PHAT!buzz June 2015 issuu

G BRATIN CEELLEEB

S 15 YEAR

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Eric wainaina

PHAT!buzz™ is distributed FREE to cafes, cinemas, clubs & pubs in Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi and Nakuru.

PHAT!buzz™ - now in its 15th year of telling you Wazup! To advertise, Call: +254 20 238 6060 E-mail: phatbuzz@ phatafrica.com Website: www.phatafrica.com © PHAT! Music & Entertainment Limited.

As PHAT!buzzTM celebrates its 15th Year of telling you Wazup, we are checking in with Kenya’s Musical Legends, who have been part of our Phamily since inception.

Eric Wainaina’s music is as relevant Today, as it was when he began. A reminder of such, was his Performance of the 1998 hit: ‘Kenya Only’ (‘Daima Kenya’), at the #147 Garissa Memorial, on 14th April 2015, at Uhuru Park in Nairobi.

Pb: We last Interviewed you in February 2007, after the Launch of your 2nd Album: Twende Twende? What have you been upto Since?

EW: I put out a Record, called: Love & Protest, in 2011. That was after doing a Musical: Mo Faya!, in 2009 - that went to New York and came back to Kenya. We then launched a Live Performance platform called: Live At The Elephant, which is now in its 2nd year. I did a couple of Television Shows, as a Principal or Music Director, like Tusker Project Fame in 2013 and Maisha Superstar this year.

I scored some Films; and an Animated Children’s Television, called Tinga Tinga Tales, in 2010.

Pb: How would you say your Music has Evolved from Sawa Sawa in 2001, through Twende Twende to Love & Protest?

EW: Sawa Sawa and Twende Twende leaned towards a more Traditional sound; while Love & Protest didn’t. Now, with Where we’re going, we’re doing Whatever we Feel. Let’s see Where that Leads.

Pb: You won Best East Africa Act at 2002 KORA Awards; looking back, how much of an Impact would you say this had on your Career?

Eric Wainaina Music Story by Rahab Njeri.

EW: Awards are Cool. You can add them to your Bio, but that’s all really. They aren’t Why we do Stuff and they Don’t make you Better than Anyone else.

Pb: Speaking of KORA, we’ve not heard of such big Award platforms in Africa in recent times - until AFRIMA last Year.

What would you Say went Wrong?

EW: I think so much has Changed in the Music Industry, that everyone is still trying to find their feet. Also everyone is trying to figure what to tie Awards to. Is it Sales or Airplay or Fans? Who should Run the Awards? Critics or Members of the Industry or an Academy? When we can Answer these Questions, then Awards will make more Sense and will have more Credibility.

Pb: For ages People have faulted Kenya for not having its own Sound. What’s your Opinion?

EW: We do have our own Sound.

It’s called Diversity.

Pb: What has Changed in the Music Industry?

EW: There are many more avenues for people to Consume music.

Computers have democratised the Creation and Dissemination of Music. This means that no one Person is in Control. This is Good, because now more People can join the Conversation at all Stages - the Front end and the Listening end.

Pb: What Advice would you give Anyone who Looks up to You? EW: Keep doing what you’re Doing. Look for Alternatives in the creative Process. The first Answer is not always the Best.

Pb: What’s next for Eric Wainaina?

EW: To write the Record I really Love. @EricWainaina

@ericwainainamusic

Photos courtesy of Eric Wainaina.

www.ericwainaina.co.ke

I GOT MY STAGE NAME: from the Series called 24; where one of the Characters was called: Victor Drazen, played by Dennis Hopper. It’s really Catchy. My real Name is Yasir.

I STUDIED AT: Graffins Campus, after going to High School in Aga Khan.

I GOT INTO DEEJAYING: when I was still in High School. I was inspired by my older Brother - DJ Ohms, who was a renowned Deejay, back in the day. I would sneak into his Room and Play around with his Equipment.

I LEARNED DEEJAYING WHEN: I was done with High School. I would go to various Nightclubs and make friends with the Deejays. They saw that I had a good Ear for Music; so from then on, they would Show me a few Pointers. I have been practising ever since.

IT’S BEEN: 15 years, since I got into Deejaying.

I USUALLY PLAY: Progressive House, but I prefer to play Deep House, Afro House, Techno, Electronica and Minimal.

DEFINITELY THE MUSIC HAS CHANGED: over the Years. Most of the Music these Days is Commercial. It’s not about Music anymore. It’s about Popularity. However, the Upside through of Years is Technology. It has improved so much, to help us with Exposure and a lot more Stuff.

HOUSE MUSIC WAS NOT COMMON THEN: people were not Gravitating to that Genre of Music. Plus there was No Support from local Radio or Television stations. It was up to us to make House popular; and now more People are Listening to various Types of House.

I NOW OWN A HOUSE BRAND: called 6:AM Entertainment. It’s been over 10 Years now, running themed Events and bringing International Acts.

Story by Rahab Njeri.

Photo courtesy of DJ Drazen.

IF I WASN’T A DEEJAY: I’d be a Systems Analyst.

DJDrazen

@djdrazen

@djdrazen

Interviewed by: Kevin Oyugi. Photos courtesy of: DJ Sadic.

Drazen

ORQUÉSTA CHUNGU SUNDAY, 7TH JUNE 2015, 6.00 PM

GOETHE-INSTITUT, AUDITORIUM ADMISSION: 500/= KSH

BACCHUS LOUNGE, WESTLANDS, NAIROBI: Wednesdays: DJ Kaytrixx & DJ Xclusive. Thursdays: DJ Protege. Fridays: DJ Hypnotique. Saturdays: DJ Spin. Free entry.

BELLA VISTA (MOI AVENUE) & BELLA VISTA (DIGO ROAD), MOMBASA: Every day is a Party. Enjoy good Food, Sports and Music. Free entry.

CARNIVORE SIMBA SALOON, LANGATA, NAIROBI: Rhumba Night every 1st Friday by DJs Wattii, Wikki & Martin; and New Jack Swing every 3rd Friday. Entry for each: KES 300/-.

Cultural Nights every last Friday. Entry: KES 500/-.

CLUB SAMBA, MOI AVENUE, NAIROBI: Wednesdays: Live Band. Thursdays: DJ Suspense. Fridays: Rhumba Night. Saturdays: All Party. Sundays: Soul Night.

GATEWAY PARADISE HOTEL, MAKUPA, MOMBASA: Enjoy mix of music throughout the week and Sunday with DJ King Saddam. Friday and Saturday with one-man guitar Kioko. Parking available. Accommodation and Conference Hall available. Beers at a reduced price of KES 170/-. Free entry.

I-CLUB, KIMATHI STREET, NAIROBI: Reggae Night with Dub Station on Mondays. Comedy Night with Fred Omondi on Wednesdays. Karaoke Night on Thursdays with Erika & Soul Masters. Good looking Friday with DJ Exotic. Supa Sato with DJ Symo Mfalme. Free entry.

K1 KLUBHOUSE, OJIJO ROAD, PARKLANDS, NAIROBI: Jazz Nite on Tuesdays. Afro-Beat on Wednesdays. Reggae on Thursdays. Live Band Karaoke on Fridays. GogoSimo Band on Saturdays. Free entry.

KENGELES, LAVINGTON GREEN, NAIROBI: House Deejay’s mix every Wednesday and Friday. Free entry.

OFF-ROAD BAR & LOUNGE, LANGATA, NAIROBI: 50% Whisky Club. Local Beers @ KES 200/-. Ample Secure Parking.

PSYS, T-MALL, LANGATA ROAD, NAIROBI: Wednesday: Live Band (Ni Sisi). Thursdays: DJ Gordo. Fridays & Saturdays: Rock by DJ Barbie & DJ Vince.

RAFIKIZ, LANGATA, NAIROBI: Mondays to Thursdays: Local Beers @ KES 200/-. Wednesdays: mid-week Madness with DJs Hypnotique, Créme, Andre, Protégé, Mr. Dru and Fresh One. Thursdays: Reggae Night with Empire Sounds. Fridays: Funky Fridays with Inferno VJs. Saturdays: Easy Saturdays with DJ Fresh One. SAILORS BAR & LOUNGE, HURLINGHAM, NAIROBI: Tuesdays: Neo-Soul with DJ Nijoz. Thursdays: Jazzraoke by Freddy. Fridays: Mix by DJ Nijoz.

SECRETS LOUNGE, VIEW PARK TOWERS, NAIROBI: Beers at reduced prices on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Red Carpet Affair on Thursdays. Ace Cards on Fridays. Reggae Nite by Livity Sounds on Sundays.

7 DEGREES BAR & LOUNGE, NAIVASHA ROAD, DAGORETTI CORNER, NAIROBI: Happy Hour (Beers at KES 170/-) 5pm to 7pm every Monday to Friday. Enjoy Reggae every Wednesday with DJ Bagg. Karaoke is on every Thursday with Liz & DJ Kuch. Midweek offers are every Wednesday and Thursday. Free entry.

TAMASHA, HURLINGHAM, NAIROBI: Mondays: Reggae Nights by Dohty Family. Tuesdays: Karaoke Night by Slineer. Wednesdays: Rhumba Night by Sound Afrique. Thursdays: Soul Night & Old School. Fridays: Mix by DJ Briggy. Saturdays: Mix by DJ Purple. Sundays: Jazz Night.

THE BLUES, HURLINGHAM, NAIROBI: For the best of Blues music & meals in town. Enjoy the relaxed ambiance with free WiFi. VASCO’S LOUNGE, NAKURU-NAIROBI HIGHWAY, NAKURU: Free tonic with four tots of Singleton Malt Whisky every night and Special Chef BBQ Wings every night. Wednesdays: RnB. Thursdays: Soul Nite. Weekend: BBQ & Party Time.

ORQUÉSTA CHUNGU

Girum Mezmur

O

rquĂŠsta Chungu is currently Touring Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia; ending on 15th June, 2015.

The Ensemble is named after the Chungu - the traditional Eastern African clay Cooking Pot; which is popular, because it retains Heat.

So the Band is Cooking up a hot Menu spiced with tasty Grooves from Mozambique to Ethiopia, featuring Music by some of the greatest Composers of Eastern Africa.

Abiy Woldemariam

Their line-up of international Musicians, features Will Ramsay from South Africa on Saxophone, Girum Mezmur & Abiy Woldemariam from Ethiopia on Guitar & Keyboard, respectively; and Martin Lillich & Dietrich Woehrlin from Germany on Bass & Drums, respectively.

However, they shall also add a unique Flavour in each Country, by inviting local Musicians to join them for some sizzling Performances.

The five core Musicians are part of a Music Education Workshop Tour of these four Eastern African countries, Supported by the German Foreign Office and the Goethe-Institut, in Partnership with the Jazzamba School of Music in Ethiopia, the Bayimba Music Academy in Uganda, Action Music & Music Mayday in Tanzania and the Institute of Cultural Music in Kenya.

Will Ramsay

The young Musicians and Music Teachers participating in the Workshops are being Trained to Read, Write and Analyse their own Music, by using an innovative core Curriculum, which they can then use in their own Teaching programmes to Document, Preserve and Promote their own Cultural Music.

The 2015 Workshops will focus on Instrument Curricula and Ensemble Training, using Transcriptions of Music from all over Eastern and Southern Africa. The partner Organisations in each Country are responsible for selecting the Participants for the Training.

Dietrich Woehrlin

The Tour is taking place within the Framework of the East African Global Music Campus Teacher Training Programme, which has the overall Objective of Preserving, Developing & Promoting African music and African music Education in the Region.

To this end, the Global Music Academy in Berlin, and its Partners in the Region, are developing a 2-year Course, which will provide Professional Training for aspiring young Musicians focused on the Music of Africa; as well as Training musicians to Teach on the Programme.

BengaHouse

Martin Lillich

@BengaHouse www.icmschool.org

Story by Rahab Njeri.

Photo courtesy of Orquesta Chungu.

ART & TRADE EXHIBITIONS DATE: EVENT: VENUE:

DETAILS: TIME: ENTRY:

Monday 1st to Sunday 21st.

Resurrection - Facial Fragments.

Red Hill Art Gallery, St. Julian’s Road, off Limuru Road, Kiambu.

Abstract Art by Eltayeb Dawelbait.

11.00am to 6.00pm.

Free.

DATE: Wednesday 3rd to Friday 5th.

EVENT: International Floriculture Trade Expo (IFTEX) 2015.

VENUE: Oshwal Community Centre, Parklands, Nairobi.

DETAILS: Flower growers from Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe,

Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda & Ethiopia, interact with Buyers

from Europe, Russia, USA, Middle East and South East Asia.

TIME: 10.00am to 6.00pm.

ENTRY: Free.

DATE: EVENT: VENUE: DETAILS:

TIME: ENTRY:

Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th.

Veo Veo. Bidwood Suite Hotel, 11 Karuna Drive, Westlands, Nairobi.

Photography by Elísabet Cárdenas, in Aid of

Kariobangi Women Promotional Training Institute.

10.00am to 8.00pm.

Free.

DATE: EVENT: VENUE: DETAILS: Africa’s TIME: ENTRY:

Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th.

2nd Agritec Africa Expo 2015.

Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi.

Showcasing various Suppliers of Goods & Services for Agricultural growth.

8.00am to 5.00pm.

Free.

DATE: EVENT: VENUE: DETAILS:

TIME: ENTRY:

Saturday 27th to Monday 29th.

Beauty & Wellness Kenya 2015.

Sarit Centre Expo Hall, Westlands, Nairobi.

Showcasing the new Products & Technology in Beauty & Wellness Industry.

10.00am to 6.00pm.

Free.

WANNA PROMOTE YOUR EVENT FOR FREE?!

Email information on the Date, Title, Venue, Time, Details and Entry charges to: phatbuzz@phatafrica.com

To get the 411 on interesting Training, Art & Trade Exhibitions every week, Dial *411*2*8#.

PARTIES & CONCERTS DATE: EVENT: VENUE: DETAILS:

TIME: ENTRY:

Saturday 6th.

Sunglasses at Night.

Carnivore Simba Saloon, Langata Road, Nairobi.

6:AM Entertainment presents DJ K, Sean Fraser, Mikhail Kuzi, Jack Rooster and DJ E. 10.00pm to 6.00am.

KES 1,500/- (18+).

DATE: EVENT: VENUE: DETAILS: TIME: ENTRY:

Thursday 11th.

Summer Ignition Party.

Ozone Lounge, Valley Arcade, Nairobi.

Hosted by Sophisticated Family.

2.00pm to 6.00am.

KES 1,000/- (18+).

DATE: EVENT: VENUE: DETAILS:

TIME: ENTRY:

Thursday 11th.

Thursday Night Live.

Choices Pub, Baricho Road, Industrial Area, Nairobi.

With the legendary Singer, Songwriter & Social Activist: Sali Oyugi, of Tanzanian and Kenyan heritage.

8.00pm to 11.00pm.

Free.

DATE: Friday 19th.

EVENT: Spanish African Cocktail Party.

VENUE: Marabou Sports Lounge, Highway Mall, Nairobi West.

DETAILS: Latino music by Senyor E-Jeys, plus authentic Food

and Drinks.

TIME: 5.00pm to 4.00am.

ENTRY: Free.

DATE: EVENT: VENUE: DETAILS: TIME: ENTRY:

Thursday 25th.

Thursday Night Live.

Choices Pub, Baricho Road, Industrial Area, Nairobi.

Pan-African Jazz by Abel and the Mambo Jazz Quartet.

8.00pm to 11.00pm.

Free.

WANNA PROMOTE YOUR EVENT FOR FREE?!

Email information on the Date, Title, Venue, Time, Details and Entry charges to: phatbuzz@phatafrica.com

To get the 411 on the hottest Festivals, Parties & Concerts every week, Dial *411*2*6#.

PLAYS & THEATRE DATE: EVENT: VENUE: DETAILS:

TIME:

ENTRY:

Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th.

Betrayal.

Alliance Francaise, Nairobi.

Festival of Creative Arts presents a hilarious suspense drama, by Peace Mbengei and Abuto Eliud, on the Modern day Challenges in Relationships.

6.00pm on Thursday, 6.00pm & 8.00pm on Friday, 3.00pm, 6.00pm & 8.00pm on Saturday and 3.00pm & 6.00pm on Sunday.

KES 500/-.

DATE: EVENT: VENUE:

DETAILS:

TIME: ENTRY:

Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th.

The Psalmist.

St. Andrew’s P.C.E.A., State House Road & Nyerere Road junction, Nairobi.

Liquid Entertainment Arts presents a hilarious drama, by Peter Tosh, on what Happens when the Music stops.

2.30pm to 4.00pm and 4.30pm to 6.00pm.

KES 500/-.

DATE: EVENT: VENUE: DETAILS:

TIME: ENTRY:

Friday 12th.

Rappercussions Concert by L-Ness & Bambupelo Project.

Goethe-Institut, Monrovia Street, Nairobi.

A combination of conscious Rap and Poetry, accompanied by live traditional African percussion.

7.00pm to 10.00pm.

KES 500/-.

DATE: EVENT: VENUE: DETAILS:

TIME: ENTRY:

Saturday 13th.

Thingira Na De Mathew.

Alliance Francaise, Nairobi.

Fanaka Arts Theatre presents the 4th Edition of the Gikuyu Musical & Stand-up Comedy show, featuring Gathemba, Njomo Wa Nyathira and Mundu Particular.

6.00pm to 11.00pm.

KES 1,000/-.

DATE: Friday 19th & Saturday 20th.

EVENT: The Nairobi Performance Series.

VENUE: Goethe-Institut, Monrovia Street, Nairobi.

DETAILS: A Production Platform for Dance, to Showcase new

Choreography; curated by Kefa Oiro and Moturi Kebaya.

WANNA PROMOTE TIME: 6.00pm on Friday and 4.00pm on YOUR EVENT FOR FREE?!

Saturday.

Email information on the ENTRY: Free.

Date, Title, Venue, Time, Details and Entry charges to: phatbuzz@phatafrica.com

To get the 411 on the most captivating Theatre, Comedy, Poetry, Literature & Dance every week, Dial *411*2*7#.

SAVE THE DATE ...

28.01.16 to 31.01.16 12pm - 8pm

Sarit Centre Expo Hall Westlands NAIROBI

+254 774 386 060 ongea@phatafrica.com