Noya Rao
Leeds-based, electronic-soul quartet Noya Rao are vocalist Olivia Bhattacharjee, bassist Jim Wiltshire, drummer Matt Davies and keys player/producer Tom Henry. Purveyors of enigmatic dreamscapes and organic, danceable electronica, they released their debut album, Icaros, last November.
Founded by producer Tom Henry (Cosima, Yellow Days) Noya Rao was originally conceived as a solo production project but become a collaborative effort mixing Tom’s production ideas with the attributes of Jim’s unique bass synth lines and Matt’s polyrhythmic beats. Their compositions drew on the influences of jazz, hip-hop and electronic music whilst incorporating the sounds of the bass-heavy-dub music synonymous with the Leeds music scene. Their sound really came into focus when they met vocalist Olivia Bhattacharjee who brought her gospel style and complex choral harmony to the band. This co-existing electronic and organic thread gives the band a strong identity and their powerful live show sets them apart from other producer-led bands.