Acclaimed DJ, producer, and sonic explorer Auntie Flo (Brian d’Souza) — described by The Guardian as “one of global club culture’s most vital voices” — returns with his new album ‘Birds of Paradise’ on his imprint A State of Flo.
The eight-track album follows the celebrated singles ‘Joy Mantra’ and ‘Paradise 23’, marking a return to Auntie Flo’s roots in rhythm-driven, club-focused music. ‘Paradise 23’ began life in the home studio d’Souza built during the COVID lockdowns, packed with vintage analogue gear and designed for immersive, screen-free jam sessions.
Its tropical kalimba tones, discovered on a Casio CZ5000, were later layered with field recordings from Goa, where he lived in a converted fisherman’s hut during the Sultry Mist festival. Joy Mantra, by contrast, celebrates the flow of creativity, blending Shepard tones with classic Roland drum machines. Both singles drew wide acclaim, with support from Mixmag, Ransom Note, Disco Pogo, Spindle, and A Closer Listen, highlighting Auntie Flo’s unique ability to bridge the dancefloor and deeper listening spaces.
Across the rest of the record, d’Souza explores new shades of rhythm and emotion. ‘Ceibo’, inspired by the towering Amazonian trees, channels a sense of spiritual interconnectedness, while ‘Anacyclosis’ meditates on the circular nature of time through stripped-back percussion and texture. ‘Mamluk’ ventures into darker, more complex territory, and ‘Earth NRG’ captures a spontaneous, one-take burst of live energy. ‘Mount Koya’ reflects a contemplative journey to Japan, following a New Year’s Eve show in Osaka and a stay among monks at Mount Koyasan. The closing track, ‘Cobra’, returns to Goa at night, its techno-infused groove evoking the mysterious presence of a cobra in a garden anthill.
‘Birds of Paradise’ is a rhythm-rich, ecologically inspired collection that fuses emotional depth with pure dancefloor energy. Shaped by d’Souza’s experiences in Goa and Japan, it combines field recordings, vintage synths, and Roland drum machines to transform lived experience into sound. He describes it as “tropical with a few deeper edges: a balance of light and dark,” aiming to capture beauty and rhythm in a chaotic world while reconnecting electronic music with nature.
The album follows the critically acclaimed ‘In My Dreams, I’m a Bird and I’m Free’ (named The Guardian’s ‘Global Album of the Month’) and continues a series of bold, cross-disciplinary projects including the ‘Outernational Dance’ EP, the experimental Plants Can Dance (and Mushrooms Sing) performances, and the atmospheric ‘Black Beacon’ soundwalks.
Beyond the club, Auntie Flo has become a pioneering voice at the intersection of sound, ecology, and science. He has curated music for psychedelic therapy trials at Imperial College, performed long-form ambient sets such as Watching Trees Festival, and collaborated with the BBC on workshops and deep listening retreats in Kenya and Goa.
Rooted in his Goan and Kenyan heritage and shaped by years of travel and collaboration, his work seeks to reconnect electronic music with the natural world. Through A State of Flo, he continues to blur the boundaries between club culture, sound art, and ecological awareness.
TRACKLIST
1. Paradise 23
2. Ceibo
3. Anacyclosis
4. Joy Mantra
5. Mamluk
6. Earth NRG
7. Mount Koya
8. Cobra
UFO Network brings you music news daily! See more news here
Listen on Spotify
Connect with Auntie Flo
