Founded by James Startt, an American expatriate living in Paris, the band is a tight-knit old-school soul/funk outfit that plays regularly in many of the city's top venue as well as festivals in and around Paris.The new Urban Groove Unit may have a different sound, a different look, but the groove remains the same. After "Street Talk," the band's debut album in 2010, UGU then began its collaboration with the deeply soulful Laetitia N'Diaye. First touted as a backing vocalist for gospel diva Liz McComb, the French/Senegalese singer has opened for international stars like Keziah Jones. N'Diaye joined UGU in 2010 and after two singles in 2013 the 8-piece band will release its follow-up EP produced by the band's drummer David Lamy (Ope Smith, Christophe Willem).