Nairobians ended the first quarter of 2023 celebrating our city with some of the country’s most promising new wave artists on the rise. Boiler Room x Ballantine's True Music Studios made this possible this past March with a three day series of events curated with the intention of amplifying East African club and alternative music. Held at The Mall’s now illustrious rooftop, Boiler Room partnered with Kenyan DJ, producer and filmmaker Coco Em to showcase the diverse range of Nairobi’s alternative music scene.

Boiler Room’s stay in Nairobi was kicked off by a series of panel discussions hosted by Nairobi based writer, music curator and podcaster Tela Wangeci. With a wide breadth of knowledge and expertise in the area, Tela dived deep into conversation with Coco around her journey in the alternative music space, the growing world of East African club music, and the ways in which DJs are responsible for propelling this music forward. The conversations held a depth and intricacy that did well to educate the audience of predominantly artists. The dialogue focused on the ways East Africans can represent their work and expand globally while still retaining their specific cultural essence. And when prompted with the now common question within the underground music scene, “Does Kenya have a specific sound?”, Coco spoke to the importance of remaining true to oneself. Whether an artist or DJ, by virtue of being East African the music created should reflect that: "Music is deeply rooted in the vessel it is produced from.” The idea is that if an artist stays true to their individual expression of art and culture it should be heard within the music they make.

The second day saw The Mall shift into a dance studio as the large rooftop was prepped to host a dance masterclass with the brilliant musical group Gifted Queens, a 5 piece all-female group of singers and dancers. With the aim of amplifying the diverse music landscape of East African club music, Gifted Queens was a wonderful addition. The women led us through choreography from their latest hit, “Bestie'',  highly influenced by the movements of Nairobi’s youth.They encouraged us, and cheered us on as we tackled their sometimes tricky moves all while opening themselves up to the class to engage with questions and requests to try sequences again. The class was buzzing with energy, you could tell the room was full of people who loved to move and were appreciative of the opportunity to experience the music without judgement. We dance battled, conga-lined, and showcased our own individual moves and most importantly found community. Gifted Queens did an excellent job of bringing out and honouring the natural passion and desire for movement we hold in ourselves as Africans and that was deeply appreciated. 

The series’s third and final event was hosted by renowned Nairobi-based neo-Afro DJ and Producer Ally Fresh. The evening’s first set was performed by self-proclaimed “house music experience” duo Monateng Music, composed of DJ Avocado and DJ Miss Ray. As promised,  they welcomed us into the night with an electric deep house set. Monateng Music’s selection was highly representative of Nairobi clubbing culture and the crowd pulsated with energy that established the tone.

The night’s first live performance was taken by singer, songwriter and dancer, Brandy Maina. Her set changed the tone of the night bringing in Afro-soul with a touch of reggae. Brandy knows how to entertain, giving an energetic performance that had the crowd entranced from beginning to end. Another showstopping set came from the night’s curator, Coco Em. Where some DJs may feel inclined to play what they knew would be familiar to the audience, Coco gave us range. From Lingala hits, to gengetone rhythm, to old kapuka flow, Coco brought a diversity to the night that was refreshing while still maintaining her drive to authentically amplify East African sounds.

DJ Boboss turned heads with his self-made DJ decks. Brought together by recycled metals and plastics, and a cellphone, Boboss' selection of high octane dancehall hits and groovy riddims re-energized the crowd. The last live performance of the night was delivered by Nairobi rapper and entertainer, Boutross. Boutross had 20 minutes to wow the audience. Performing a set of his top Nairobi hits, he and his hype man kept the crowd engaged and brimming with excitement. His current hit, "Angela" had the rooftop shaking with the crowd's voices singing back at him. 

DJ/Producer Budalagi followed, who's tecno heavy set served as an electrifying moment on the dance floor.  The final performance of the night was a hybrid one; a set from the future by a pioneer in Nairobi’s alternative music scene, [MONRHEA], who’s otherworldly curation features a mix of DJing and live coding. Their set was one that incorporated genres from across the globe, weaving in UK garage, tecno, and electronic and ambient sounds from their home city. [MONRHEA] innovated in a way that isn't often seen within this space and it was refreshing. 

Boiler Room x Ballantine's True Music Studios fourth edition in Nairobi was an enthralling 3 days. Held during an uncomfortable time of political unrest, some were worried about whether it would happen at all. Speaking to the event's attendees, it seems Nairobi’s creatives were not prepared to give up their spaces. The sentiment that art must continue, that our right to meet and celebrate what makes us human must go on was inspiring. Boiler Room x Ballantine’s True Music Studios has acted as a window into the underground across the world for nearly  a decade and with performances and DJ sets like these, the music scene here in Nairobi has been given a spotlight on an international stage. This has created a moment to ask ourselves what we want to showcase and has offered our creatives a chance to expand their vision and horizons, and begin to wholeheartedly create with a sense of Kenyan pride. With the 10 year anniversary of the partnership coming up this year, it will be exciting to see what they have in store next.