Episode 35: Would you say yes? (April 2026 events)

Episode 35: Would you say yes? (April 2026 events)

This episode takes a look back at the events attended throughout April 2026 while also marking a milestone for a platform that has spent the last three years documenting music, events and creative spaces through conversations, reviews and firsthand experiences. We cover Genge Must Soul by Billy Black, live performances by Modest Chabari and Mutoriah at Geco, Nyashinski's Showman Residency, KE Takeover Vol. 6 by Kenyan Pick, Now It's Experience Talking listening experience by Muthoni Drummer Queen and Blinky Bill, Fresh Finds Sessions by oneRPM and Spotify, Hildah Watiri's listening experience for Watiri's Trouble, Rituals and The Clearing by Bizi Bingi. From live performances and listening experiences to recurring event series and new releases, the episode reflects on the moments, conversations and observations that stood out throughout the month. The episode also marks a special milestone for Ongeza Volume as the podcast celebrates three years since its launch in June 2023. Thank you to everyone who has listened, shared an episode, attended an event, joined a live session or contributed to the conversations over the years. To commemorate the occasion, Ongeza Volume has launched its newsletter, creating another space to continue the conversations, reflections and discoveries that have shaped the platform over the years. Subscribe here - https://readongezavolume.beehiiv.com/ Thank you for being part of the journey over the last three years. Whether you've been listening since the beginning or joined along the way, your support has helped shape what Ongeza Volume continues to become. Join us live every Wednesday at 8:30 PM on TikTok for additional discussions around music, events and everything happening across the creative spaces. Links and references mentioned throughout the episode can be found below. Modest Chabari performance highlights: https://youtu.be/_HXodu7nmmo?si=Ytc13D8BCEtQj4uA Episode 7: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-7-reveling-at-illusions/id1691488834?i=1000625907497 Sanaa kwa Sana Showman Residency review: https://youtu.be/XRFtLT9Z_94?si=uRwUPnD9uOB_xaku Article on the Showman Residency: https://citizen.digital/article/the-showman-residency-is-nyashinski-still-the-goat-nope-n380899 Hotbox Listening Party by SHLM vlog: https://youtu.be/tbMDEsXBo9Y?si=7j0nNrjtchvt4cYs Calotropis radio - https://calotropis.xyz/ #OngezaVolumePodcast #TebuOngezaVolume

Episode 34: The OV Setlist 2.0 Revision

With The OV Setlist returning this Sunday, 3rd May, this episode revisits key conversations from the first edition held in November 2025. Originally shared across two separate episodes, one focused on music (EP 25) and the other on events (EP 26), the discussions are now brought together in one place as a recap and reset ahead of the next live session. This episode looks back at the standout songs, releases, performances, collaborations, and moments that shaped the previous edition, creating context for where the conversation now moves next. The upcoming edition of The OV Setlist will focus on January to April 2026, picking up from where the last session left off and continuing the reflection on Kenya’s music and events landscape through community conversation, live insights and shared perspectives. The session will also feature OV First Listen, a space where selected unreleased music from artists will be shared with the audience for live reactions and feedback. Event Details - The OV Setlist 2.0🗓 Sunday, 3rd May 2026⏰ 2PM📍 Two Grapes Nairobi 🎟 Tickets: https://gig.co.ke/event/1213/ticket 🎵 Artist submissions for OV First Listen: https://forms.gle/UK8tVhjDhWptgXk26 Join the conversation as we look back, catch up and see you on Sunday!

Episode 33: Power of community

This episode opens with an update on The OV Setlist date changes to May 3rd, 2026 and a question to the audience. From there the episode moves through the events attended across end of March, starting with Kenyan Funk Affair at Chronos Lavington on 19th March themed around the songs that defined East African dancefloors in the 70s and 80s. It also reflects on a moment of noticing familiar Splice samples used across different artists, and what that means for how music is being created and received. The episode continues with Hornsphere and The Unit Live at Orchid on 22nd March, followed by the Building Trusted Voices and Advancing Information Integrity Among Content Creators workshop held from 25th to 26th March, organized by Bloggers Association of Kenya and UNESCO. Also covered is Industry Social at Koda on 25th March, and the Bridget Blue RnB Listening Experience, with a note to the dedicated episode and released visuals for a deeper dive. The episode then highlights The Long Run by Hunja on 28th March, an event organized to support his mother’s cancer treatment , grounding the episode in what it means for people to show up for each other beyond the music. It closes with a roundup of Kenyan music releases from March 2026, capturing what stood out across the month. Power of Community reflects on how people gather, support, create and contribute across events, conversations, and moments that extend beyond the music itself. The OV Setlist tickets - https://gig.co.ke/event/1213/ticket Lamusicjunkie newsletter - https://lamusicjunkie.beehiiv.com/ Santuri Workshops - https://santuri.org/SEMA

Episode 32: The Rhythm in Blue ft. afrikan kodo

This episode is a reflection on the Rhythm and Blue listening experience. The album by Bridget Blue was released on 31 March 2026. Having hosted the session, the episode brings together a dual perspective both from within the room as the host and from the audience. It explores the energy of the space, how the music was received in real time and what stands out when people come together to listen with intention. Joining the conversation is afrikan kodo of Sanaa kwa Sana, who was in attendance and shares his own reflections on the album, the experience and the dynamics of listening spaces. His presence in this episode marks a full circle moment having played a key role in encouraging the start of Ongeza Volume in 2023. Together, the episode moves through the music, the event itself and the broader conversation around how people show up for such experiences offering honest observations from both sides of the room. Tickets to The OV Setlist - https://gig.co.ke/event/1213/ticket Sanaa Kwa Sana - https://linktr.ee/sanaakwasana Sanaa kwa Sana Colours Album Review - https://youtu.be/jXRFqjHuVWQ?si=P-sDYeD5oldUdd1d #TebuOngezaVolume

Minisode: Bridget Blue's RNB Album Listening Experience

This is a special Ongeza Volume minisode capturing Bridget Blue’s exclusive album listening for RNB, Rhythm & Blue, recorded live at Koda on 26th March 2026. The session blends music and conversation, as we listen through the project while unpacking the stories behind the songs, her artistic growth and the journey leading up to the album’s release on 31st March 2026. This is not a typical episode it’s an intimate, in-room experience shared as it happened. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this one and special thanks to Bridget Blue's team.