MDUNDO.COM: Kenyan music online

Somewhere between a funny Youtube video and a Mudvayne song Kenyan rock band stumbled on a great website. Enter mdundo.com a Kenyan mobile music store launched in 2012. It provides Kenyan rock bands as well as other local artistes with an inexpensive platform to sell their music. The websites management also give all proceed from sale of songs to artistes. This is supposed to encourage more musicians to join the platform. The illegal music download and piracy are endemic to Kenyan music industry. Mdundo.com provides Kenya rock fans with a legal alternative.  And at 25 bob a piece, music is quite literally going for a song on mdundo.com.

How does it work you ask? Well for starters you need a scratch card. You can get one at piedmont plaza (the brew bistro building along Ngong road) fourth floor. These scratch cards have unique codes linked to particular songs. The cards cost a hundred bob only. Also, Kenyan rock bands can buy cards themselves and distribute them at gigs.

 When you log on to the website you simply key in the scratch cards unique code and you get up to 4 songs. There are no limits however; you could always just log on and buy songs at sh 25. If you just bought a Samsung galaxy music phone you are in luck. You get five days of free music downloads from the website. Mdundo.com management has been busy this year signing several big names on to their platform. ParkingLotGrass was one Kenyan rock band we encountered on the sight. Other local acts include the Villager’s band Octopizzo and Nazizi to name but a few.

So here’s a little piece of friendly “Kenyan Rock Band” advice if you have an internet connection and five minute to spare, check out this website.

HOW TO GET A GIG

 

You knew you would have to get your act out of your garage eventually. It’s an inevitable step in the development of any Kenyan rock band. Nothing can quite match the experience of playing in front of a crowd.  This is your chance to get through the mandatory stage fright. Gigs are also a way of making cash from your music and building a fan base. They are a perfect means of gauging which songs to keep in your rapporteur and what audiences like. Gigs also offer great motivation to improve your act. Nonetheless getting a chance to perform live can be an uphill task for a startup band.

First challenge is getting a venue. When getting started you can’t be finicky about where you perform. Anywhere with a crowd will do just fine. At first,you will probably be playing to a crowd of mostly friends and family so a small venue will do. Work your way up from house parties with familiar faces up to clubs and pubs. You might not be able to make a lot of money initially but experience is what counts most. Make a point of playing in clubs with your type of music. It will be easier to get fans that way.

You will also need to work with promoters, managers and venue owners. Every one of these people needs one thing from you above all; reliability. Do not be late, show up with faulty equipment or skip the gig all together. No one will touch you with a ten foot poll if your band is not dependable. They also need a Kenyan rock band that will draw crowds and fill the cash box. Needless to say you need to make a good impression.  Prepare a press kit and demo CD of your songs. It’s also important to be professional and demonstrate your popularity. Sometimes promoters organize festivals. This would be great exposure if you can get in.

Of course you could plan your own event instead. Get in touch with other Kenyan rock bands and venue owners. Mobilize you fan base. Make your friends come with their friends. Plaster posters all over the area. You will probably have to make admission cheap to attract a large audience. Having several acts perform is a definite plus. Make sure you keep your costs low though. Keep the events small at first then build them up over time. Hold them on the same day of the week or month so people know when and where to find you. The band will have to give a decent performance to keep the fans coming.
Speaking of gigs, you can catch Dove Slimme and PLG live on the seventh of April at Choices Baricho Road. And yes, you SHOULD DEFINITELY bring a friend.

 

 

 

Kenyan Rock Scene this February

Pardon my slurry typing but this is the best my beer addled mind can do for now. I’ve been probing my mind trying to find something good to say about the past few weeks but I keep drawing a blank.….ah, there it is. Have you seen PLGs Speed chaser video yet? What are you waiting for? Its about politicians getting what they want from us and making like Houdini till next election. It'll definitely give you some perspective in this the electioneering season.

 Last Years Tragedy also launched their first official video Generation light. There's talk of an album launch in the near future and I for one cant wait to get my hands on it. Oh end lest I forget, the Rock Society of Kenya, Andromeda music and Shinagami records intend to release a compilation album with various awesome Kenyan Rock bands. Details sketchy but promising.

Drawing a blank again, I guess that's the thing about Njanuary and Feb, we can only look forward to what comes next. Keep the peace.

LasT YeArs TraGedY

Arguably one of the first Kenyan heavy metal bands Lat Years Tragedy has stuck to this misunderstood genre with the support of its growing fan base .Last Years tragedy is made up of Chizi-Lead Vocals, Jose-Guitar, Davy- Lead Guitar, Mahia- Bass, Stan- Drums and Ruto -Keyboard. Diallo- Guitar/Vocals (on hiatus). Here's their take on the Kenyan metal scene and their place in it.

LYT staying tamu

Let's start with the name, why Last Years Tragedy?
It's a way to remind us all to learn from our mistakes to become better people but never forget those mistakes because they make up a part of who we are.

What's LYT all about and where you headed with your music?

LYT's about peace, love and unity in a nutshell. We are ordinary folk like everyone else doing what we love. Music. We are headed to put Kenya on the map in metal, rock and good music. But that is one part. The music has grown over the years because the learning never stops and we want to see more bands come up! If we were to go back just 5 years, nobody would have believed that a metal band exists but now there are quite a few like Mortal Soul, Absence of Light, In Oath, Lust of a Dying Breed amongst others and that does feel good to see the scene grow. If all that happened just from us playing, then play on we will.

You just released your first music video generation light, how has the response been so far and what should your fans expect in the coming months?

The response has been amazing and humbling! If there's one thing that LYT has always been about, its our friends and fans! They have supported us even through the rough times and we are forever grateful to them for the over 1000 views in two weeks. Everyone who's seen 'Generation Light' has given us the 'thumbs up' and we couldn't have asked for better. Our fans can expect the album 'Walking Through Walls' and a couple more videos!

You participated in the Art for Peace festival, your song tribute to anarchy touches on the post-election violence Kenya has experienced in the past. How big are social issues to your music and why? 

We are a band of ordinary people and we were and are affected by social issues. We aren't political, but we do push for peace and unity. 'A Tribute to Anarchy' came out the way it did because at the time we were writing the music, Kenya was burning. 'Generation Light' tells our generation to create a new path and stay away from all the hate. Our music would not necessarily be about social issues, but more about real music about real life experiences. Music is an expression of what you feel, and is a reflection of what is happening around you, in the end whatever is happening in society might find its way into our music.

What would you really like to change about the Kenyan Rock scene? 

People really need to start seriously supporting Kenya's scene because it is ours! People should attend shows for real and not just confirm on social media. The local rock stations also need to help grow the scene be it through [playing our songs or simply highlighting what's going on in the scene the same way they hype international bands who to be honest won't be coming to Kenya anytime soon simply because of the first point here; People don't attend shows in large numbers.

What are some of the bumps you've hit along the way and how did you deal? 

In 7 years, there have been many from people walking out when we're going on stage when we were starting out, to failing or lack of equipment. to rouge promoters who are out to make a quick buck and refuse to pay. You name it, we've been through it but because we as a band have the same passion for music, we have survived. The only way to get over those bumps is to never give up.

Live performance where can one Catch Last Year's Tragedy performing? 

We usually organize our own shows which we advertise majorly through social media and when we don't have our own shows, we usually play shows with other bands like PLG and Mortal Soul.

And of course finally "staying Tamu" enlighten us, how exactly does one do that? 

By always keeping Time And Misery Undone.

Using THe wEb

With over 2.5 billion users and counting the Internet is definitely the place to be for any Kenyan rock band. But its vastness can also be overwhelming so how does one get around this problem and set up a presence on the web?
First step, the obvious: social networking. You need to start talking and get other people to start talking about you and what better place to do so than social networks. Facebook, Twitter, tumblr all provide forums for interaction with fans as well as a means of conveying who you are to the world. There are even social sites dedicated exclusively to music such as purevolume, reverbnation and soundcloud. They all allow you to upload your music so that fans can sample it at a central place. Reverbnation even goes a step further helping bands get venues and gigs. And to top it all off its press kit helps artists manage their public image. And if you’re wondering if they are to be trusted, seasoned Kenyan rock bands such as LYT, Murfys flaw and Dove Slimme just to name a few already joined the band wagon.
Of course you could always start your own website. Although the cost of getting it done right might be a little steep at first it does provide the rock band with an exclusive marketing tool and complete discretion on what you can and cant do. A blog will be adequate if you’re only just starting out.
Now that you have the means down next comes the how. 2.5 billion Is a lot of people and standing out is priority number one. You are who you are and that must come out clearly. Working the Kenyan angle would go a long way in distinguishing you from the clutter and help local fans find you more easily. Be unique in sound image gimmick you name it. You don’t want to be one of those bands that sound and look like every other band; it’s a rock, after all, conformism is a definite no no.
It would be best to consult a professional when setting up a blog or website but if you go the Do-It-Yourself way then be careful not to include too much. Clutter is the last thing you want. And whatever you do don’t stop writing on it. It might seem obvious but that’s half the battle right there. The bands profiles on social networks and the website must be concise and to the point. I found that a bit of quirky humor goes a long way in leaving a lasting impression.
Now put finger to keyboard thus and commence thy laborious task.

DREAMS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE

So the year is over and your either in a bus full of screaming babies, chicken and a driver with a death wish (I know I am) or hang over on friends couch cursing that last ATM withdrawal (you’re  so screwed by the way). What was I thinking? But the blog is Kenyan rock band not Kenyan dumb ass so that’s a story for another day. . .

In country where musical diversity separates us into obes and the cool people we are doing pretty well. 2012 had more concerts, two rock festivals and lots of great new singles. However we still have a lot work to do. Some people (the missing links I call them) still don’t know there is a local rock scene! There are also lots of up start up acts with great music that haven’t yet gotten rock fans to sit up and take note. It’s about time we dreamt of the impossible people. I see international tours, a movie deal or two, but mostly just music that lasts forever. 2013 should be about making that happen.

From nothing more than the evening’s entertainment at clubs in their home town the Beatles grew to be the best selling music act of modern times. The billion records they’ve sold to date probably seemed out of their reach when they screwed up their first power chord and the crowd jeered at their bashful baby faces. Now I have not seen any bashful baby faces in the Kenyan performances I’ve been to so far. On the contrary seasoned rockers induced head banging, hoarse screaming frenzies in their fans and all without lip synching #ButDoWeSay. It might sound dumb and spacey at first but is it really? 

The beatles

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get off this bus. Happy New Year twerps.

KenYan rOck sCene: UP COmiNg EvenTs

It'll be an eventful couple of weeks starting with Ramps and Amps this weekend. the event will include a battle as well as a guest acts such as Murfy's Flaw, PLG, Claymore project and last years tragedy. if you're an extreme sports fan then the French school next to Yaya centre is the place to be. What's the damage you ask; 350 bob only and al proceeds go to charity. Kosa uchekwe!
Next up we have the Nairobi Rockfest on December 8th. The event promoted by the Rumble on STV will be headlined by the Botswanan metal band-- Skinflint. Having released for albums to date and selling 100000 records last year, this internationally acclaimed band has shared the stage with Metallica, Carcass, Wrust just to name a few Metal scene giants. It's understandable if you're air guitaring from excitement. You could always get tickets to the real action at ticketsasa.com or at the venue. Local bands backing up SKinflint include Parking Lot Grass, Last Year’s Tragedy, Rock of Ages, Mortal Soul and Absence of Light are the . The organizers promise the most modern stage, lighting and sound effects to boot, all worth the sh 1000 it'll cost you at the gate(of club Ichonic at Ngong race).