Rise and Shine for 6:AM

Local DJ troupe make Nairobi an electronic dance destination

We all know that Nairobi is a city brimming with eclectic music styles, from hip-hop to instrumental, and acoustic to bhangra; reflecting the nation’s cosmopolitan and diverse tastes. What many don’t realise is that Kenya is also fast becoming a favourite destination for fans of electronic dance music. With home-grown talent such as DJ Jahawi, whose single ‘Kenya’ is an international hit, and an increasing number of top DJs from around the world coming to play at parties such as Earthdance and NYE, we are rapidly emerging as the paradise party destination. This reputation is mainly thanks to the hard work of a group of DJs and party organisers who have dedicated years to putting their home turf on the global map.

We caught up with 6:AM a group of DJs – Kuzi, Barney and Drazen – who are out to change Kenya’s electronic dance music dance scene.

What do you think marked the start of the electronic dance music scene in Kenya?

Kuzi: The Pavement Club (in Westlands). Back in the 1990s when the mood was very calm, DJ Ohms and Stevie Price (Pavement’s resident Djs) would travel to Europe on frequent business where they would visit record stores to pick up the very first copies of Modjo’s ‘Lady’, and David Morales’ ‘Needin’ U’ to hit the Kenyan shores.

Back in those days, it was only the Pavement for weekends and Nomads for New Year’s Eve. There was a great sense of excitement, potential and possibility for the scene and that feeling has been what has kept us going.

How has it changed over the years?

Barney: We’ve had peaks and troughs over the years. There was a point in 2000 when the Pavement had 1,500 people on a Friday night. This had been severely impacted by the Smirnoff Experience stampede, that left a few dead and many injured. After that year, the scene experienced the BP stock effect (infinite decline) and we had to pick up the pieces and build it from scratch.

What about 6:AM?

Drazen: The huge lull in the scene is part of the reason we started 6:AM. The Pavement, which was the central hotspot of Nairobi’s nightlife, was reduced to a shell. Attendance averaged out at 500 or so people and the DJs reverted to playing pop music to get back the crowds. It never worked.

This prompted us to start up monthly residencies around Nairobi to breathe some life back into the scene. In 2004, we had our first 6:AM event with around 250 people and since then we’ve been building our fan base, which is now in the thousands.

What are some of your proudest moments?

Kuzi: Take your pick… hosting top German DJ Ronski Speed at New Year 2009, booking Oliver Huntemann for his first ever gig in Nairobi in 2010, hosting Kenya’s first charity dance festival ‘Earthdance’ two years running, but for me, the proudest moment is actually when the sun is rising at any 6:AM event, and the crowd begin to chant “6…AM, 6…AM, 6…AM!

There is plenty of home-grown talent in Kenya in terms of DJs but why isn’t more electronic dance music produced here?

Barney: Lack of good music production schools. Kenya’s music scene is dominated by African rhythm and American hip-hop/rap music. This means that all production courses are aimed at those styles of music which limits our exposure.

What’s next for electronic dance music and 6:AM in Kenya?

Drazen: We will have a lot more international DJs and artists coming through the country. We also expect to see a new batch of DJs rising out of 2011. Earthdance will be bigger than ever. There’s a new event designed for kids with no booze, and no over-18s allowed that will be marketed within high schools to expose the children to the music. Keep watching this space!