Cykada engages distant poles, analogue worlds crashing with electronics, Eastern influences crossing with Western, harmonising nostalgic moments with dancefloor bangers. This band of established musicians on the London scene is made up of members of Ezra Collective, Maisha, Where Pathways Meet, Myriad Forest, Family Atlantica and Don Kipper.
Bassist Jamie Benzies is the spine of the project, along with Tilé Gichigi-Lipere, also a fellow former member of the legendary band Myriad Forest and drummer Tim Doyle aka Chiminyo, together were the first members of Cykada. Trumpeter Axel Kaner-Lidstrom, saxophonist James Mollison and secret weapon guitarist Javi Pérez complete the ensemble.
In the last few years London has become the centre of the Jazz Renaissance. A new burst of energy and attitude brought by young musicians, equally inspired by the likes of John Coltrane, Pharaoh Sanders or Sun Ra, as well as Madvillain, J Dilla, Flying Lotus and Floating Points, has brought a welcomed freshness to the London Scene. This exciting new environment brought a group of young musicians together, all with a mutual desire to discover a new form of expression. Together they created Cykada.
