Zafio
The Raft

The Raft

Zafio

Gadu Lab

Pre-order

Release Date:

The idea for The Raft was born in the final months of 2023. After years of navigating personal and artistic challenges, we felt a deep need to return to the essence of why we make music. We dreamed of working with Shai Maestro as producer, and when he embraced the project, the vision began to take shape.

This is our most ambitious work to date. Recorded in August 2024 at Nilento Studios in Sweden, The Raft marks a new chapter for the band. Featuring guests as innovative as Ben Wendel, Gilad Hekselman, and Shai Maestro himself, whose contribution gave the music depth and color, added to our effort to compose significantly, morph genres, and blend the acoustic with  electronics – this project gave us the opportunity to go over one boundary after another.

The Raft is all about friendship. It’s about dreaming big, going through heartbreak, rising above frustration, with the help of friends and creation. It’s about finding refuge within it, about letting go of doubt and envy, through trust and encouragement.

This album gave us the most profound lesson so far, a coming-of-age journey, expressed via one of the most powerful experiences one could have – making music together.

Gratitude
0:00 / 4:45
  1. 1. A Beacon 1:55
  2. 2. Ree 3:30
  3. 3. Crack 3:01
  4. 4. Gratitude 4:45
  5. 5. As They Fall Apart, They Remain 2:02
  6. 6. Firebird 4:44
  7. 7. Rafti 3:39
  8. 8. Colouring Everything 4:41
  9. 9. Vortex 3:07
  10. 10. Home 4:17
  11. 11. 4th and Last 2:14
  12. 12. Downstream 5:00
  13. 13. Waking Up 2:02

Band Credits

  • Itay Simhovich – Piano, Synths, Celeste, Harmonium, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Tape Loop, Vocals

  • Ilai Salomon – Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Synth Bass, Acoustic Guitars, Vocals

  • Yali Stern – Drums, Acoustic Guitars, Slide Guitars, Glockenspiel, Vocals

Featured Artist

  • Ben Wendel Featured on Firebird Tenor Saxophone & Bassoon

  • Shai Maestro Featured on Vortex Piano

  • Gilad Hekselman Featured on Gratitude Guitar

Album Credits

  • Toki Stern – Synths, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Tape Loops

  • Noam Haimovitz Weinschel – Violin & Viola

  • Lars Nilson – Flugelhorns

  • Itay Dan Carmeli – FX Guitars

  • Talia Davidson – Vocals

  • Yael Zori – Vocals

  • Sarai Zak Levi – Vocals

Production Credits

  • Shai Maestro – Producer & Arranger (Accept Firebird)

  • Zafio – Producer & Arranger

  • Toki Stern – Producer (accept Home)

  • Lars Nilsson – Recording

  • Joar Hallgren – Recording

  • Nic Hard – Mixing

  • Dave McNair – Mastering

Recording Information

Recorded at Nilento Studio, Gothenburg, in August 2024