CAZAYOUX is a collective music project spearheaded by drummer and bandleader Forest Cazayoux, rooted in groove, connection, and lived experience. Raised in New Roads, Louisiana, Forest fell in love with drumming at a young age through Mardi Gras and marching band traditions, where rhythm functioned as both celebration and community. That early pull toward the drum set the foundation for a lifelong musical journey.
OUR STORY
After relocating to Austin, Texas in 2018, Forest began shaping CAZAYOUX in 2021, connecting early with alto saxophonist Damien Valenzuela and bassist Alex Freeman. A weekly residency at Sahara Lounge’s Africa Night became a defining chapter, where Forest and the band studied Afrobeat and West African Guinean rhythms firsthand from Aboubacar Sylla, alongside collaborators Fumi Sugawara, and Tate Christian, with a rotating cast of musicians contributing to the sound. Veteran baritone saxophonist Joe Woullard, known for his work with numerous artists and his band Hardproof, later joined the group, with Patrick Harwell as the newest addition.
Guided by Forest’s vision but driven by collective energy, CAZAYOUX blends funk, jazz, Afrobeat, soul, and modern textures into music that values feel over formula. The songs carry love, pain, joy, and movement — inviting listeners to connect and feel good together. In April 2026, the band releases Alpha Centauri, produced by Nico Léophonte in Austin, a record centered on ignition, growth, and the shared journey of the band as artists and as humans.
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![CAZAYOUX - Raijin [Visualizer]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bLtjPmjfps8/maxresdefault.jpg)
