Native Flora: Alt-Rap Escapism That Moves Mind & Body

What started as a casual link-up has evolved into one of the most exciting, genre-blurring projects of the year. On Native Flora, the self-titled debut album (out August 13), the duo blend alt-rap, jazz-infused grooves, and sun-drenched production into something both immediately accessible and deeply intentional.

With themes ranging from city-life burnout to good-time unity and men’s mental health, Native Flora is equal parts uplifting and grounded — the kind of record that invites you to dance, reflect, and pass it on.

We caught up with the pair to talk collaboration, creative community, and why mellowing minds was always the mission.

1. Native Flora started as an informal collaboration — what was the turning point when you realised this could become a full-length, cross-genre album?

Honestly, it was after the first single. We thought that avenue of Bossa Nova–inspired Hip-Hop wasn’t fully tapped into and was exactly what the summer needed. And it being collaborative created an iron-sharpens-iron effect — we were pushing each other to be better, cooler vibes and tighter lyrics.

2. Your sound fuses alt-rap with jazz-infused grooves and soulful production — who or what shaped that hybrid approach, and how do you keep it cohesive across the record?

This was shaped more by a mission statement than a specific influence. Our goal this year was to use music to mellow minds, create good vibes, and move people out of their heads and into their bodies — like a form of positive escapism. Naturally, this sound felt like the perfect platform to do that.But if we had to name names: A Tribe Called Quest, Nujabes & The Silhouettes Project.

3. The album balances good-time energy with deeper themes like resilience and men’s mental health. Was it important to you to challenge the idea that upbeat music can’t carry emotional weight?

It’s funny — OutKast kind of buried that idea with Hey Ya. But most people missed the meaning and just vibed to the groove. That’s something we’ve leaned into. We wanted tracks that could sit in the background and vibe sonically, but with lyrics that reward deeper listening.

4. Tracks like What We Do feel rooted in community. How has your creative circle — collaborators, local spaces, listeners — influenced the direction of the project?

We’re so blessed to be surrounded by a community of artists who made this album possible.Shout out to Sherg (who produced Lido and helped us find our sound), and Rorrenoa (who produced Hungover Again and What We Do) for that soulful lo-fi touch.Sumgii mixed every track we’ve ever released — solo and as a group — and is a huge part of refining our sound.

More broadly, this album is for our friends and community. City life is hectic — people get lost, people don’t gather like they used to. We’re not saying this album can cure depression, but we designed it to soundtrack the good times. Hopefully it helps create some on the way.

5. With strong streaming traction and a packed launch party coming up, what does success look like to you — and how do you want people to feel when they hear Native Flora for the first time?

The 23rd August at Black Rock in Shoreditch — surrounded by music lovers, fellow performers and friends — celebrating the summer and a year working on this album. Jesi’s new Channel 601 EP, new material from Ryan Skillit & KAO, and a one-off cocktail menu from Whistlepig & Ardbeg via Black Rock Bar. That’ll feel like success. Beyond that? It’s about the fans. We want more live shows, more energy, more connection. When the whole room’s jumping — that’s when we’ll know we’ve made it.