FELLAS - 'NDONTI EP

Toulouse’s quintet FELLAS release their debut EP ‘NDONTI’ via Root Records.

The ‘NDONTI’ EP has been approached by the band as the trailer for future LP ‘DINDI’, introducing listeners to their distinctive, cinematic nu-jazz blend. Moving between brooding trip-hop moods and boom-bap grooves, with disco and neo-soul in the mix for good measure, the compositions on the EP are centred around the concept of wabi-sabi – capturing a raw energy, complete with the unashamed imperfections that are a cornerstone of human nature.

On opening track DINDI, the band shares: “Dindi Is the main character. The song tells the story of a young man who arrives in a new city. He’s alone and delves deeper into a city that becomes increasingly crowded and dirty. We come to understand that he has arrived with bad intentions.”

Alongside bandleader Charlie Burg, FELLAS consists of Robin Safaru (drums), Séraphin Vergniot (bass), Robin Espagnet (guitar) and Léo Colman (keyboards) – a group of friends obsessed with the intersection of film, fashion, and music. Formed from the fire of the Toulouse jazz and hip-hop scene, the band cut their teeth at clubs, where they’re known to collaborate with MC’s and additional musicians to expand their sound even further. Much of their inspiration comes from Charlie’s upbringing – trips back to Italy to see his family and understand his roots – and the rich traditions of black American music, spanning the raw sounds of Pharoah Sanders and Dexter Gordon, all the way through to D’Angelo and 50 Cent.

FELLAS - SILLAGE

Quickly emerging as France’s answer to the likes of BADBADNOTGOOD and Yussef Kamaal, Toulouse’s FELLAS are set to release their debut EP ‘NDONTI’ via Root Records on Friday 13th September.

The final single from the project ‘SILLAGE’ aims to situate the listener within the frames of Sergio Leone’s crime epic ‘Once Upon A Time In America’, seeking to capture the odour of the films opium dens in hazy musical form. Built around a haunting Rhodes loop, with skittering delays and a sleazy backbeat, the track builds into a saxophone-led cacophony, melting away into a four to the floor two-stepper. The band share: “On SILLAGE, we’ve translated scent into music, creating a warm, amber atmosphere that is both captivating and unsettling.”

The forthcoming ‘NDONTI’ EP has been approached by the band as the trailer for future LP ‘DINDI’, introducing listeners to their distinctive, cinematic nu-jazz blend. Moving between brooding trip-hop moods and boom-bap grooves, with disco and neo-soul in the mix for good measure, the compositions on the EP are centred around the concept of wabi-sabi – capturing a raw energy, complete with the unashamed imperfections that are a cornerstone of human nature.

On opening track DINDI, the band shares: “Dindi Is the main character. The song tells the story of a young man who arrives in a new city. He’s alone and delves deeper into a city that becomes increasingly crowded and dirty. We come to understand that he has arrived with bad intentions.”

Alongside bandleader Charlie Burg, FELLAS consists of Robin Safaru (drums), Séraphin Vergniot (bass), Robin Espagnet (guitar) and Léo Colman (keyboards) – a group of friends obsessed with the intersection of film, fashion, and music. Formed from the fire of the Toulouse jazz and hip-hop scene, the band cut their teeth at clubs, where they’re known to collaborate with MC’s and additional musicians to expand their sound even further. Much of their inspiration comes from Charlie’s upbringing – trips back to Italy to see his family and understand his roots – and the rich traditions of black American music, spanning the raw sounds of Pharoah Sanders and Dexter Gordon, all the way through to D’Angelo and 50 Cent.

Introducing: FELLAS

Introducing the latest addition to the DeepMatter & Root Records family - FELLAS; The Cinematic Nu Jazz Revolution from Toulouse.

Hailing from Toulouse, France, FELLAS is a groundbreaking Nu Jazz band that seamlessly blends Jazz, Hip-Hop, and cinematic influences to create a soundscape that's as intense and sensual as it is emotionally captivating. Led by saxophonist Charlie Burg, this five-piece ensemble crafts music that transports listeners far from reality, into a world defined by raw emotion and vivid storytelling.

On stage, FELLAS is known for their dynamic collaborations with rappers like Oggy Nilz and Wisley, as well as singers and jazzmen like Daoud. They fearlessly blend influences and genres, resulting in a hybrid musical project that has quickly garnered attention from stylists, designers, photographers, and directors.

Inspired by the likes of BADBADNOTGOOD, FELLAS embodies a childhood dream realized. Their passionate adventure in music promises a future full of innovation and boundary-pushing performances, making them a band that's not planning to slow down anytime soon.

Their debut EP 'NDONTI acts as a trailer for the future LP « DINDI » with the introduction of the character « dindi » and the mentality of FELLAS.

Charlie grew up in France but also, in parallel, with his Italian family. Since he was little, they made him understand that he was a "dindi" and that he belonged to a small clan within his family. As he grew older, he realized that his family was involved in more than one adventurous and often illegal stories. It took him almost 20 years to find out what DINDI means. DINDI comes from Veneto (an Italian dialect from Venice) and means « MONEY ». Charlie discovered the Movie A Bronx Tale and drew a parallel between the movie and his life. He draws inspiration from this to form his group FELLAS and his upcoming album "DINDI."

Their debut single 'DINDI' introduced people to their world in March 2024, and tells the story of a young man who arrives in a new city. The young man is alone and delves deeper into a city that becomes increasingly crowded and dirty. We come to understand that he has arrived with bad intentions. Shortly after, this was followed by 'CAN YOU FEEL MY EYES ON YOU', the second single from their forthcoming debut record.

The band now announce they will be releasing their debut EP 'DINDI' under London-based Record Label, DeepMatter Records this coming August.