Raha (EP) by Savana Funk & Gaudi

‘Raha’, the new collaborative EP by Italian Afro-funk band SAVANA FUNK and renowned producer/musician GAUDI (Steel Pulse, Groove Armada, The Orb, Tricky, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Simple Minds) is out today on all the digital platforms.
SAVANA FUNK & GAUDI unleash their new collaborative EP ‘Raha’, available today on all the digital platforms via Record Kicks. In addition to the two singles ‘Raha’ and ‘Orewa’ already released last month and currently in rotation on BBC 6, Radio Capital, FIP Radio France to name but a few, the new EP features the brand new numbers ‘Koola Lobitos’ and ‘Pallas’, a psychedelic "Afro-Cosmic" mixture of space-funk influences and exotic perfumes, unified by the Sacred Spirit of Groove.

The title ‘Raha’ means “peace of mind” in Moroccan language, a message of positivity that this collective of top-caliber musicians shout out to the world throughout their music.

Recorded at Duna Studio in Italy and produced at Metatron Studio in London UK by Gaudi himself, the EP aims to revive the “Cosmic-Disco” sound of the late 70s, term used to describe various forms of African-influenced and Synth-based dance music with a particular method of DJing originally developed and promoted by a small number of DJs in Italy from the late 70s throughout the mid-80s, a freeform music-journey created with vinyl records, mixing and beat-matching a very diverse range of musical styles, from electro-funk to Brazilian-jazz, with the addition of live percussion and effects. Pioneers such as DJ Mozart, Daniele Baldelli, Loda, Pery, Spranga, L’ebreo, Rubens, Meo, Tosi Brandi, Lelli and venues such as Cosmic, Baia Degli Angeli, Typhoon, La Mecca, Chicago, Arlecchino to name but a few, had truly expanded and helped the development of the club-culture in Italy and subsequently in Europe.

In his youth, producer/musician Gaudi was one of the punters who regularly attended these venues and followed the whole “Afro-Cosmic” movement, experiencing from the dancefloor these 90-110BPM hypnotic grooves and subconsciously absorbing the essence of them.

In fact, it is no coincidence that many of the productions he has released in the last 30 years of his career career have a strong Afro-influenced imprinting, the last of which is in-fact this EP ‘Raha’, a vibrant tribute to what is considered one of the most exciting and original movements in the club scene, in Italy first and subsequently also in Europe.
Active since 2015, SAVANA FUNK are one of the most sought-after “afro-funk” bands in Italy, with hundreds of successful live shows nationwide including performances with Kokoroko, Seun Kuti and Nu Guinea, they have released 5 albums so far: ‘Musica Analoga’, ‘Savana Funk’, ‘Bring in the New’ ‘Tindouf’ and the latest ‘Ghibli’.
London based music producer GAUDI has contributed to a number of albums nominated for awards and prizes such as: Grammy Awards 2019 -with the album ‘Mass Manipulation’ by Steel Pulse- and World Music Awards -with the album ‘Dub Qawwali’ by Gaudi & Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan-. His work and music contributions have topped international charts such as: Billboard US Chart no.1 with the albums ‘Heavy Rain’ by Lee "Scratch" Perry, no.1 with ‘Mass Manipulation’ by Steel Pulse and again no.1 with ‘Vessel of Love’ by Hollie Cook. Studio works include name acts such as: Grandmaster Flash, Don Letts, Brian Ferry, UB40, African Head Charge, Lamb, Horace Andy, Mad Professor, Afrika Bambaataa, Deep Forest, The Beat and more.

Aldo, Blake and Youssef (respectively from Italy, England
and Morocco) first met in spring 2015, in
Bologna, Italy. It became immediately apparent to them that
they shared a special bond on an emotional
and musical level. A mixture of
African music, funk, blues, psychedelic rock and jazz
influences runs throughout their original repertoire.
In 2018 they officially adopted the name SAVANA FUNK.