Kotoa are a 5 piece band from Loughborough Junction, South East London, made up of drummer Laurie Campling, bass player Frank Black, keyboard player Sam Hillier, guitarist and vocalist Memphis Koloi & saxophonist and vocalist Maia Avery.

Having recently signed to Wah Wah 45s and with a forthcoming EP in the making, 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 and with their debut EP, Earthwise, in the works, the best is yet to come.

Following on from the success of their debut single, Higher Being, and their cover version of Fela Kuti’s Zombie, both of which were supported by Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio 6 Music and Worldwide FM respectively, this exciting young outfit present their second original single, I Am. It’s a stirring, sonorous soul-jazz piece, centered around Maia Avery’s stunning vocal and sax work, amid tropical flavoured guitar lines, sparkling piano and a solid bass & drum back-beat.

Maia explains more about the song’s subject matter: “Ultimately this song is about being human, finding yourself shifting as the pendulum swings and the empowering journey of learning to be comfortable with who you are through the people and the world around you.”