Roycel Cooks, known professionally as Rawcel, is a Los Angeles-based artist, songwriter, producer, actor, and President of ZupaLove International 501(c)(3). As co-founder of the international duo ZupaNova, He has built a dynamic career in music, performance, and mentorship. A longtime collaborator with the Black Eyed Peas—where he contributed as a producer, songwriter, and touring member—Rawcel also introduced Fergie to the group. His credits span work with industry icons like Ray J, Randy Jackson, Macy Gray, David Foster, and Sevyn Streeter. ZupaNova gained international acclaim with tours across the U.S., Asia, and two Mediabase Top 40 hits: “Pop Pop” and “ZupaHot.” His contributions to music and community outreach have earned honors from the State of California Senate, NAACP, and more. He now expands into acting with a lead role in the upcoming film A Heart Full of Hope (2025), alongside ZupaNova’s new single “Holiday,” releasing this Independence Day on Tazmania Records.
Davy Brown (ZupaNova) Davy Brown (ZupaNova) Davy Brown is a Southern California native and multi-genre producer, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, and audio engineer whose boundary-pushing sound has earned him acclaim across the music industry. Raised in a musically gifted family, Davy was inspired early on by his father, a Latin jazz vocalist, and his older brother, a multi-instrumentalist and DJ. By mastering piano, drums, bass, guitar, and various wind and brass instruments, Davy developed a unique ability to blend genres—ranging from hip-hop to EDM, pop, and jazz. His production skills and musical versatility led to collaborations with top talent, eventually forming the dynamic duo ZupaNova alongside Rawcel. Together, they crafted a genre-bending sound that earned two back-to-back Top 40 hits in the U.S. and a Top 10 single in South America. Their innovative music has taken them on multiple world tours, winning fans across continents. Davy continues to lead with creative vision and technical mastery, cementing his reputation as a genre-blending trailblazer in today’s global music scene.
Tell us about your “origin story”. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Rawcel: I grew up on the Eastside of Los Angeles with my parents and three siblings, and attended a high school in Hacienda Heights. Along with my friends in high school, we started dance crews, music groups, as well as becoming part of street teams, promoting for LA club promoters. I befriended Will.I.Am and was invited to be a part of the “At Ban Klann” crew signed by Easy E’s Ruthless Records before becoming the world-renowned Black Eyed Peas (Interscope Records).
Davy Brown: I was born and raised in Southern California and began playing piano and composing at age five. Soon after, I began private lessons until the age of 14. While studying piano, I also took up playing bass, guitar, and other miscellaneous brass and wind instruments. I play drums, percussion, bass, piano, guitar, and am a classically trained pianist.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
Rawcel: I started working with dance crews, and music group, as well as part of street teams promoting for LA club promoters where I befriended Will.I.Am. He invited me to be a part of his crew, and mentored me as a writer and artist. We developed a group called B.R.O.S.H.I.G.E.E.z (Brothaz and Sistaz High In God’s Eternal Eye) produced by the Black Eyed Peas. I wrote, produced, featured and toured with the Black Eyed Peas for some years before being inspired to launch a project of my own “ZupaNova.”
Davy Brown: My father was a professional multi-instrumentalist who personally taught me all he knew. When my cousin Paul (Rawcel’s best friend) told me about the opportunity to collaborate with an artist who is a part of the Black Eyed Peas crew, I knew it would be an opportunity to evolve my career from being a local musician to collaborating with major artists in the industry as an artist.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Rawcel: Getting the opportunity to travel the world was a life changing experience for me!
Davy Brown: To have two of our songs hit Top 40 on US radio on Mediabase/iHeartRadio.
Can you tell us any interesting lessons you have learned?
Rawcel: I have so many stories but one thing I have to say is having the right partners and the right team can make all the difference because surrounding yourself around the wrong people is like taking three steps forward and five steps back.
Davy Brown: We used to have jam sessions at the house with my dad’s band and he used to put me on the spot in front of everyone since I was a kid, so I learned through failure. Even with ZupaNova, in order to get where we are, we’ve failed forward.
The fear of failure should not exist in your mind. Failure is the path to success. Embrace failure and the world will be yours!
Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?
Rawcel: Wow, there’s actually a few but if I were to choose one it would be my partner Davy Brown for sticking with me throughout the years. We’ve been through a lot, it’s a blessing to have a partner who sees the vision, keeps you inspired and consistent.
Davy Brown: I would have to say my partner Rawcel, he wears many hats. In the studio and outside of the studio taking care of business. We work as a great team together no matter what! I’ve traveled around the world with Rawcel.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Rawcel: I just had the opportunity to film my first role in a movie called A Heart Full of Hope, which I’m Zupa-Excited about. I’ve been taking acting classes for about seven months and so this is a step in a new direction expanding my career as an artist. Being a part of the film I get the honor to support the Mendez Foundation that brings awareness to kidney disease and living donors. We also had the opportunity to create the theme song for the movie called “Holiday” that releases in July 2025.
Davy Brown: I had the honor to produce the theme song to the movie A Heart Full of Hope that releases this July. ZupaNova is now making its mark in the TV and film industry. Rawcel and I are also collaborating with a Grammy-nominated producer Phazehop (Usher / Burnaboy) for an upcoming Afrobeats compilation project due out later this year as well.
Why do you think it’s important to have diversity represented in music, film, and television?
Rawcel: Diversity is our foundation! Los Angeles is the melting pot of the world where we’re from. Everything we do is reflected in diversity from culture to genres of music. From the schools I attended, to working with the Black Eyed Peas, I was always inspired to make sure whatever we do, there’s a representation of diversity.
Davy Brown: If you look at any picture related to ZupaNova whether it’s just me, Rawcel, our dancers or the audience, you will see a wide range of diversity throughout. ZupaNova is in all directions and is for everyone so everything we do will be with diversity as we are a diverse duo.
How do you stay motivated in your career?
Rawcel: Faith and resilience at the end of the day. This is a lifestyle, I’ve been fortunate to start my career with A-list artists, but when I chose to go independent, I invested and lost a lot of money, and had setbacks from things or people that were out of my personal control. I went through a phase of depression, you name it. But something about music has always been the solution or the healing to get through many challenges. My family, especially my mother, has been a big support and Davy Brown has been a great brother and the best partner; we’ve kept each other going no matter what.
What you offer five pieces of advice to young music artists?
1 . Practice, practice, practice your craft.
2 . Believe in yourself and be confident.
3 . You are as good as the five people you surround yourself with.
4 . Know that there is an audience for everything and everyone.
5 . It’s not only about what you know but who you know!
Can you share some insights into your creative process?
Rawcel: It usually starts with a track that Davy has already produced, then I create a melody or a hook to the track before I start building out the verses. I sometimes hum the sections before I add the lyrics to the pattern. It’s always an improvised process; we could be in the studio till 5 am working to knock out the song. When it comes to collaborations, we all come to the table with ideas to see what works best and what everyone is comfortable with. It’s always a fun challenge.
What sets your music apart from the others in your field?
ZupaNova: Our fusion sound and life of the party vibe. Our music is down-to-earth and out of this world at the same time! They call us the “EDM Hip Hop Rebels.”
How do you connect with your audience?
ZupaNova: We love to connect personally to our fans at our live shows, as well as online. There’s nothing like the feeling of connection of the energy of the crowd during a live performance. We’ve seen people dance and get emotional during our shows. People like to connect to positive energy no matter how it’s delivered, live or digital.
How do you maintain a balance between your personal life and career?
Rawcel: Through exercise, nature, family and self-healing. Sometimes I’ve got to have time to myself or spend time with just family and friends to recharge my batteries.
Davy Brown: Through creating new music ideas and spending time with family or friends. I also have my band, Davy Brown Sound, where I create reggae music, which is one of my passions.
Which causes are you passionate about?
Davy Brown: We have a song and a 501c3 nonprofit called “ZupaLove” that we feel is going to impact the world. We want to spread the message of love, positivity, and unity during these challenging times. A movement to spread love, empowerment that brings people together around the world through music, film, fashion, and events.
With which music artist would you love to collaborate with?
ZupaNova: We both are big fans of the artists/producer Pharrell. He’s made a positive impact with music and fashion that has impacted the world. He’s able to be universal and collaborate with any type of artist, and in any genre in the industry. Everything he does is unique and original. From his style to his music to all the other humanitarian and entrepreneurial projects he takes on, he’s a big inspiration to us, and it would be an honor to meet him and even collaborate.
How can we follow your work online?
ZupaNova LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ZupaNova
Rawcel https://www.instagram.com/raw.cel/
Davy Brown https://www.instagram.com/davybrown_/
About The Author
