The Jam: Get To Know BBY. On The Island, Razor Man and Chevy Kev
BBYY. On The Island
BBYY. On The Island, a dynamic DJ, music producer, and songwriter, hails from a world where identity is ever-changing and ephemeral.
Who is BBYY. On The Island?
I’m a DJ and Music Producer and Songwriter and sometimes I put my own vocals on things. But that’s a good question, who am I? I’m a lot of things and nothing at all. I don’t believe in a fixed identity. Who I think I am changes every time I go to sleep and wake up. Often times, who we think are is not who we are at all. You factor in things like perception and BBYY. On The Island is a different person to different people, depending on who you ask. I like flowers and butterflies and clouds because they’re beautiful ephemeral things that don’t exist in a single form and live in liminal spaces; the spaces in between. That’s kind of what I’m trying to do with music and sound and I guess that’s kind of who I am…for now.
What’s your earliest memory with music?
I remember being 5 years old at Driftwood Resort in Malindi with my family. It was New Years. Soon as the year crossed over, the DJ played ‘Lady’ by Modjo and that’s the first ever memory I have of a song feeling really really good in my mind, body & soul.
And then all through my childhood and adolescence, my dad had Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ live in Zimbabwe album, a Simon & Garfunkel Greatest hits tape, the soundtrack from ‘Evita’, and various Manu Dibango, Hugh Masekela and Fela Kuti albums. These CDs were in constant rotation every time he’d pick me up or drop me at school or anytime we were in a car together. We’d sing along the entire way and so many songs from these tapes are now just permanently imprinted in me.
Who are your influences?
There’s a saying, there are cathedrals everywhere for those with eyes to see. My influence range is wide and indefinite. I draw a lot from the music that raised me: Congolese Soukouss like Franco & TPOK Jazz and Super Orchestra Mazembe. Hotel Pop Zilizopendwa like The Safari Sounds Band, Les Wanyika, Them Mushrooms, Freshly Mwamburi, Fadhili Williams and Habel Kifoto and The Maroon Commandos band. The Early-Mid 2000s R&B and Neo-soul from my sister’s walkman: Craig David, Usher, Brandy, Keisha Cole, Maxwell, Kindred The Family Soul. The Soundcloud beats era of the 2010’s and shows like Soulection, featuring artists like MNDSGN, DPAT, J.Robb, & KNVL who’s a really good friend of mine and is absolutely killing it with his Afro-house releases and DJ sets.
And of course, electronic music. From that early Modjo memory to late 90’s / early 2000’s UKG. The loverboy era of SA soul house that was Liquideep. Swedish House Mafia at their prime. Skrillex in his dubstep era. Brian Eno ambient type music and bringing it closer to home, KMRU’s ‘Peel’ and ‘Jar’ albums. Right now, I’m all over this DJ / Producer called Pretty Girl who makes emotional house music because I love the contrasting duality of feeling your deepest emotions to a fun dance-y rhythm. I like how both can exist at the same time.
How would you describe your sets?
Unpredictable lol. I’m open format genre-less and I’m into a vast array of different genres. There’s always a point with my sets. Sometimes the point is to get you to dance but most times, it’s deeper than that. It’s to give you an experience. To take you on a journey with me. To crack open your mind and break open your heart.
I want you to feel things you probably weren’t expecting to feel and hopefully by the end of it, you leave feeling lighter and revitalised in a sense.
To you, what makes a good set?
Music defies logic. It’s mystical. It’s primal. It’s emotional. It’s spiritual. You know a good song not because you think it’s a good song, but because it feels good.
The same applies to a set. The DJ takes songs that were released just as these single entities and introduces them to each other - creating one extended experience that keeps compounding on a feeling. Building tension. Releasing tension. Like an ocean wave. Like giving birth. Like romance. It’s a metaphor for a lot of things honestly.
What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
Definitely playing the main stage at Beneath The Baobabs Festival on New Year’s eve at 4 in the morning until sunrise. It was hands down the biggest stage I’ve ever played on and the most people I’ve ever played to thus far in my career. Also, the most nervous / excited I’ve ever been before and during a set. But I think we all had a fun time and we all got to experience something new and different. Lowkey changed my life a little.
Razor Man
RazorMan is a multifaceted artist whose journey is driven by a profound appreciation for all forms of art. As a singer-songwriter and performer, he defines his music as Afro-fusion, blending a variety of musical inspirations with the essence of African sounds and percussive instruments.
Who is RazorMan?
Razor Man is a creative before he is an artist; a lover and appreciator of all art. Hailing from the coast, I have always had an appreciation for music that has rhythm and that I can dance to, and the music I create is aimed at being able to share that feeling with my audience either when streaming my music and most especially when watching me perform live.
What’s your earliest memory with music?
My earliest memory of music would have to be listening to a lot of old (they weren’t old then hahaha) Kenyan music every Saturday morning on CD with my mum as the house was being cleaned. From the Ogopa DJ’s compilation album, to Sauti Sol’s “Mwanzo '' which remains my favorite project from them to date, I was always surrounded by good music even before I got to experience live music and realize my love for performing and entertaining. Having also been raised to explore playing different instruments, I always found the aspect of putting lyrics to instrumentals very fascinating and this was fuelled even more by the numerous hours I would spend as a young boy accompanying my mum to choir practice and on choir trips.
Who have been or are your musical influences?
My early musical influences were artists such as WurlD, Amaarae, Sarz, and Obongjayar just to name a few. I discovered Alternative music/Alte Cruise around the same time I decided I was getting into music and I loved how raw and real it sounded. It was different, fresh, interesting, and challenging the norm; it felt like a rise of a new era in music. Their sound influenced a lot of the production side of my music which I then coupled up with my other influences that showed off my “other side” and allowed me to be myself when it comes to writing such as Nyashinski and Burna Boy when it comes to performing (I do not think there is a performer in modern day that compares to what Burna Boy does globally and what Nyashinski does globally, especially in the fields they are in).
How would you describe your sound?
Razor Man’s music and sound is groovy, it’s light-hearted, it is honest… and most of all, it is unique and speaks to who I am and my strengths musically. I do not try to mimic anyone else and neither do I try to create music for the here and now just to blow up, I like to say I make music with substance that will stand the test of time (timeless records have always been my goal from the start). The sound speaks to where I come from and the life experiences I have had and continue to have. Some have coined it the “Wembe Bounce”.
What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
The most memorable career so far would have to be opening for Gabzy at the Sounds From Africa Festival towards the end of last year which was very soon followed by ending the year performing at the biggest festival back home in the coast “Beneath The Baobabs”. Ending 2023 by performing at these 2 major events after 4 years of being doubted, ridiculed, and receiving constant “no’s” from the industry was a testament to the fact that the work I have put in and the value I have attached to my brand in how I go around my music and business is being seen and appreciated, and that it can only go up from there.
Who or what is your dream collab?
My dream collaboration would be a project co-produced by Sarz and P2J, and being able to then write and record music with my all time favorite artists Burna Boy, J Hus, Nyashinski, and Wizkid with Xenia and Lisa-Oduor doing GBV’s on the whole project… that would be an all timer African project if you ask me!
What’s next for you?
What’s next for me? I’m trying to figure that out as well hahaha! One thing I’ve had to learn and come to terms with in life and while being in this music industry is the fact that a lot of expectations cause burnout and demotivation. However, I decided to take this year to focus more on learning and appreciating the production aspect of music and being more hands-on with it as well as getting into DJ’ing which has been a very fun experience for me. I love new challenges and being doubted,it keeps me going. Trying out and learning these new aspects of music feel like a good challenge that continue to open my eyes and mind to a lot. I guess we shall just have to keep riding the wave and see (maybe some new music real soon, can’t promise anything).
Chevy Kev
Known for his laid-back demeanor, Chevy Kev is a multifaceted creative hailing from Nairobi, carving a niche for himself in the realms of rapping, songwriting, and content creation.
Who is Chevy Kev?
Chevy Kev is a creative from Nairobi, having experience in rapping, song writing and content creation (Someone's Uncles) and an overall chill guy.
What’s your earliest memory with music?
Watching 50 Cent on TV for the first time.
Who have been/are your musical influences?
Camp Mulla , AKA, Cassper Nyovest, Wizkid, J Hus, Ella Mai, Gidi Gidi Majimaji, Benny Sings , and Jazz music.
How would you describe your sound?
It's eclectic. But it's getting calmer. Age maybe?
What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
I thought about this recently and concluded that every time I went to the studio and recorded was a highlight. Not only because of the music but also the people.
Who or what is your dream collab?
That would be AKA. RIP 🙏🏾
What’s next for Chevy Kev?
More focus on my health now. Health is wealth. But writing good songs when jah bless me with the mic.
