CAFOLLA is a Scottish artist, composer, producer and the mastermind behind the multi award-winning band 'Federation of the Disco Pimp'

Immersed in a tense & uncertain world, CAFOLLA began his debut solo project in 2018, sharing thoughts from his soul & consciousness, bringing original songs to the forefront.

"COWBOYS & AFRICANS" voted 2019 Album of the Year “Heard not Herd”

“1985” voted 19th in Herald Scotland’s Top 100 songs of 2019.

"COWBOYS & AFRICANS" was the highest entry in the U.K Album iTunes charts at 28 (& No 2 in the R&B/Soul chart) on it's release on Nov 5th 2019.

"COWBOYS & AFRICANS: ACOUSTIC SESSIONS" topped the U.K Singer/Songwriter Album iTunes charts at Number 1 on it's release on Mar 22nd 2020.

PRESS

“While it makes an apt political statement about how we must learn from the

mistakes of 80s, this clear standout from the crowdfunded Glasgow-based's

artist's debut album Cowboys and Africans is the kind of searing soulful pop-

rock-funk - with crunching but brief guitar solo - that you might think had been

lost over 30 years ago when Prince pumped out Purple Rain. HERALD

SCOTLAND

"Cowboys And Africans is well-produced, slick and BIG. Big brass, big

guitars, big drums... you name it, it’s big. The length is also, if you like,

big; clocking in at nearly five minutes it’s a purposeful epic, and it’s really

difficult not to sing along to that riff over the course of that time." - Tom

Robinson's FRESH FAVES

"As a product of self determination, ambition and talent, Marco Cafolla has

triumphed in creating these sounds, that as a whole are genre-free, but filled

with influential nods to Soul, RnB and the funkiest of disco sounds. It's a

full on sonic ride." - HEARD not HERD

“Let me introduce Cafolla to you folks. This is his ambitious and bold debut album. A guy who isn't stuck in some retro bubble and judging by this sterling body of work, is a welcome and evolving artist, a breath of fresh scottish air............His talent is self evident let's hope this slow burning secret of his gets out in the ether further.It's a masterful effort from an artist at the peak of his powers.” - BLUES & SOUL MAGAZINE

"1985" featured as Jim Gellatly's track of the day & his Amazing

Radio show.

"We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, there must be something in the

air up in Scotland because the talent coming out that tiny country right now

is palpable! 1985 is brimming in all things ’80s—from the synth-infused

soundscapes, to the political lyricism.” - THE VINYL DISTRICT

"COWBOYS & AFRICANS" draws on the Soul of “Songs in the Key of Life”, “What’s Going On”, “Black Messiah” to name a few, continuing these messages for today, when we need it as much as ever.

BIO

For the last 10 years CAFOLLA has fronted the award-winning ‘Federation of the Disco Pimp'.  During this time he has written for and led the band through 2 Studio albums, 1 Live album, a BBC One residency as the house band for ‘Tonight at the Games’ (2014 Commonwealth Games), collaborated with music legends such as Pee Wee Ellis (James Brown, Van Morrison) and shared the stage with the likes of Nile Rodgers & CHIC, George Clinton & Parliament, Grandmaster Flash, Sister Sledge, Snarky Puppy and James Taylor Quartet to name but a few.

Collaborating with 6x Grammy nominated producer Joel Hamilton (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Pretty Lights), CAFOLLA wrote the records ‘More than Dancing’ & ‘Inamorata’, both of which were forged at Studio G 5000, Brooklyn, NY with FOTDP.  Guests on these records include Aaron Livingston (Son Little, The Roots), Eric Krasno (Soulive, Lettuce), Dave Guy (The Roots, Daptones) & Sasha Dobson (Nora Jones, Puss n Boots).  Inamorata was also mastered by the Grammy award winning legend Brian Gardner (Outkast).

In early 2018, CAFOLLA finished writing his debut solo record ‘Cowboys & Africans’, this time focusing on lyrics & song. The concept behind ‘Cowboys & Africans’ is that all humans originate from Africa (at one point in history) so as laymen, we are all ‘Africans’. The ‘Cowboys’ reference is to the people in positions of power, who take advantage of the everyday person (or those they have power over). The songs challenge how we see ourselves in today’s society. The message is quite simple – be proud of who you are, your friends, family and fellow humans. Stand up for what you believe in and have the confidence not to be bullied by peer pressure or general opinion.

The album was recorded throughout 2018 and completed January 2019.

GEAR

KEYBOARDS

Yamaha CP-70
Clavinet D6
Prophet Rev 2
Moog Little Phatty
Nord Stage 3
Roland Juno DI

AMPLIFICATION

Fender Twin

EFFECTS

Mooger Frooger Low Pass Filter
Pigtronix Disnortion
Pigtronix EP2
Jim Dunlop Cry Baby