Nubiyan Twist Shares “Red Herring” FT. Bootie Brown
As the world sinks deeper into screensand algorithms blur the line between creation and imitation, Nubiyan Twist returns with upcoming album Chasing Shadows, a release that reclaims the pulse, warmth and spontaneity of human connection, with single ‘Red Herring’ leaning further into this dimension with the addition of The Pharcyde’s Bootie Brown.
‘Red Herring’ is a hip-hop-infused, future-soul warning flair, pairing Flying Lotus-esque production with a story that links personal betrayal to the wider cultural sleight of hand. Bandleader Tom Excell’s production leans into a futuristic, off-axis pulse: warped synths, restless low end, sweeping strings and post-bop horn arrangements that the group have carved their name crafting.
Bootie Brown, legendary emcee of The Pharcyde (and a regular collaborator with Gorillaz), joins them for his first foray with the group, further showcasing their community spirit and ability to forge relationships with artists across the globe. His lyrics cut through with verses that sketch out the moment you realise something wasn’t what it claimed to be. Brown’s lines move from conversational storytelling to stark revelation, tracing the arc from initial trust to the gut-punch of seeing someone’s true intentions. Lines about situations that “died on the honeymoon,” evidence being “sanitised,” and dreams “neutralised” capture the numbness that follows being led astray. Tom Excell and Bootie Brown first met during Damon Albarn’s Africa Express excursion in Mexico: “We played each other some projects we’re working on and realised we shared the same musical vibe. After that, everything just flowed. When Tom sent me the idea, it was a no-brainer. I knew it would come out to be a fantastic song.”
‘Red Herring’ lands as a metaphor for the moment we’re living in: the distractions, the misdirections and the carefully constructed narratives. It’s both a warning and a refusal to buy into the illusion.
Releasing in March 2026, the band’s fifth studio album Chasing Shadows is a rich and restless blend of jazz, afrobeat, hip hop and electronic textures, exploring the space between the organic and the digital. It’s music that moves, sweats, and breathes, made by real people in real rooms with heavyweight features bringing together varied voices from the music community which they inhabit.