MOPHONO and ROJAI as THE MOTAVATORS
Blending vintage funk production with deep, lowrider soul songwriting, The Motavators create a sound that is simultaneously melancholy, emotional, and vibrant—cinematic in warmth and timeless in its feel.
Their debut single, “Common Ground,” speaks to the shared human struggle that transcends boundaries. It reflects the weight communities bear under systemic greed and corruption, and honors the resilience, strength, and humanity of honest, hardworking people. At its core, it is both a protest and a love song—a tribute to heroic hearts and intentions.
This 7” release features some of the Bay Area’s most talented live instrumentalists and marks a vocal-driven departure for Mophono, reimagining his signature experimental style through the lens of classic funk and lowrider soul.
The B-side, “Can’t Ignore,” is a timeless love song—patient, heartfelt, and deeply grooving. Anchored by an undeniable rhythm section, staccato piano and guitar interplay, and lush strings, it balances playful funk energy with soulful, immersive depth.
Rojai (Row-Juh), aka Jairo Vargas, hails from San Francisco’s Mission District and brings over two decades of experience as the frontman for Bayonics, The Pocket, and Starship Connection. He fuses funk, soul, reggae, and Latin influences into a sound as diverse as his city, delivering performances full of heart, energy, and authenticity.
Mophono (Benji Illgen) complements this with a three-decade career as a producer, DJ, and arranger. His mastery of minimal compositions, vinyl culture, and warm analog production gives The Motavators a full-bodied, bold grounding, allowing the emotional core of their music to shine.
Together, Rojai’s live-band expertise and Mophono’s experimental production merge into a collaboration that is both nostalgic and refreshingly new, rooted in slow-burning, groove-heavy soul and classic rolas.
