Nubiyan Twist

Nubiyan Twist is a British collective formed in the early 2010s in Leeds. It brings together a large ensemble of musicians, many of whom studied at Leeds College of Music, and is now based between Leeds and London. Led by composer and guitarist Tom Excell, Nubiyan Twist has developed a hybrid sound that intersects contemporary jazz, afrobeat, soul, hip‑hop and African music, with a strong emphasis on brass sections and vocalists. Early releases, including the self‑titled album Nubiyan Twist (2015), established the group on the UK independent scene, followed by a landmark release, Jungle Run (2019), which highlighted collaborations with vocalists such as K.O.G and Cherise and the Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke. Freedom Fables (2021) continued this aesthetic—mixing afro grooves, jazz lines and soulful songwriting—and Find Your Flame (2024) confirmed Nubiyan Twist’s place in the revival of jazz and afro music in England. The group performs regularly across the UK and Europe, moving between clubs, concert halls and festivals, and adapts its lineup for different projects while maintaining the idea of a fluid collective focused on improvisation and arranged orchestration.