferwa (WDR Cosmo (Cologne) / Mash It Up!)
“It doesn’t get better than this!” Jamie Renton (Chilli Fried/Shout Collective/ fRoots)
“Absolutely excellent…. both tracks I’ve heard are killer grooves” Nigel Wood (Various, UK)
“Great one this!” Music P (Ibiza)
“Dope!!!” Ross Wakefield (Hideout Sessions Podcast, UK)
“Infectious groove!” Coco Love (Nu Soul Records, USA)
“Great” Jim Wood (8 Track Music Solutions, UK)
“Great dance music from a duo who are pushing the modernist boundaries” DJ Drummie Dave (Various, UK)
Reviews
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