Many have tried to define London through music, but few encapsulate the sound of the capital today as eloquently as oreglo – a rising, genre-defying four-piece made up of c-sé (keys), Linus Barry (guitar), Nicco Rocco (drums) and Teigan Hastings (tuba). Through their debut EP ‘Not Real People’ they introduce themselves as a boundless musical experiment endlessly indebted to the city they call home.
After meeting in Secondary school and Tomorrow’s Warriors youth club, oreglo began carving out their expansive sonic palette, endeavouring to push the boundaries of the jazz scenes that birthed them. Through their music, their upbringings in different corners of the capital collide – from DIY jam sessions in East London to the reggae that bleeds from shop speakers into Brixton market, and the grime and drill ricocheting from their peers’ earphones.
Now signed to legendary jazz label Brownswood Recordings, they’ve already harnessed the attention of industry heavyweights – only a year into their career. They were hand-selected by fellow Tomorrow’s Warriors alumni Ezra Collective to win the 2023 Lambeth Sounds Emerging Artists x Cross The Tracks competition; they played the recent Steam Down–curated World Island event in Leeds; they supported Gabriels at Somerset House; composed for The 1975’s North American tour; and have seen support from Steve Lamacq, Jack Saunders and more across national radio.
‘Not Real People’, their debut EP, chronicles what it’s like to be young and searching for an identity in London today. Here, the sweetness of first kisses shaded by its skyscrapers intertwine with the feeling of chasing creative dreams in a relentlessly chaotic environment. To press play is to be introduced to their version of the city – one you won’t want to leave.