If you think you know what funk is – think again. Ghost-Note isn’t a band that simply plays songs. It’s a band that moves you before you even realize what’s happening.
At the center are the multi-Grammy-winning percussion duo from Snarky Puppy: Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth. Around them is a collective of musicians who have collaborated with artists such as Prince, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, Marcus Miller, Toto, Justin Timberlake, and many others.
Ghost-Note pushes funk into the future, building on the pioneering foundations of James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone, while enriching their sound with elements of afrobeat, hip-hop, psychedelia, and world music.
Their album Swagism (2018) defined their direction rhythm at the forefront. Powerful, infectious grooves carry layered, high-energy compositions, featuring artists like Kamasi Washington, Karl Denson, Bobby Sparks, and Nigel Hall.
Live, Ghost-Note delivers an even more intense experience. Their performances are direct and free from the formality often associated with their jazz roots. The focus is on danceable grooves and an energy that erases the line between audience and performer.
Since forming in 2015, the band has quickly taken over the global stage. Their albums Fortified (2015) and Swagism (2018) reached #1 on the iTunes Jazz charts, followed by major international tours across the USA, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Japan.
Mustard n’ Onions (2024)
“I think mustard has a strong smell. I think onions have a strong smell. When you combine them it’s just funky,” says Sput.
Their third studio release brings a more mature, clearly defined sound and chemistry built through countless live performances. Nearly every band member contributes at least one composition, with a stronger emphasis than ever on authorship and vocal expression.
Robert “Sput” Searight:
The band feels rawer. When did you realize it had to exist?
I realized it had to exist when I felt the need to move in a different direction from the band I was previously playing in as a drummer. Funk was deeply rooted in my spirit. I could hear its evolution, and at the same time I began to hear music in a completely different way. I wanted to connect with people who felt the same especially about funk, and build something that reflects that shared vision.
What comes first in music, groove or idea?
There’s no specific order. The idea is to let the music exist freely in the space we create. We rely on that. In the heat of the moment, we trust our ears to guide us and it hasn’t failed us yet.
Your shows feel less like concerts and more like controlled chaos. How much is planned and how much is instinct?
It’s a combination of both. We prepare, learn the songs, know the arrangements. But once that foundation is set, we create space to play. From that point on, everything is created in real time.
Is there a moment when you feel the audience is “hooked”?
We rely a lot on audience energy, but we also prepare ourselves to receive it. We make sure we’re in a good space, that we love each other and what we do. When we step on stage, we come with clear minds, ready to receive as much as we give. Whatever energy the audience brings, it fuels us. We’re fans of each other we’ll have a great time no matter what. We never know what will happen musically, and that inspires us every night.
What’s one lesson from artists you’ve worked with that stayed with you?
The common thread is: you have to be true to the art. You have to love it and believe in it. Once you release it into the world, it no longer belongs to you it belongs to the people. Your heart has to be pure in what you put out. That’s the most important thing I’ve learned.
Ghost-Note pushes funk forward. What hasn’t funk said yet?
I think we need to distinguish between what funk has said and what people have actually heard. Because honestly funk has already said everything. It spoke about America, about the world, always in a positive way. The world just needs to listen more.
Is groove something you understand or something you feel?
As creators, groove is something we understand, it’s rooted in the language of rhythm. But for the listener, it’s something felt in the body. You might not fully understand it, but your body naturally responds.
What’s the difference between a good band and one that truly moves people?
A good band can have incredible skill and talent but not always play from the heart. Sometimes it feels like work. Bands that truly move people play from inspiration, from the soul. That connection creates an atmosphere people can feel and become part of.
What do you want people to leave with after seeing Ghost-Note live?
A blown mind and an inspired heart. I want them to feel healing, positivity, and enlightenment, not just musically, but spiritually. And yes, I want their bodies to hurt from how much they moved and danced.
At the heart of Ghost-Note is brotherhood. Searight and Werth developed a near-telepathic musical connection during their time in Snarky Puppy, leading to multiple Grammy awards. The idea for their own project emerged from improvised solos on tour and quickly evolved into a full band less a loose collective, more a dedicated musical unit.
Today, Ghost-Note blends top-tier jazz training with absolute devotion to groove without genre limitations.
One thing is certain:
whatever the next chapter brings, it will be, as Sput says, “positive and unapologetically funky.”
Date: June 3, 2026
Doors open: 20:30
Musicology Showcase by Lenovo: 21:00
GHOST-NOTE: 22:00
Tickets: https://tickets.rs/event/ghostnote_25263