Nubya Garcia

Nubya Garcia isn't an artist you can easily classify. Is it jazz? Sure, the London-born saxophonist, composer, and bandleader grew up studying the genre under the noted pianist Nikki Yeoh at Camden Music. However, it's not until you listen to albums like 2020's Source and 2024's Odyssey that you hear broader creativity shining through: It's jazz, classical, dub, all fitting seamlessly together.

Odyssey: A Blend of Genres

Garcia's sophomore album, Odyssey, out in September 2024 via Concord Jazz, is a majestic feat on which she blends orchestral arrangements with a deeply personal offering about her trek to falling back in love with musical composition over the past four years.

Source: A Critically Acclaimed Debut

Source, her 2020 debut album, was released via Concord Jazz to massive critical acclaim. It received an NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, a Pitchfork Best New Music review, and a Rolling Stone Album of the Month mention. In a profile, The New York Times described Source as a sweeping set of jazz with Afro-Caribbean influences that funnels a life's worth of experiences into an hour-long listen. Upon release, the album entered the UK charts in the Top 30, and she was just one of three artists selected to perform live at Glastonbury's 2020 Experience, aired on the BBC to thousands of viewers. Source was also nominated for the Mercury Prize, a prestigious award given to the best albums from the UK or Ireland.

Tours and Performances

In 2022, Garcia toured the US in support of Khruangbin, performing in sold-out venues including Radio City Music Hall in New York, the Ryman in Nashville, and the Met in Philadelphia. She then headlined her own tour in the UK and US, performing at various festivals including Glastonbury, Love Supreme, Pickathon, and Newport Jazz.

Collaborations and Features

Garcia continues to tour worldwide while also collaborating with major brands like Lululemon, Paul Smith, Labrum, Nicholas Daley, and Burberry. She was one of three creatives selected for Fossil's Moment In Time campaign, which was published globally in VOGUE, GQ, and GLAMOUR magazines. Elsewhere, Garcia has been featured in numerous print publications, including Mojo, Vogue, and Ebony.

Composing and Media Features

As a composer, Garcia's original music has been placed with Apple TV (Ted Lasso); OWN Network (Cherish The Day); FX TV (Atlanta); EPIC GAMES (Fortnite); and on multiple podcasts (including the theme tune for Anika Noni Rose's Clio award-winning podcast Being Seen).