Music Blogger Camille Storm writes in our upcoming JULY Issue - GEN WTFY - (out this week) looking into just what NuNairobi is all about. In a lead in to her feature on #NuNairobi some of the blogger’s thoughts on how Old Nairobi brought us to the Nu style.
Byline: Camille Storm
The hash tag “NuNairobi” has gained popularity over time and artists of the current generation are using it as a distinction from the older labels and genres of music in Kenya. It’s not difficult to notice how the alternative music scene in Nairobi is flourishing right now. Previously it was more elusive, and you would only know about it if you directly engaged in it. Now it’s harder to keep a lid on it, quite the opposite, given that artists are releasing music and performing regularly.
“Old Nairobi was on life support, dead but being kept alive by two or three very specialized doctors,” TAIO of Cosmic Homies, and previously of CAMP MULLA says.
It was always hard for me as a music blogger to find artists in Kenya who I felt genuinely inspired to write about. This is mainly because there were a lot of people trying very hard to adapt to the sounds of others, rather than create their own. The problem with this is that a lot of the music being released ultimately sounded the same. There was also a huge disconnect between the lyrical content and realities of these artists’ lives.In short, there were too many “wannabes”.
In addition to this, the same artists were being played repetitively on the radio and TV. This led to the same people being booked for live events since they were the most heard or seen. The dynamic obviously shut the door for new ideas and innovation and hindered growth for both the artists and the audience. However, this new wave wouldn’t have been possible without the vanguards of Old Nairobi - artists like Camp Mulla, Just a Band and Sauti Sol.
The scene is a lot different now as artists are connecting directly with listeners through the internet and social media. Furthermore, more artists are experimenting with different sounds and in result sub genres like Benga Rock and Swahili Bass (to name a few) have emerged. Artists are now having fun with the music, opening up their minds and trusting their own ideas instead of mimicking their favorite rappers or producers. NuNairobi is all about artists becoming true to themselves and crafting their own style. The audience has also become more supportive of local artists and this is a crucial motivating factor for a budding music scene.
The current generation of artists in Nairobi doesn’t seem very interested in producing “kapuka” or “genge” music; neither do they want to make music that directly imitates western artists. NuNairobi artists just want to be themselves. It may have taken some time, but the change in the mindset of these artists has certainly led to a burst of creativity in the industry. Our artists now have an aura of confidence and they are not afraid to put their ideas into action.
The music industry in Kenya is a work in progress, but this is a solid step forward to reaching where it ought to be. There are so many artists trying to make it, and you shouldn’t wait until their big to back them up- do it now, while it counts.Go out and support the talent that the city holds, explore what’s around. It’s definitely a ‘Nu’ Nairobi.
