Five years ago, frustrated by the lack of platforms for new and upcoming artists to showcase their craft, Ronjey Carey Francis decided to start Nairobi Underground (NU). From its simple beginnings as a SoundCloud podcast, the platform has grown, gaining traction and becoming somewhat of an authority on the underground music scene.
'Underground' is a word Ronjey uses sparingly. For him, especially in this age, nothing is underground unless it's not online, "Nairobi Underground pretty much fills some of the gaps left by the mainstream platforms. Nairobi's cultural scene is blossoming like a sunflower field. As a taste maker, there are so many options to choose from due to technology. Sonically speaking, I don't think Nairobi has ever been this exciting before."
Nairobi's music scene is indeed vibrant. From alternative artists like EA Wave and Labdi Ommes to the soulful sounds of Emma Cheruto, it's almost impossible to not find something you would like.
Ronjey describes NU as a multi-media platform that he uses to amplify alternative artists and influence the Kenyan music scene to appreciate the diversity of our sound. A man who is passionate about this mission, he keeps an ear to the ground, scouting social media and offbeat music gigs to find new content to curate on the site.
The impact on the local music scene?
RASH and Crystal Axis, both local rock bands, through their connection to NU got a chance to perform at Nyege Nyege, an annual music festival in Uganda that draws an eclectic mix of attendees from all over the region.
Another example is the #TetuShaniRemixChallenge. "We wanted to catalyse interdisciplinary collaborations between different art forms, so we invited electronic music producers into a remix contest using Tetu Shani's song with Mayonde called Chemistry. The result was 36 remixes by producers who hardly knew Tetu Shani. That was three years ago and it's amazing to see where he is now in his career."
Ronjey hopes to collaborate more with Kenya's creative industry stakeholders to help the platform continue to shine a 'big, bright light on Nairobi's talent.'
Check out the NU website on www.nairobiunderground.co.ke.