M³

Are you coming for the show? Meet the man behind the sound of @tooearly4birds . I had a chat with Mbogua Mbugua Mbugua aka @m2thepower3 who's the sound designer and technical director of the Wangari Maathai edition. This means he's the guy composing the music you'll hear during the 3 hour storytelling show. As a technical designer, he's coordinating the different departments - lighting, props, sound and more. Making sure all the machines are working. And you can hear every single actor on stage. The theme for the music? “Sounds Wangari grew up with like Kikuyu folk music, and nature-inspired sounds” because she is Shawry for The Trees. As an adult, she studied in America in the 1960s as part of Tom Mboya’s Airlift program. So also expect music that influenced her from the black panther revolution. This is not M³ first time. He’s worked with TEFB as the sound designer on 3 other editions - Tom Mboya in 2019 (+ the endless reruns), Badassery and The Comeback. As he reflected, “A lot of growth has happened between then and now. It's been 7 years!” They’ve been working on this show for the last few weeks, so the whole crew knows the whole script. And Mbogua has been working closely with the director Martin Kigondu, stage manager Mercy Wangui and producer Sheba Hirst. Because they all have to be on the same page of herstory. “It's a fun and funny show, very entertaining. Especially for the audience who'll experience it for the first time.” He secretly wishes he could be in our shoes to see it from that angle, just like @itsmugambi with The Showman Residency. There are so many parallels between TEFB and The Showman Residency by the way. They both have a team of over 100 people. They're both ending this Sunday. And both involve @abigailarunga , who connected me to Mbogua. At the core, he's still a musician. When he's not technical directing TEFB, he's producing and mixing albums at Eric Wainaina’s @rainmakerlimited studio in Rongai. Which now have an artist residency space known as Studio in The Park. Anyway, back to the stage. Friday's opening night is already sold out. Which TEFB show will you be attending this weekend? #LaMusicJunkie

Introducing: The Studio at the Park — not just one, but two vibrant studios where equipment comes alive with music, inviting you to create during your stay. Whether you call it a workshop or a retreat, it's the perfect place to immerse yourself in a music experience you won't forget. You booked a stay. You found a studio. 🎙️🌿 Welcome Home 🏡 🔗 in bio

locking in…🔒 Styled by Bryan Emry 📸 by @topicha_ Hair styled by @aceoffaceandhair Thankyou @queengathoni & @tajiandcoltd

So proud of Trina Mungai on her new album release ’The Monumental Album’. Extremely excited that a song I produced is part of her album. 🤗 This was probably 2017, when I was being a musician & “semi-professional” music producer and arranger in Nairobi. I had known of Trina for a very long time at this point and we met, planned a studio session and I had the ‘perfect’ beat for her. I remember she wrote most of it on the spot and delivered an amazing performance on the mic… Your boy even sang some BGVs on the track 😅 Being a music producer I knew it needed a bit more groove. So I called my boy Timothy ( @shiunduoyoo ) to lay some nice basslines on the track (slide 2) and he did it justice 🙆🏾‍♂️🙌🏾 Thankyou so much Trina 🫂❤️ The Monumental Album by Trina Mungai Track 6 - Love Don’t Cost A Thing Lead vocals and writing: @_ms.trina.m_ Background vocals: @_ms.trina.m_ & @m2thepower3 Bass Guitar: @shiunduoyoo Music Production: @m2thepower3 Mixing: @m2thepower3 Go stream Trina Mungai’s new album everywhere!!! Run those numbers up ⬆️

I’ve been a huge fan of Atemi and everything that she does. It’s been a blessing to finally get to produce, not just one but TWO songs off her 3rd studio album, Mahaba Hewani. I can finally say that I have produced for ATEMI 🫡 The process throughout making both songs was so seamless. I’m honestly grateful !! Intentionally we made amazing music that will resonate with people for an eternity ! Working with the top vocalist, arranger that is @lisaoduor was a privilege.. She is the best !!! Getting to collaborate with @kagwemungai and @wamburamitaru was amazing!! Go check out Atemi’s new album on all streaming platforms See credits below ⬇️ 10. STAY Written by @atemidiva Background vocals by @lisaoduor Produced by @m2thepower3 Mixed by @m2thepower3 Mastered by @ihajimadeit 13. TODAY ft. @kagwemungai & @wamburamitaru Written by @atemidiva , @kagwemungai & @wamburamitaru Produced by @m2thepower3 Mixed by @m2thepower3 Mastered by @ihajimadeit Also check out my playlists on Spotify and Apple Music with all the songs I’ve produced so far .. link in bio

the last dance … @tooearly4birds #TEFBMboya #TooEarlyForBirds 🤳The Truth @kwelokreatives

If you ever wondered what it’s like in the control booth in a show as intense as TEFB: Mboya, here’s a taste. It’s an adrenaline-fuelled sense-fest, with stage manager @henrywamai calling lighting cues to lighting designer @charlesstephen.k , and sound cues to sound designers @tosh_herman and @m2thepower3 , through the whole 4 hours. And in all of it, we too are enjoying the show. Here we were vibing to a beautiful rendition of ‘Daima Mkenya’, with special appearances by @maureenkunga and @ericwainainamusic . While our tech masters are working, we’re taking it in and enjoying the show along with you, even though we’ve seen it over and over. The film playing on the projection was filmed by the national treasure @just_obra . This is the magic of theatre, and why directing Too Early For Birds is such a meaningful experience for me, for us all. We’re back by public demand this November, from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th. Get your tickets and bring your people. If yours coming for the first time or returning from last time, karibu sana to the immersive stories, necessary education, and brilliant song and dance. It’s all worth it. We’re making art for the ages together. Ticket link in Bio. Video by @kwelokreatives @tooearly4birds #TooEarlyForBirds #TEFBMboya #KenyanTheatre #KenyanHistory

This one is a really special one 😄 Initially released in 2006 on Eric’s second studio album, Twende Twende! This time we teamed up with Kakuma Sound, Shangry T9, Sinaga Swaga and Kabaseke to give you a beautiful song yet important and powerful message of togetherness especially in these wild times we’re currently in. 🙏🏾 (Also trying to beat a deadline 😅 story for another day) Check out all the people involved in the song below.. ⬇️ Also check out the song on all streaming platforms 🫶🏾 Written by @ericwainainamusic Lead vocals by @ericwainainamusic , @shangry_t9 , Sinaga Swaga, @kabaseke Background vocals by @chemutaisage & @ericwainainamusic Percussion drums by @kakumasound Additional drums and percussions by @m2thepower3 Keys and Organ by @ericwainainamusic Acoustic and Electric Guitar by @kabaseke Horns by @benjikhaleel (Trumpet) & @timoriungu (Saxophone) Produced by @ericwainainamusic & @m2thepower3 Mixed by @m2thepower3 Mastered by @timlengfeld & @rushabnandha at TL Mastering @tlmastering , Stellenbosch, South Africa. Photo by @gufydox Artwork by @akili.huru

Greetings beautiful people… End of the month, new music. 🎶 Starting off with @televisionke ’s song NEGATIVITY. This song makes me really happy. It’s such a fun song and it was fun making it too.. Off their upcoming album, which is filled with 14 songs of beautiful music.. check out Negativity on all platforms Credits to everyone involved in the song below… Written and performed by @arinaitwe_ and @viningugi Background vocals by @kendinkonge , @arinaitwe_ , @viningugi and myself Acoustic guitar by @arinaitwe_ Electric Guitar by @kabaseke Bass Guitar by Asaph Uzele Produced by your boy Mixed by your boy Mastered by Tim Lengfeld @timlengfeld and Rushab Nandha @rushabnandha at TL Mastering @tlmastering Stellenbosch, South Africa STREAM IT EVERYONE, silly!!!! & from now we are only moving with POSITIVITY ❤️

Long time no post New releases for this year so far and one from late last year. Feeling incredibly blessed to have been a part of these records as a producer. Every beat, every note tells a story of passion, creativity, and collaboration. 🎵 1. Mariana by @ericwainainamusic , @h_arttheband , @televisionke & @angachi_himself Produced by me and @ericwainainamusic 2. Mabawa by @ericwainainamusic , @televisionke & @wanavokali Produced by me and @ericwainainamusic 3. Vuta by @televisionke This one produced by me and Eugene Kanyugo All instrumentalists and musicians tagged in their respective tracks Artworks done by the amazing @akili.huru (give him your moneies) All songs mixed by me Mastered by TL Mastering @tlmastering @rushabnandha Check out all songs on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube

INSHA A little over 2 years in the making of @nairobi_ableton_user_group first vinyl project. It started as an idea and finally we are excited to say ‘WE DID IT’. Huge thanks to the team: @_kamaru_ , @mistaalu & debemusic @goethe_kenya and @ableton for the support and all the artists on the record. In Kenyan cultural communities’ musical performance has always been linked with a long chain of related events and ideas. Music was often used to illuminate a specific topic and its implications to society. Through this method of explanation, musicians were able to reveal several underlying social concepts that determined people’s behaviour towards each other and the community. This common recurring theme was seen mostly in ceremonies. African musical productions are abstract configurations that demonstrate a common fundamental creative principle of mediating the physical and metaphysical worlds. INSHA is centered on time and the evolution/relationship of these cultural-creative influences. The compilation inquires aspects of traditional cultures, physical or metaphysical from communities in Kenya, and acts as inspirations and sonic paraphernalia. INSHA serves as a bridge between the past and future music creators on a more fundamental level than usual record keeping. More details will follow on how and where you can purchase your own INSHA record. Shoutout to @blinkybillmusic for the artwork

when nothing goes right…