Goa-born artist Tsumyoki has released “You & I”, the first single from his upcoming EP Afro Yoki, offering listeners an early taste of a new musical direction shaped by the sounds and cultures that influenced his childhood.
Released through EMPIRE in partnership with Gully Gang Entertainment on 2 June, the track marks the beginning of what Tsumyoki describes as a new sonic chapter. Built around Afro-leaning grooves, warm melodies and the laid-back energy associated with Goa’s coastline, “You & I” introduces a style he calls “Goan bounce”.
The artist says the sound draws inspiration from African, Portuguese, Brazilian and Caribbean rhythms that were part of his upbringing long before hip-hop became his primary creative outlet.
“My grandfather worked in Dubai and would record songs off the radio onto empty cassettes and bring them back to Goa. We didn’t grow up around Hindi music. Goa was a Portuguese colony and my family was very Portuguese influenced. We grew up on African beats, Portuguese music, Brazilian stuff. Those rhythms remind me of my childhood, and that’s where the Goan bounce comes from,” he said.
The forthcoming five-track EP Afro Yoki expands on those influences, blending international sounds with experiences rooted in Goa. Rather than presenting Afro-inspired music through a commercial lens, the project reflects the artist’s personal connection to the music he grew up hearing at home.
Tsumyoki has become one of the more recognisable names in India’s independent music scene, earning the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Indian Act and accumulating more than 50 million streams across digital platforms. His catalogue spans hip-hop, pop, R&B, dancehall and alternative styles, reflecting a willingness to experiment beyond traditional genre boundaries.
Music industry observers have increasingly pointed to a growing number of Indian independent artists incorporating global influences while drawing from regional identities. Afro Yoki appears to follow that path, bringing together sounds from different parts of the world through a distinctly Goan perspective.
“You & I” is now available across major streaming platforms. The official music video for the track is scheduled for release on 5 June, while the full Afro Yoki EP is expected to arrive soon.
The release gives audiences an early look at a project that aims to connect personal history, cultural influences and contemporary production into a sound Tsumyoki believes is uniquely his own.
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