Chemistry Portfolio #1: Road Trip Guru and Mr Jake

Chemistry is an event themed after a sort of chemistry assignment. The students were all paired up and told to go out and come back with an audio visual project that will blow away the minds of the teachers and examiners (see audience.) Aside from the Kaya party this is is one of the only times we’ve ever been this excited about an event. For five days we give you each pair of students and a little something about their project. Chemistry is a new event that connects sight and sound. Each Lab session features collaborations between a DJ/ Producer and a film maker/ photographer to take you on an audio-visual experience.

Road Trip Guru

Road Trip Guru is a Kenyan photographer who took the initiative to begin a blog, picking up his camera and going to take pictures of shags. The result has been staggering. His unique camera work is best seen on his blog, (http://www.roadtripguru.co.ke/photography/), where he has, if not an exhaustive portfolio, then one that shows the staggering creative nous he has. His imaginative use of lines and angles, plus his alluring landscape photographs, all point to to a talented new light on the photoblogging scene.

His pictures evoke emotion, no question about that, which would be perfect for his Chemistry collaboration with Mr Jake, the south African artist who is eclectic and eccentric in equal measure. The Road Trip Guru is breaking the mold, with his innovative takes on our beautiful city. The truth is what you believe, it is said, and from the lens of the RTG then Nairobi is surely a city on the rise.

1. What should we expect?

We have been friends for ages, though never collaborated on a project apart from the occasional rating of a fine chic. If helping Jake get a fine girl is working together, then yes!

2. Does your work/ your chemistry collaboration feature Nairobi?

Expect a collage of craziness and ultra-fun visuals fused with beautiful audio collaboration. We all make the world colourful. I am born and raised in Nairobi and my vision is based on the differences I see between the places I travel to and where I come from. So the difference in view captured is easily me!

3. What’s the use of music and art in Nairobi?

Music and art are a reflection of what we are going through and grown from. They both go to visually grow the generation and store history of where we have been.

4. So how did you two get paired for your chemistry project? Does how you work your instruments have anything to do with it?

I only think they paired us up because, Mr Jake is very jealous of the fact I travel and take lots of photos. Kidding. We have a similar strand of view for what we want people to see from the country. My camera played a lot in the collaboration, because I pull the craziest of concepts on top of my photography, think parallax!

Mr Jake

Jacob Solomon is a graphic designer and digital artist who has turned his creative mind to reworking music that we all know and love or creating new works that honestly do amaze. His genre of music has been described as chillstep and ambient. He’s described as a nerds nerds by his many Nairobi fans evidenced by his alter ego Mr Jake who is touted to be a monkey from space that landed in Nairobi and decided to make it his home.

1. What should we expect?

Lots of night shots, I’d really like to have my set have a very intimate setting, there is something about darkness that creates a sense of intimacy. I do love how Nairobi looks at night and it just enforces the ‘Nightlife’ Theme

2. Does your work/ your chemistry collaboration feature Nairobi?

Absolutely, Chemistry is all about bringing the unseen side of Nairobi to the foreground

3. What’s the use of music and art in Nairobi?

I believe the creative scene in Nairobi needs a shake up the underground should come to the foreground. There are these unheard of perspectives and stories that are wandering around. I personally want to create an outlet for this beauty to be seen/heard. Art and Music tap into our subconscious psyche and can be used for positive transformation.

4. So how did you two get paired for your chemistry project? Does how you work your instruments have anything to do with it?

The pairing in Chemistry was based on the personal vibe I received from each of the people involved, it was a very organic process. I met Robert through a mutual friend, back then he was aspiring to be a photographer and back then I was aspiring to be a producer/DJ. So I guess it’s that timeline that resonated with the choice, the pairing is a testament to how far we have reached within our respective fields.

 

The first Chemistry session is on the 5th of December at the Shift Eye Gallery on Argwins Kodhek from 7 pm check out their Facebook page for more details.