Sugarcane Drops A Hybrid Of Sounds With ‘Shambala Mess’

Sugarcane’s hybrid sound updates vintage bossa nova and calypso for twenty-first century London. With one British parent and one from the Caribbean, it's not surprising that Robin French's music is a post-Colonial jumble.

On new single, ‘Shambala Mess’, the influences gather to make a ferocious storm of Bahian drumming, French chansons, Trinidadian steel pan, and jet-black British indie.

Robin honed his songwriting craft as the bassist of Mr. Hudson and the Library, who supported such heavyweights as Amy Winehouse, The Police and Kanye West. In the years after, he’s had huge success as a scriptwriter - creating and writing five series of the award winning BBC1/Netflix sitcom Cuckoo and writing plays for the RSC, The Royal Court and The National. 

Joining him in Sugarcane are Siân Herbert (Steel Pan, Flute, BVs), Teddy Niesyto-Bame (percussion, BVs) and top Brazilian rhythm section - drummer Xande Oliviera and double bassist Klaus Stahr (Captain Ska).

Sugarcane’s debut EP, featuring the actress Antonia Thomas, was released in August 2018 to considerable acclaim.