The ceilings are low. Other than a handwritten sign taped above the mixing board that says "Try," the walls are blank. There's a violin that only has one string lying under the desk, and a bunch of pieces of a drum kit in a corner next to some keys. We're in the basement studio in Edinburgh, Scotland where Young Fathers made its Scottish Album of the Year Award-winning record Cocoa Sugar. At first glance, it's surprising that such a massive and expansive album came out of such a tiny space. But after spending some time with band members Kayus Bankole, Graham Hastings and Alloysious Massaquoi down in the basement, it's clear that creating a cyclone of expression in a compressed space is a vital part of their creative process. And so is the rare and stunning chemistry between the three of them.

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