DASH Festival—A Virtual Art Festival (2020)
The DASH festival is a virtual art festival conceptualised as an online festival featuring artists from different parts of Nairobi. The online audiovisual festival is called DASH, to celebrate fun, fast engagements that make the most of every available moment. The festival is an original series of curated, connected content by Kenyan artists, solo and in collaboration, and features live music and DJ performances, as well as some great talks. DASH is helmed, from concept to output, by our very own Akati, Mars, Njeri, Noel and JP, who brought together, shot and edited this set of wonderful artists!
Catch all the festival performances and thrilling conversations here!
Sound Clash: Patricia Kihoro x Jason Runo
Join us for a sound clash that’s all about love! Jason and Patricia bring their love of music, comedy and improv to this tongue-in-cheek look at love in the big city. Mapenzi Nairobi- Per Person Sharing is a wry musical journey from first blush to heartache.
Patricia is a Kenyan-based singer, actress, radio presenter, event host, emcee, digital content creator and improv comedian who loves coffee, travel, music, performance and riding around Nairobi on her scooter, or bodaboda. She loves to celebrate African brands, innovators, art and culture with a strong bias towards music. On her social media platforms she shares about life and all the things she encounters as she journeys through it while also showcasing all the things she enjoys. Patricia aims to have everyone who visits her pages leave with good vibes and energy and having learnt something new.
Jason Runo is a stage performer who when not EMCeeing and cracking ribs on stage, will be found exploring cultures and changing lives through his travel escapades. Although a jack of multiple trades, he has grown to be a master of his crafts, all which feed into his passion to connect with people from all backgrounds. In 2014, Jason founded East Africa’s first improv comedy show “Because You Said So!”. Popularly known as BYSS, the show involves a cast of actors improvising skits, scenarios and stories on the fly before a live audience. He has also recently started beekeeping.
In Performance: DJ Ca$hy
Get your dancing shoes ready and your groove on as we usher in the weekend with our very own DJ Ca$hy as she takes us on a cruise this Friday with her lit set full of bangers from the 90s and 2000s!
DJ Ca$hy's love for music had her fall in love with the decks early in life, because she has always treasured the energy exchange with, and validation that comes from, a happy, dancing crowd. Her first performance was at the Nest's first Strictly Silk event, and she has since built her repertoire of mixes with a focus on music from the 90s and early noughts, Nigerian afrobeats and lingala. She also has a very soft spot for Kenyan old school music, like the kapuka sub-genre, and early tunes from the pioneers of genge.
DJ Ca$hy mixes for the old souls with young feet, deeply nostalgic about the sounds they grew up listening to, and who yearn for memorable club nights as they enjoy the present moment fully. Ca$hy plays for a range of events, including everything on the spectrum between small and intimate gatherings of loved ones, to large crowds of excited revellers.
In Conversation: Bensoul x Chris Kaiga
Join Bensoul and Chris Kaiga in this Munchies Special as they share a meal and speak on their experiences and hopes for their work and the music industry. They also speak on the different ways the uneventful events of 2020 (COVID-19) have affected their artistry both positively and negatively.
Singer- Songwriter Bensoul is a Kenyan artist taking the African music scene by storm. The multi-instrumentalist who is also a Sol Generation signing eats, breathes and lives music affirming, “All I want to do is to leave a legacy by creating music that is timeless.” He describes his sound as an eclectic fusion of the live instruments and electronic elements that creates a unique and fresh urban sound. Alongside his music, Bensoul has also gained a lot of attention from Munchies Monday - a fun and hilarious project he began, where he gets to eat delicious food and have entertaining conversations.
Chris Kaiga is a Kenyan based rapper born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. His love and passion for music started in 2009 with the ambition of being a music producer but soon changed after recording his first single in 2011. From the Pombe Bhangi mixtape release in 2012, Chris has gone on to release the hit tracks ‘Zimenice’, and ‘Chain Chain’.
In Performance: Blvckmoon
Get comfortable and vibe with the talented Blvckmoon as they take us on a ride with their chill, unique set featuring their recently released single “Breezy” (in collaboration with Djae) and the groovy, up-tempo ‘Maua’.
Meet the science shtick with a passion for music going by the pseudonym ‘BlvckMoon’—their birth name is Charlene W. Mwamjeni Bebbora. BlvckMoon is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and DJ based in Nairobi. They are entirely self-taught as an artist, and a mechatronic engineer by profession. BlvckMoon considers their music Indie / Afrosoul / Experimental. Their debut EP, "Hertz", was released in October of 2018; and quite recently, an ethereal single titled "Breezy" - in collaboration with Djae. BlvckMoon seeks to elevate the heart, mind and soul through music and astrology.
In Conversation: Sunny Dolat x Jim Chuchu
Join our very own Jim Chuchu and Sunny Dolat as they discuss the transformations of the events of 2020 and its impact on art and artists, the need for design to cater to a country’s needs, explore the concept of museums and much more!
Sunny Dolat is an independent curator, cultural producer and creative director, and one of the founding members of the Nest collective. Sunny centres his practice in making unapologetic statements about the beauty and dignity of black skin through works such as When We Are/When We Are Not and the fashion book "Not African Enough", a voyage into contemporary Kenyan fashion and exploration of wider issues regarding Africa's place in global cultural debate and dialogues.
Jim Chuchu serves as Co-founder and General Manager at the Nest in addition to being a filmmaker, musician and visual artist in his own right. His photography and visual art works have exhibited all over the world, and his “Invocations” series is part of the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Jim co-founded the collective, and has directed and scored the collective’s 2012-2019 film projects, as well as recording and producing the Nest’s music projects. Jim oversees strategic planning and program design at the Nest
Sound Clash: Sookie Murage x Tim Rimbui
Join Sookie and Tim as they share their love and knowledge of Kenyan music and musicians, from the 80s through today, introducing us to the melodies and the moments that stand out in their fondest memories. Right after, go check out their extended playlists on Apple music and YouTube!
Sookie Murage is a Kenyan journalist, audiophile and graduate lawyer. By day she works as a human interest journalist, with bylines in the Daily Nation and Business Daily newspapers. With an interest in Kenyan history and music, her work has also been featured in the experimental theatre show, Too Early For Birds: Beats Edition. She is also known for her eclectic music taste and her curation of playlists available on Apple Music and Spotify. She resides in Nairobi and identifies as a flaneur.
With a career spanning over 20 yrs,Tim Rimbui is a Kenyan music producer and record executive, as well as multi-disciplinary creative with a wealth of local and international awards and accolades to his credit. He owns and operates a number entertainment business ventures, including E & C talent (formerly Ennovatormusic) a boutique Audio-Visual production company based in Nairobi, Kenya whose work has been seen and heard around the world on projects by: Netflix, Marvel, Safaricom, Warner Bros, Universal Music Group, all as working with several major KE acts that have leaned on his production prowess such as: Naiboi, King Kaka, Khaligraph, Phy,Eric Wainaina, Atemi to name but a few.
In Conversation: Muthoni Drummer Queen x Dr. Njoki Ngumi
Catch Muthoni Drummer Queen and our very own Dr. Njoki Ngumi as they take an in-depth look at the work of being artists for life, what we owe one another and how we can help create change and a legacy!
Muthoni Drummer Queen is a singer, songwriter, drummer, dancer and CEO to some of the most popular festivals in the region; Blankets & Wine, and Africa Nouveau. A self proclaimed polymath, she has established herself as an entertainer curating thought provoking content, in and out of the music studio. Winning international awards like the Best Artist in The Swizz Music Awards 2020, performing on international platforms, influencing audiences with her gift of gab as a TED fellow and collaborating with Grammy award winning artists like Wyclef Jean; Muthoni Drummer Queen has positioned herself as a progressive and powerful artist within East Africa and beyond.
Dr. Njoki Ngumi is an artist, writer annd feminist thinker who has held positions in private and public health care sectors in Kenya. As a Nest founding member, she has been co-writer, screenwriter and script supervisor for several of Nest's film works, and is currently expanding her filmmaking practice as co-director of The Feminine and The Foreign. Her keen eyes and ears are a critical component of the collective’s post-production process, as well as its strategic and research outputs. In addition, she coordinates the Nest's external collaborative projects, and serves as programs and strategy lead at sister-company HEVA.
In Performance: Xenia Manasseh x Ivy Alexander
Dive into this sensational set compiled by the lovely Xenia Manasseh, with a special debut of the title track of her upcoming album accompanied by the talented Ivy Alexander!
Xenia Manasseh is a Kenyan-born and raised singer-songwriter who is bringing a refreshing new sound to the music scene and captivating her audience with the pureness and clarity of her tone. She has a vision to create relatable, honest music for all audiences; music that is a reflection of her life, values and experiences and that binds people from various walks of life because it speaks on real, universal messages. Her chart-topping 2019 EP Fallin’ Apart is an intimate soulful experience.
Ivy Alexander is a Nairobi based guitarist player whose interest in the instrument was nurtured by the fact that she was born into a musical family. Her style draws from various influences, mainly RnB and African rhythms that is evident in her music. She released her debut single “Pacha” (co-writer Ian Alexander) in July 2020.
In Conversation: Karun x MR. LU*
Join Karun and MR.LU* as they discuss the explorations in their music journeys—the growth, the challenges and their artistic processes throughout the years.
Karun Mungai is an Alternative R&B musician based in Nairobi, Kenya. She has most recently released hit records like ‘Roses’, a feature with Ukweli of East African Wave, ‘Make Believe’ featuring the much sought after Blinky Bill, and ‘Glow Up’ a self-love anthem promoting body positivity and female camaraderie. Since embarking on her solo career, she has released 2 solo projects: her debut album ‘Sun & Moon’ in 2014 and an EP ‘INDIGO’ in 2016.
A self-proclaimed social experiment; Kenyan producer, deejay and composer MR. LU* has quickly turned into one of the Nairobi scene's go-to producers, working with artists such as Taio and Karun, as well as putting out music as part of the XPRSO. collective. MR. LU* synthesizes organic, jazzy and heavily percussive and electronic sounds, creating music that spans the sonic spectrum: from bouncy hip-hop, to wavy electronica, to woozy R&B and ambient trap. When he's not making music, you’ll find LU* shooting content, editing and designing. LU*’s quirky personality, coupled with his versatility as a producer, live performer, and visual artist makes him the consummate artist.
In Performance: DJ IV
Enjoy this amazing chill set from her as she dances and explores her love for amapiano and afrohouse!
DJ IV is a deejay, producer and a podcast host. She is also the producer of the recently debuted afro-themed virtual event, AFROLAB, which celebrates the African entertainment culture via music and film.
She’s an embodiment of alternative sounds as she embraces music in all its eclectic splendor as art, passion and personal therapy. Influenced by different genres, she gifts herself and her listeners with doses of syncopated rhythms, vibrant-bass, heavy beats and melodies from all over the world.