“Charge It” is protest afrobeat rooted in South London. Based in Loughborough Junction, Kotoa bring together Maia Avery on saxophone and vocals, Memphis Koloi on guitar and vocals, Frank Black on bass, Sam Hillier on keys and Laurie Campling on drums.

Their writing folds afrobeat rhythm with dub low-end focus and delay-treated keys, while trip hop phrasing shapes the mid-range. The lyric addresses political, social and economic pressure in clear, rallying terms, echoing the spirit of Fela Kuti’s charged compositions and grounding it in London’s live-band scene.

“Charge It” sits on the five-track debut EP Earthwise, released 7 November by Wah Wah 45s, following the singles “Higher Being” and “I Am”. The record was produced by Benedic Lamdin, known for Nostalgia 77, and frames the group’s range across afrobeat, dub accents, soul harmony and jazz phrasing. Earlier in the year the label also issued a 7-inch coupling Vital Disorders’ 1982 recording of “Zombie” with a new Kotoa version.

Stream, listen to and get your copy of the EP HERE