Rayowa, a three-brother Essex band, is now lifting the standard for the disco, funk, and soul sector with the release of their latest track ‘Good Life.’ Dan, Reece, and Luke Baker are three siblings who are self-taught producers and multi-instrumentalists, playing guitar, bass, and piano.
Despite having no traditional musical background, the three brothers have been playing in bands together since they were youngsters, growing up on a housing estate in Basildon. The lads attained their swagger here, and their charisma defined their sound. From disco dancing with their grandmother to soul and R&B with their mother and rock with their father and grandfather, the group’s inspirations were diverse and found their way into the Rayowa sound.
‘Good Life’ follows the group’s first EP, ‘Keepin’ Me Under,’ which caught fans’ ears and imaginations, garnering over 2.5 million Spotify plays alone. Rayowa’s singles and first EP have received positive feedback from disco lovers and celebrities alike, indicating that the band is on track for a bright future. This summer, the group will bring out its 9-piece live band for gigs and festivals around the UK, which will undoubtedly make everyone in attendance feel fantastic.
On ‘Good Life’, Rayowa says “Good Life’ is about living in the moment. It’s about overcoming the pressures and anxiety of the expectation we put on ourselves to succeed. It’s about knowing times are hard but better days are coming. It’s taking a step back and acknowledging the difficulties you’ve overcome and that you should trust in yourself and the decisions you’ve made. It’s about being assured in the pursuit of your goals and refusing to give up until you reach the top.”
“The chorus lyrics are ‘Tonight, keep stayin’ up past midnight, but it doesn’t bother me, keep livin’ for the good life’. The meaning behind those words is sacrificing today’s short-term pleasure for tomorrow’s long-term gain. Staying positive, working hard all day, going to bed late and repeating the process.”
Rayowa’s zest for life resonates through ‘Good Life,’ sun-kissed and irresistibly optimistic. The music is really entertaining, with a sense of unity wrapped in soulful vocals and explosive instrumentation – an offering that finds them at their most brilliant and colourful.
The band also release the film-like visuals for ‘Good Life’, they explain that “the music video is a bit tongue in cheek and a bit of fun. We referenced the Nick Love film ‘The Business’ starring Danny Dyer & Tamar Hassan. It’s a British rise and fall gangster film set in the 80’s that we grew up watching, so when we had the opportunity to go to Spain to shoot the video, we went for it. We wanted to capture the grit and aesthetic of that film but make it look a bit Tarantino with some hints of Goodfellas. Our good friends Corey & Kieran Rid, two brothers from Liverpool, made the video.”
Rayowa is marching the disco renaissance forward. Long may it continue.