<\/p>\n
Music<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea of Studio Can-V basically started in my room,\u201d says Nairobi-based DJ and architect Jesse Mugambi<\/span><\/a>. Fresh off completing his master’s degree in sustainable design, the visionary recently won J\u00e4germeister\u2019s Save The Night competition<\/a>, bagging a hefty \u20ac50K (about $58k) grant to build a portable music studio in his home city, Nairobi. \u201cMy aim was to create that middle ground between your bedroom and the club. Somewhere you can practice, record, and put yourself out there,\u201d he tells OkayAfrica<\/span>.<\/p>\n When Mugambi first started DJing at the age of 13, access to a professional music studio was nearly impossible. Like many young artists, he had the drive but no access to gear, mentorship, or an affordable space. \u201cThere was always this issue of finding equipment to practice. Teenagers don\u2019t get access to studio equipment, especially at an affordable rate. That\u2019s why I would mostly DJ on my laptop,\u201d he recalls. \u201cThat kind of slowed down because it was something I couldn’t sustain.\u201d Eventually, Mugambi moved to Brighton in the UK for university and shelved DJing to focus on architecture.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yet, his love for the craft persisted. During the pandemic, he turned to DJ decks as the cure to his boredom, renting out Pirate Studios<\/a>, a popular and affordable studio rental space in the UK and the U.S., to regularly practice. He wanted to replicate something similar in Nairobi, sketching ways to merge his passions for music, architecture, and sustainability. After several grant applications and a series of rejections, Mugambi\u2019s determination paid off after winning the J\u00e4germeister grant.\u00a0<\/p>\n Reflecting on his careful preparation, it was clear that winning wasn\u2019t pure luck. \u201cFunding is a tricky thing. Lots of people can have great ideas, but it’s about execution. I think what set me apart from other people is that I was super specific about how I wanted it to look and how much every single thing would cost,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n The result is Studio Can-V<\/a>, worlds away from your average pay-to-rent creative studio. Its cobalt-blue shell, pieced together from refurbished shipping containers, looms like a futuristic mothership. The interior is cozy, yet otherworldly, complete with a couch for late-night hangs, a stocked mini-fridge, and top-tier studio gear. Any musician or DJ who steps inside instantly feels like a kid running loose in a candy store.<\/p>\n Fittingly, the studio is neatly tucked inside the landmark Kuona Trust Arts Centre, located in the bustling Kilimani neighbourhood in Nairobi. The Centre also houses Studio 18<\/a>, a household multi-brand fashion store that frequently hosts pop-up events. Hence, visiting the location feels both nostalgic and novel, almost like Studio Can-V was supposed to exist here all along.<\/p>\n Since its opening in June, the buzz around Studio Can-V has been infectious, attracting over 200 guest DJs in its first month. The youngest DJ to have used the studio is just 14 years old, mirroring Mugambi\u2019s musical beginnings: a full-circle moment. \u201cWe don\u2019t have any limitations on who you are, your age, your background, or what genre you play. It also doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re just starting out and not proficient in the use of equipment. I want to ensure that the space is open for everyone to come to play.\u201d <\/p>\n
\n <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n <\/div>\n