COLORSxSTUDIOS

From crafting their unique sound through “happy accidents” to opening up about the vulnerability of expressing difficult emotions, LATIN MAFIA dive deep into their experimental process in the latest episode of A COLORS CLOSE-UP.

Born and raised in Lagos, Brown Joel is a singer and songwriter whose music blends the heartfelt storytelling of Afropop with the vibrant rhythms of Afrobeat and contemporary R&B. With a voice that’s both soulful and commanding, Brown Joel introduced himself in 2022 with the release of double singles ‘Omo Ologo’ and ‘Peace’. Since then, the rising artist has dropped a string of soul-stirring singles including ‘Ogechi (with BoyPee & Hyce)’, ‘Constantly’ and most recently ‘Must’.

In the lead up to his forthcoming debut EP which is out soon, Brown Joel steps onto the COLORS stage to share an impassioned performance of his latest single ‘Lose My Mind’. A blend of shimmering keys, pulsating Afrobeats percussion, and ethereal melodies creates a rich sonic backdrop as the singer’s velvety voice serenades, telling a heartfelt story of love’s intensity, vulnerability, and the surrender it demands. Watch the full performance of ‘Lose My Mind’ on the site and keep an eye out for more new music from Brown Joel.

Ho99o9 is the genre-bending duo redefining the boundaries of punk and hip hop with their incendiary energy and fearless artistry. Led by theOGM and Yeti Bones, the former New Jersey, now Los Angeles-based group’s sound is a visceral assault, weaving distorted guitars, pounding beats, and razor-sharp verses into anthems of resistance. Following a string of EPs and mixtapes, their critically acclaimed albums ‘United States of Horror’ (2017) and ‘SKIN’ (2022) showcase their ability to channel chaos into art, making Ho99o9 a relentless voice of defiance.

Bringing their invigorating sound to COLORS, the duo step onto the stage to share a high octane medley of two new singles titled ‘Bad Vibes’ and ‘Bald Eagle Britney’, which are lifted from their forthcoming album. In a whirlwind of glitch-infused hyperpop production and electrifying energy, Ho99o9 tackle themes of disloyalty, fake personas, and rebellion as their unapologetic yet playful verses strike with unrelenting force and conviction. Watch the full performance of ‘Bad Vibes’ and ‘Bald Eagle Britney’ in full on the site and keep an eye out for the new album which is due this year.

Mexico City-based outfit LATIN MAFIA (comprising brothers Mike (producer), Emilio (singer) and Milton (singer) de la Rosa) are known for blending reggaeton’s fiery rhythms with the gritty energy of trap, hip-hop and indie pop. Over the past few years, the sibling group have impressed with a string of singles starting with ‘Ciudad de las Luces’ (2021), and followed by equally standout cuts like ‘Julieta’ (2021), ‘Flores’ (2023) and ‘Patadas de Ahogado (ft. HUMBE) (2023) to name a few. At the end of last year, the trio dropped their debut album ‘TODOS LOS DÍAS TODO EL DÍA’, an intricately crafted collection of eleven tracks that highlights their meticulous attention to detail and experimental approach to songwriting.

For their debut A COLORS SHOW, LATIN MAFIA share a tender yet captivating rendition of ‘Siento que merezco más’, the opening track from the new album. A beautiful blend of reggaeton rhythms, handclaps, and tender piano chords, the track pulses with Emilio and Milton’s contrasting vocals—one soothing and heavenly, the other raw and gritty. Watch the performance in full on the site, as they speak of longing, vulnerability, and the desperate search for connection and healing in love.

Qing Madi (real name Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma) is a Nigerian singer and songwriter whose music masterfully fuses Afrobeat, R&B, and pop into a refreshing and vibrant sound. Following early singles like ‘See Finish’ and ‘Why’, the rising artist gained recognition with her standout eponymous EP ‘Qing Madi’ in 2023, showcasing her emotive vocals and catchy melodies. This year, Qing Madi dropped the deluxe version of the EP, which includes a remix of ‘Vision’ with Chloe Bailey, as well as new tracks ‘YBIL (You Believe in Love)’ with Kizz Daniel and ‘Sins For U’.

Kicking off the new year, Qing Madi steps onto the COLORS stage to deliver a spellbinding performance of her new single titled ‘Favorite Psycho’. With hypnotic Afrobeats percussion and silky R&B harmonies, Qing Madi’s heartfelt and evocative voice glides over the instrumentation as she sings about the emotional turbulence of love, betrayal, and the enduring hope of reconciliation. Watch the full performance of ‘Favorite Psycho’ in full on the site.

Earlier this year, Chennai, India-based singer, songwriter and producer Sid Sriram graced the COLORS stage to share a poignant performance of his single ‘The Heir’. The piano led single, which followed Sid’s sophomore album ‘Sidharth’, showcased the artist’s exceptional voice and philosophical lens as he explored themes of freedom and truth.

To close off the year, Sid Sriram returns to the stage to share a breathtaking rendition of ‘Shivanar (சிவனார் மனங்குளிர)’, a transcendent verse from the Thiruppugazh (meaning ‘Holy Praise’ or ‘Divine Glory’) a 14th-century anthology of Tamil devotional songs written by the poet-saint Arunagirinathar. From the very first raga (a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music), sung in the South Indian classical discipline of Carnatic, Sid embodies a sense of serenity as he evokes a deep connection to the divine, urging inner purification.

Sid: “My mum taught it to me when I was eight or nine and it’s lived with me since then. During the tour for my album, I ended every set with ‘Sivanar manam kulira’. It’s a deeply spiritual piece focused on the Hindu god Muruga, so closing the set with it always feels very meditative and profound.”

Dive deeper into Sid’s world and read our interview.

South London rapper Blanco first rose to prominence as the founding member of Drill collective Harlem Spartans. Since then, Blanco has impressed with his seamless fusion of drill, baile funk, electronic and hip-hop. Following projects like ‘English Dubbed’ (2019), ‘City of God’ (2021) and ‘ReBourne’ (2023), the rapper has teamed up with the likes of Sainté, SadBoi, Nemzzz, MizOrMac, Blaqbonez, Grace Carter and COLORS alum Central Cee. Most recently, Blanco dropped ‘Gilberto’s Son’, a 13-track mixtape named after his late father and includes standouts like ‘Ponzi Scheme’, ‘Let Me Go’ and ‘Brilliant Mind II’.

For his debut COLORS appearance, Blanco steps onto the stage with vigour to deliver a fiery medley of ‘Sombrero’ and ‘This System’, both of which are lifted from the new mixtape. On ‘Sombrero’, the rapper reflects on loyalty, betrayal, and resilience as he navigates a horn-heavy soundscape before continuing his self-reflection on ‘This System’. Watch the full performance on the site and be sure to check out Blanco’s new mixtape ‘Gilberto’s Son’, which is out now.

Rejjie Snow shares how growing up surrounded by dance, graffiti, and the arts shaped his creativity, and reveals how his artistic process begins with a visual spark in the latest episode of A COLORS CLOSE-UP.

Irish rapper Rejjie Snow’s genre-defying sound sees him seamlessly blend elements of hip hop, jazz and soul.

From his mixtape, ‘The Moon & You’ (2017), to his critically acclaimed debut studio album ‘Dear Annie’ (2018), Rejjie’s ability to combine smooth, jazzy production with laid-back yet compelling flows has captivated a wide audience and seen him collaborate with a host of artists including COLORS alums Aminé and Joey Bada$$. With an effortless and thoughtful storytelling, Rejjie has continued to push musical boundaries while maintaining a personal connection with listeners through follow up albums like ‘Baw Baw Black Sheep’ (2021) and his latest project ‘PEACE 2 DA WORLD’.

For his debut COLORS appearance, Rejjie Snow brings his signature wit to the forefront with a performance of ‘Karen’, a highlight from the new album. Snow’s relaxed yet pointed delivery pairs wonderfully with the vintage, boom-bap production, as he playfully mocks ‘Karen’’s entitlement, turning the track into a witty social commentary on privilege and societal expectations. Watch Rejjie’s performance of ‘Karen’ in full on the site and be sure to check out the new album if you haven’t already.

Louisiana native I Am Roze crafts a mesmerizing fusion of R&B and soul, marked by vivid storytelling and velvety vocal delivery. Discovered by acclaimed producer Fred Again, who sampled Roze on two songs for his second album in 2021, Roze delivered their first live performance on ‘Later… with Jools Holland’ a few years later and captivated an audience with a rendition of ‘Definition of Happy’ with Nitin Sawhney CBE at the Royal Albert Hall. Earning support from the likes of Timbaland and Ghostface Killah, I Am Roze released their captivating debut single ‘Someone Who Cares’ in 2023 before dropping their magnificent debut EP ‘I’m Not Emotional’, in April 2024. Most recently, as they gear up for the release of their new EP, Roze’s ethereal, textured voice and vivid storytelling have shone on singles like ‘Think For Yourself’ and ‘I Hate You’.

For COLORS, I Am Roze shared an emotional and soulful rendition of their newly released single ‘Dollar’, which is also lifted from the upcoming EP titled ‘Social Commentary’. Amid the piano’s melancholic refrain and a solemn string section, the singer’s voice—pure, resonant, and heartbreakingly expressive—unfolds like a lament, delivering the lyrics with an unflinching intensity that confronts greed and injustice with piercing emotional clarity. Watch I Am Roze’s breathtaking A COLORS SHOW performance of ‘Dollar’ above, and keep an eye out for more new music which is out soon.