It’s an honour to have this weeks podcast come in by Raj el Rey!
Raj el Rey is an electronic music enthusiast from Nairobi, Kenya, now based in the south of Sweden. Having been exposed to electronic music primarily as a raver in Nairobi’s growing electronic music scene around 2010, his love for the pulsing 4×4 beats, his keen ear and appreciation for underground music cuts and his growing musical collection soon lead to him making a switch from clubber to DJ. Stepping behind the decks at numerous parties and venues across the city, he soon became known for his unrelenting groovy selections, sourced through his passion to dig and uncover deep, quirky, and more experimental tracks. Quickly becoming a mainstay in the local electronic music scene, he held residencies at clubs such as the now defunct Insomnia Nightclub, The Loft and Budhaa Bar in Nairobi.
2014 saw the formation of the Temple Nairobi collective, a group of like minded individuals including Raj that began to promote regular parties in Nairobi, focusing on showcasing a distinct underground house/techno sound. Temple quickly became known as Kenya’s foremost underground electronic music event series, and Raj built a notorious reputation there for his hypnotic, often extended, closing sessions.
Now based in Malmö, Sweden since late 2016, Raj continues to deliver quality sets that constantly blur the lines between house and techno, all the while focusing on a distinct deep underground selection. He can be found playing at venues of great diversity, ranging from the city’s dive bars to underground clubs in the industrial district, from rooftop parties in the summer to boutique festivals. His passion for the underground music culture still shines on, as he continues to contribute to growing the Malmö scene further through promoting parties, hosting guest DJ mixes and studio sessions with his colleagues under the collective Radio Ystadsgatan.
Highlights of the major events Raj has played at so far include the Earthdance, Beachlife and Kikoy Culture festivals in his native Kenya, as well as the 2014 edition of the Lake of Stars festival held on the shores of Lake Malawi. He has featured alongside and played supporting sets for some of the biggest names in the music industry globally, including Jeremy Olander, Subb-an, Betoko, Jody Wisternoff, Fehrplay, Chris Lake, Super Flu, Nora en Pure, Apache Indian, DJ Suketu, Mafikizolo, and Goldierocks among many more. Raj has also played for the highly acclaimed Red Bull Music Academy, during the 2016 edition of their club night in Nairobi alongside RBMA alumni Thibo Tazz and Blinky Bill, and fellow Kenyan artist Suraj.
source
