Maya Jane Coles Joins Forces With Rapper CHA$EY JON£S

Maya Jane Coles demonstrates her versatility with her slick collaborative EP released under her Nocturnal Sunshine alias.

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.

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 Having originally made music together while at school in London, ‘LDN’ represents a full circle moment for both artists.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.