Maya Jane Coles releases the next project under her Nocturnal Sunshine alias, joining forces with mysterious rapper CHA$EY JON£S on brand-new EP ‘LDN’, out now.
Growing up in west London in the mid-00s, much of Maya’s influences were within the rap and hip-hop worlds, something reflected in this latest EP, ‘LDN’ which offers fans a rarely-seen glimpse into what Maya might sound like if she hadn’t pursued a career in electronic music.
Under the Nocturnal Sunshine moniker, Maya explores grittier musical themes and on ‘LDN’ has teamed up with rapper, actor (Top Boy, I May Destroy You), and childhood friend CHA$EY JON£S, to redress the balance. Having originally made music together while at school in London, ‘LDN’ represents a full circle moment for both artists. The pair previously connected on the 2019 Nocturnal Sunshine album Full Circle, on tracks such as ‘Fuck Fame’, ‘Dash’ and ‘Bandit’.
A five-track release, ‘LDN’ is a slick, downbeat hip-hop record. Kicking things off, the title track immediately sets the tone, pairing smooth production with even smoother bars courtesy of Cha$ey. Continuing with this energy is ‘No Smoke’, while ‘Really Really’ brings darker, menacing energy. ‘Tralalala’ is the most maximalist track on the EP, before ‘CHA$EY’ ensures things close out on a memorable note.
“It feels amazing to finally be able to share this EP with you all,” says Maya. “The Nocturnal Sunshine x CHA$EY JON£S project is something very close to my heart. I was producing hip-hop years before I ever got into electronic/club music, it was my first musical love. Not only that but Cha$ey and I used to make music together when we were 15 and we even started a rap duo back then. Years later, to be making music again with one of my best mates feels like magic. ‘LDN’ is a collection of the first tracks we made when we started working together again. We’ve been working on so much material and this is only the beginning of what’s to come.”
It’s been more than ten years since British-Japanese artist Maya Jane Coles unleashed the modern house classic ‘What They Say’. She has since shifted the focus towards her Nocturnal Sunshine project, collaborating with the likes of Peaches, Miss Kittin and Young M.A. among others.
Maya Jane Coles demonstrates her versatility as an artist with this slick collaborative EP released under her Nocturnal Sunshine alias.