Goya Gumbani’s latest EP, Bean Pie, builds on the neo-soul and jazz foundations of his previous project, Warlord of Weejuns, while moving toward a more open and uptempo sound. The five-track release reflects the Brooklyn-born, South London artist and producer’s transatlantic upbringing, travels and willingness to experiment beyond the format of a full album.
Gumbani worked on the EP for roughly a year, shaping its songs around life’s uncertainties and the decisions faced at personal crossroads. That idea is central to “Come Or Go,” a track about accepting that there may be no clear answer while choosing to move forward regardless.
The project’s title emerged from Gumbani’s personal connection to beans. He said his name is derived from them and that he had been cooking different beans and stews while making the music, making Bean Pie feel like a natural choice.
Unlike Warlord of Weejuns, Bean Pie developed through a looser, more instinctive process. Gumbani described himself as putting ideas together without following a strict formula, allowing the EP to take shape as he explored new techniques and tempos. His growing interest in house music also influenced the direction, following increased DJ activity and deeper study of the genre.
He cited Moodymann, Peven Everett, Louie Vega, Theo Parrish and Afro house among the influences that helped him think about rhythm differently. Rather than setting out to make a specific genre project, Gumbani said he was listening to faster music, testing different pockets and following where the process naturally led.
The songs were created across several locations. “Come Or Go” was made in New York, “Pretty Lady” in Saint-Tropez, and two other tracks in Nottingham, where Gumbani’s mother is from. He also returns to Nottingham each January to work on music with producer Franky Bones at his uncle’s studio; Bones produced “Geronimo” and “Hold It Up.” Gumbani additionally traveled to Japan to film the video for “Come Or Go,” describing the trip as especially enlightening and noting the time he spent there alone.
His family background is equally present in the project’s visual and personal identity. Gumbani’s Guyanese and Jamaican heritage, as well as his family’s Rastafarian culture, inform his self-expression. He connected his style to his upbringing in predominantly Black communities, Jamaican films such as Rockers and The Harder They Come, and the example of an uncle who played in a 1990s R&B punk band and dressed in ways that now resemble Gumbani’s own look.
That approach extends to his wardrobe. Loafers, a large hat and a denim jacket are among his recurring choices, while his influences range from Gregory Isaacs and Miles Davis to Japanese denim and French painters of the 1940s. He also values handmade pieces, including hats made by a fellow Rastafarian who knits in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, alongside designs from London label Nicholas Daley.
With Bean Pie, Gumbani returned to the shorter EP format after releasing an album. He said the process allowed him to reconnect with the love, care and creative freedom that first drew him to making music.
Sources: Hypebeast.