Offie Mag

It’s been a jazz-heavy year for us here, and fittingly our project of the year came from one of the stars of our jazz issue. Allexa Nava’s No Language was a storming example of beautiful modern jazz, and as 2025 comes to a close, the ensemble she is a member of have released a body of work that could very easily contend for anyone’s end-of-year lists.

London’s all-female Afro-Latin jazz ensemble COLECTIVA share their long-awaited eponymous debut EP, and it feels like the sound of something patiently building finally being let loose. This is music shaped by live rooms, shared experiences, and the kind of trust that can only come from genuine collaboration. There’s grief here, yes, but also warmth, solidarity, and a deep sense of intention. The EP opens itself up slowly, inviting you into a world where jazz improvisation, Latin rhythms, and emotional honesty sit side by side.

Lead single ‘EERO’ is where I found myself lingering the longest. It moves gently but with purpose, unfolding like a conversation you didn’t realise you needed. Inspired by shared experiences of loss and healing, the track drifts between stillness and release, with brass and harmonies that feel almost weightless at times. It’s the kind of piece that doesn’t demand your attention, but earns it — and once it has you, it doesn’t really let go.

Elsewhere on the EP, COLECTIVA don’t shy away from saying exactly what they mean. ‘Ayú Ayú’ speaks directly to gender-based violence and collective outrage, while ‘MALICIOSA’ leans into folklore, intuition, and inner strength, encouraging listeners to tap into something powerful within themselves.

Throughout the record, you can hear the joy of musicians playing together with total belief in one another — layered horns, rich percussion, and an urgency that feels lived-in rather than forced.

You can listen to COLECTIVA now on all streaming platforms and you can buy it here.

Words by Louis Rowland