Moses Boyd (born 30 April 1991) is a British jazz drummer, composer, record producer, bandleader and radio host. His debut solo studio album Dark Matter (2020) was nominated for the 2020 Mercury Prize.
In 2014, Boyd and saxophonist Binker Golding formed the duo Binker & Moses and released three consecutive albums, with accolades including one MOBO Award, two Jazz FM Awards and a Parliamentary Jazz Award. In 2022, Binker & Moses released their fourth album, Feeding the Machine, to critical acclaim.
Boyd's self-titled jazz band Moses Boyd Exodus (also known as the Exodus) released several mixtapes in the mid-2010s and together have recorded most of Boyd's solo releases. The group consists of Theon Cross (tubist), Artie Zaitz (guitarist), Binker Golding (saxophonist) and Nathaniel Cross (trombonist).
Under his own label, Exodus Records, Boyd made his solo debut with the extended play Absolute Zero in 2017, and followed it up with Displaced Diaspora in 2018. He has additionally collaborated with musicians such as Beyoncé, Little Simz, Lonnie Liston Smith, Zara McFarlane, Obongjayar, Ed Motta, Sons of Kemet, Soweto Kinch, Floating Points, Four Tet and Theon Cross.
Early life Boyd was born and raised in the district of Catford in south London, England. He describes himself as a "second-generation West Indian" with Dominican descent from his father and Jamaican descent from his mother. He attended Sedgehill School, which was where he began learning drums. Boyd claims that at one point he was taught drums by Bobby Worth. In 2016, he graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz drums. While at Trinity Laban, he took part of the jazz education programme Tomorrow's Warriors.
Other ventures In addition to music, Boyd was a resident host throughout 2019 on BBC Radio 1Xtra. He also performed a few stints filling in for Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio 6 Music in mid 2020.
In March 2026, Boyd was announced by Tomorrow's Warriors as one of the organisation's inaugural patrons, alongside Baroness Amos, Margaret Busby, Guy Chambers, Robert Elms, Nick Hornby, Lizzie Ridding and John Ridding, Michael Watt, Richard Wyatt, Femi Koleoso, Eska.
Artistry and reception
Musical style Boyd is popularly known for blending multiple genres into jazz to create various new sub-genres. He has been noted to perform and write in the styles of nu-jazz, and fusion, additionally incorporating elements of grime, electronica, highlife and broken beat. Boyd has described his own music as "an extension of black music, the diaspora" that draws influence from afrobeats, soca, reggae, drum and bass and jungle music.
Critical reception Boyd is known as a prominent figure within the modern London jazz scene. He has been described by The Guardian as "a progenitor of the current London jazz scene", and "a poster boy of the London jazz revival."
Influences Boyd has cited Miles Davis's Kind of Blue (1959) and Dizzee Rascal's Boy in Da Corner (2003) as major influences. Boyd is closely associated with jazz personality and DJ Gilles Peterson, whom he cites as an influence in learning how to "use jazz in club culture".
Discography Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions UKJazzPeaks on the UK Jazz and Blues Albums chart: "Dark Matter": "Journey To The Mountain of Forever": "Alive in The East?": UKIndiePeaks on the UK Independent Albums chart: "Dark Matter": "Journey To The Mountain of Forever": UKBreakersPeaks on the UK Independent Album Breakers chart: "Dark Matter": "Journey To The Mountain of Forever": "Alive in The East?": SCO Dark MatterReleased: 14 February 2020 Label: Exodus Records Formats: LP, digital download, streaming 2 7 1 52
Collaborative albums Title Details Peak chart positions UKJazz UKIndie UKBreakersSafe and Sound Released: 31 March 2014 Label: Self-released Compact disc, digital download, streaming — — — Dem OnesReleased: 31 May 2015 Label: Gearbox Formats: LP, digital download, streaming — — —A Matter of Instinct Released: 17 June 2016 Label: Self-released Compact disc, digital download, streaming — — — Journey to the Mountain of ForeverReleased: 2 June 2017 Label: Gearbox Formats: LP, digital download, streaming 3 42 11 Alive in the East?Released: 22 June 2018 Label: Gearbox Formats: LP, digital download, streaming 15 — 17 Displaced Diaspora Released: 28 September 2018 Label: Exodus Formats: LP, digital download, streaming——— Feeding the Machine Released: 25 February 2022 Label: Gearbox Formats: LP, digital download, streaming———
Extended plays
Absolute Zero (2017)
Mixtapes
Footsteps Of Our Fathers (2015) Time and Space (2016)
Singles As lead artist + List of singles as lead artist, with year and album Title Year AlbumAs Moses Boyd "Rye Lane Shuffle" 2016 rowspan="2" "Drum Dance" "Frontline" 2018Displaced Diaspora "Stranger than Fiction"2019Dark Matter"Only You""Shades of You"2020As Binker & Moses"Intoxication from the Jahvmonisi Leaves" 2017 Journey to the Mountain of Forever"The Valley of the Ultra Blacks""Trees on Fire""Echoes from the Other Side of the Mountain""Fete by the River" Alive in the East?"Children of the Ultra Blacks" 2018"The Birth of Light""How Land Learnt to Be Still""The River's Tale"
As featured artist + List of singles as featured artist, with year and album Title Year AlbumAs Moses Boyd"Untitled"2017"Pineapple"Xover"Drumming"2018Stampit - EPAs Binker & Moses"Village of the Sun"2020 rowspan="2" "Ted"
Guest appearances TitleYearOther performer(s)Album/EP"Mãos À Obra"2016SonzeiraTam Tam Tam Reimagined"Nana Nada""Nós Precisamos De Você""The Balance"2018Various ArtistsWe Out Here "Dawn"DJ KhalabBlack Noise 2084"Black Opus"Louis VI, Pete JohnsonSugar Like Salt"Track 7-ish""Battle" 2019Ashley HenryBeautiful Vinyl Hunter
Songwriting, production and performance credits Adapted from Discogs, Tidal, and AllMusic. Year Album Artist Title(s) Role 2014If You Know HerZara McFarlane "Move" Drummer 2015Stories & Rhymes Jasmine Powers scope="row" DrummerAspirations - EPTheon Cross scope="row" Drummer, mixerAriseZara McFarlane scope="row" Composer, percussionist, vocalist 2016Tam Tam Tam ReimaginedSonzeira "Mãos À Obra"; "Nós Precisamos De Você" and "Nana Nada" DrummerOscar JeromeOscar Jerome scope="row" Drummer2017EscapeeDaniel Casimir scope="row" DrummerZara McFarlane "All Africa" Bassist, producerNubya's 5iveNubya Garcia "Fly Free"; "Contemplation" and "Free Sun" DrummerPeace Begins WithinZara McFarlane "Peace Begins Within" Arranger2018Your Queen Is a ReptileSons of Kemet "My Queen Is Harriet Tubman"; ""My Queen Is Yaa Asantewaa" and "My Queen Is Albertina Sisulu" DrummerXoverBlue Lab Beats "Pineapple" and "Xover" Composer and producerStarting TodayJoe Armon-Jones "Starting Today"; "Almost Went Too Far"; "Mollison Dub"; "London's Face"; "Ragify" and "Outro (Forrow)" DrummerWhere Are Your Branches?Oscar Jerome, James Massiah "Smile On A Screen" DrummerSugar Like SaltLouis VI "Black Opus" and "Track 7-ish" DrummerFyahTheon Cross "Panda Village" Drummer, producer2019The MageGreg Foat "Of My Hands"; "Endless Love" and "The Magic Radish" DrummerZara McFarlane, Dennis Bovell "East of the River Nile" DrummerKolmarMax de Wardener scope="row" DrummerTurn to Clear ViewJoe Armon-Jones, Asheber, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Jehst, Obongjayar"Try To Walk With Me"; "Yellow Dandelion"; "The Leo & Aquarius" and "Self:Love" DrummerBeautiful Vinyl HunterAshley Henry "Realisations" and "Battle" DrummerThe Lion King: The GiftBeyoncé, Tierra Whack, Moonchild Sanelly, Nija, Busiswa, Yemi Alade "My Power" Producer 2020Symphonie PacifiqueGreg Foat"Prelude"; "Symphonie Pacifique"; "Undulation"; "Anticipation"; "Mu"; "Yonaguni"; "Island Life"; "Nikinakinu" and "Man Vs. Machine" Drummer, composerlet all the poisons that lurk in the mud seep outYves Tumor, Kelsey Lu, and Kelly Moran "let all the poisons that lurk in the mud seep out" Drummer, composerAs we standTori Handlsey scope="row" DrummerMorning MattersYazmin Lacey "Morning Sunrise" and "Lately (Interlude)" Producer2021Boxed InDaniel Casimir scope="row" Drummer
Awards and nominations OrganizationYearRecipient(s) and nominee(s)AwardResultAIM Independent Music Awards2020HimselfUK Breakthrough of the Year Dark MatterBest Independent Album Dark Matter Vinyl (Dinked Edition)Best Creative PackagingJazz FM Awards2016Binker & MosesBreakthrough Act of the YearUK Jazz Act of the Year2019Himself Digital Award2020HimselfInnovator AwardMOBO Awards2015Binker & MosesBest Jazz Act 2017Himself 2020Mercury Prize2020Dark MatterAlbum of the YearParliamentary Jazz Awards2016Binker & MosesJazz Newcomer of the YearPRS for Music Foundation2015HimselfSteve Reid InNOVAtion AwardUK Music Video Awards2020"Stranger Than Fiction"Best Alternative Video - UKWorldwide Awards2016HimselfJohn Peel Award2017"Rye Lane Shuffle"Track of the YearJourney To The Mountain Of ForeverJazz Album of the Year2018Displaced DiasporaWorshipful Company of Musicians2014HimselfJazz Young Musician Medal
Notes
References
External links