Afterz - The Midnight Cafe (EP)

Picture Credits: PELLIGRIN.O

UK-based duo Afterz make a powerful statement with their most ambitious project to date, as they release ‘The Midnight Cafe’, out now.

Signalling a new chapter in the duo’s artistic direction, the project is a continuation of their forward-thinking sound that weaves together emotion, experimentation, and cultural influence. A conceptual body of work that captures their raw essence and boundary-pushing sound, spanning multiple cities and shaped by deeply personal experiences, the EP is a genre-blurring exploration of emotion, culture, and artistic freedom.  On their latest body of work, ‘The Midnight Cafe’ sees Afterz translate their ideas into a distinct musical language, fusing unconventional genres such as alt-R&B, ambient electronica, afrobeats, UK club, and trip-hop. The result is a cohesive yet unpredictable journey that defies categorization.

The project opens with the immersive title track ‘Midnight Cafe’, a cinematic blend of ambient textures and trip-hop rhythms that sets the tone for what’s to come. Previously released single ‘Monument’ follows with a somber string-led intro that gives way to a moody beat, allowing the duo’s lyrical depth to shine. Tracks like ‘Voltaire’ and ‘Broken’ emphasise introspection and songwriting craft, while ‘Acid (Florentina)’ introduces a Balearic-tinged groove built for both dancefloors and headphone listening. ‘Unusual Suspects’ brings a warm, guitar-driven climax before the project closes with ‘Priceless’, a powerful statement on artistic freedom and sonic experimentation.

More than just musicians, Afterz are multidisciplinary creatives influenced by film, fashion, photography, and design. Their sound is deeply cinematic, rich in atmosphere, narrative, and cultural context. Drawing influence from Nigeria’s Alté movement and South Africa’s amapiano scene, the duo’s hybrid aesthetic celebrates cross-cultural connection and creative risk-taking.

Afterz first caught the attention of the underground with their debut single ‘Soul Searching / Palme D’Or’, released via the trailblazing Club Djembe label. The track earned support from Jamz Supernova, Notion, NTS, Foundation FM, and more, quickly establishing the duo as ones to watch. Now, with ‘The Midnight Cafe’, Afterz invite listeners into a world that is both intimate and expansive, a late-night meeting place for emotion, experimentation, and sound without limits.