Founded in Bologna in 2020, the Nādt Orchestra is a collective of eight boundary-pushing musicians who have spent the past few years forging a sound that refuses to be boxed in. Their debut album, Dualism, out May 9 on Locomotiv Records, is a vibrant musical statement where jazz meets Africa, the Middle East, Central America, and electronica—all woven into a seamless, genre-defying tapestry.
At the helm is guitarist Domenico Romano, whose vision has guided the band’s evolution into a dynamic force. Under the expert production of Tommaso Colliva (Muse, Calibro 35), a Grammy-winner known for capturing sonic clarity and raw energy, Dualism unfolds as a multidimensional listening experience—rich in texture, rhythm, and emotion.
The group’s name draws from the Sanskrit word nādt, which refers to subtle energetic pathways through which prāṇa (life force) flows. These nādt aren’t physical, but part of the yogic understanding of human vitality—offering a conceptual link to the music’s intention: to be a channel for connection, energy, and transformation across cultures and traditions.
“There are few things as exciting as listening to nine musicians interacting in the same room at the same time,” says Colliva. “It used to be the norm, but nowadays it’s becoming more of a rarity—almost a kind of magic. That’s what this record is about.”
The first glimpse into that magic comes through “Koko,” the lead single featuring Italian jazz titan Gianluca Petrella on trombone. The track is inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi Sabi, embracing imperfection, simplicity, and transience. In “Koko,” Afro-Cuban percussion creates a hypnotic rhythm bed for Petrella’s emotive trombone lines, evoking the spiritual ambiance of John Coltrane’s Africa/Brass or Randy Weston’s African Rhythms, but with a stripped-back, meditative intimacy.
“Koko” isn’t just a composition—it’s a statement of intent. Dualism is a space where opposites collide and transform: digital and analog, ancient and modern, structured and improvised. It invites the listener to sit in the tension between worlds and hear what’s possible when boundaries dissolve.
This is music that transcends genre and speaks in a language of its own—formed not by formulas, but by feeling. Dualism isn’t just an album; it’s a sonic exploration of balance, contrast, and collective creativity in a time that needs all three.