Through his sounds, Mike Kayihura has opened up a realm of vulnerability from his early Soundcloud days with “Mama & the City” / “Nina with the Side Eye” / “Tina” and many other gems; to his more recent experimentation with sounds from the continent on his ‘Zuba' EP. And we cannot forget his live-recorded album ‘Barely Mixed’ which was the catalyst to everything. A piece of gold he was quietly polishing, waiting for the right moment to reveal.
Characterized by bouncy, bass-heavy production, “Who Disagrees?” is an afro-ethereal single which marks the end of Nairobi-based rapper, producer and songwriter Anje Uno’s hiatus.
The 3 day event will shine a light on Kenya’s rising drill scene.
Tap into some great East African hip hop.
On her upcoming single, “Can’t Get Enough”, Kenyan alternative R&B artist Maya Amolo explores infatuation as a drug, detailing the the euphoric effect that falling in love has on your day-to-day life
Santuri works towards bridging the gap between artists and the industry by empowering artists to further their careers and build connections with other industry folks. They created the Santuri Electronic Music Academy (SEMA), with support from the Goethe-Institut, a program that teaches up-and-coming artists several skills to help further their career.
A conversation with b-boy Onkwani of the Halisi Breaking outfit, one of of the hottest b-boy crew leaders in Nairobi at the moment
February, the month of love brings a lot of great moments and music with it however. Rap is a genre that prides itself on addressing a wide range of topics, and romantic love is one of them. Below is a list of some of those songs that engaged fans this past month.
By way of her occupation and inventive sonic vision, Nyokabi Kariũki’s impact on the Kenyan music scene warrants greater applause. Although the global music scene is witnessing a renaissance of African experimental sounds, the 23 year old Kenyan composer is one of the few women composers in the East African soundscape. Combining her 17-year classical training in piano, Nyokabi effortlessly defies the boundaries of genre by dabbling with classical contemporary to choral music, film, experimental pop, and East African musical tradition.
The year has begun with lot's of new music. This list picks out unique songs that see artists step out of their comfort zones or the unexpected norms. Whatever the motivations, we are here to enjoy some great East African hip hop.
Through the tender eyes of Peter Murimi, we delve into a cinematic world characterised by the duality of hope and fear in the face of indefinite uncertainty.
To many, live music albums are a lost art. The organic nature of different sounding artists coming together and creating a natural sonic genus doesn’t come easy. This train of thought highlighted Silk Sonic’s origins and their inherent chemistry, a similar story to Kelele Kollektiv’s.
The African creative renaissance is now and for the first time ever, this reality is being represented through film in The Ones Who Keep Walking - a stunning film by Amarachi Nwosu and presented by Johnnie Walker that shares stories of 20+ creatives across the continent.
“When people look at me, I want them to see a bad ass bitch”. This declaration is an introduction to Maandy’s musical persona.
Here’s a behind the scenes look at the creation of our “Full Full Condition, Vol. 2” compilation album.
Hypnotic vocal layering gliding over acoustic-driven, minimalistically produced tracks are Malaika’s signature, creating the perfect pocket for her poetic songwriting to shine through as heard on songs like “Tears”. And although rooted in indie-R&B, Malaika’s sound is versatile; from incorporating rock-influenced guitar patterns on “Let Go” to African melodies on “Nyota”, she takes us on a journey through various sonic landscapes on her debut EP.
DJ-ing wasn’t always the goal. His intention, at least at first, was simply to survive in Dar and eventually make a comfortable living for himself and his family. But then he got really good at playing music, and when the opportunity presented itself, chose to fully immerse himself into making it a career.
Tetu Shani feels like he’s at the tipping point of his career. He’s finally at the edge of self-expression that’s beyond any commercial or societal expectations.
In today’s climate of pop music where the commercial appeal of the artist is often more important than the quality of their music itself, Njeri delivers a lyrically and vocally sound project that will stand the test of time.
Nairobi’s lo fi prince, capespring. has released a new single in the form of limbo featuring mau from nowhere. It is a shimmery yet melancholy song that seems ready made for driving and contemplating on loves; present and past.
