Nairobi’s Studio Can-V Is the Future of Kenyan Nightlife & Music

“The idea of Studio Can-V basically started in my room,” says Nairobi-based DJ and architect Jesse Mugambi. Fresh off completing his master's degree in sustainable design, the visionary recently won Jägermeister’s Save The Night competition, bagging a hefty €50K (about $58k) grant to build a portable music studio in his home city, Nairobi. “My aim was to create that middle ground between your bedroom and the club. Somewhere you can practice, record, and put yourself out there,” he tells OkayAfrica.

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. “There was always this issue of finding equipment to practice. Teenagers don’t get access to studio equipment, especially at an affordable rate. That’s why I would mostly DJ on my laptop,” he recalls. “That kind of slowed down because it was something I couldn't sustain.” Eventually, Mugambi moved to Brighton in the UK for university and shelved DJing to focus on architecture.

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 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’s determination paid off after winning the Jägermeister grant. 

Reflecting on his careful preparation, it was clear that winning wasn’t pure luck. “Funding 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,” he explains.

The result is Studio Can-V, 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.

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 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.

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’s musical beginnings: a full-circle moment. “We don’t have any limitations on who you are, your age, your background, or what genre you play. It also doesn’t matter if you’re 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.”

Mugambi also acknowledges the significance of community outreach, given that an “open-doors” policy won’t automatically attract a diversity of DJs. This is particularly true for marginalised groups who face structural barriers, resulting in greater lack of access. “Opportunity isn’t always equal. We are working on a new initiative where we want to implement workshops for people who don’t know how to DJ and match them with established mentors,” he declares. 

What really sets Studio Can-V apart isn’t the flashy interiors or gear — it’s how it’s run. 

From inception to execution, that spirit of community, stretching from Brighton to Nairobi, is the heartbeat of the project. Mugambi’s girlfriend discovered the grant and nudged him to apply. His former professors at Brighton helped sketch the drawings, refining his vision with their wisdom. Moreover, his solid team of engineers and local artisans erected the panels and painted the container, essentially fashioning/moulding the studio with their bare hands. As a finishing touch, Mugambi ornamented the interior with paintings from local artists, including artwork by his sister Makena Mugambi.

“It still feels insane to see this project in real life, built from scratch. From doing the landscaping, from bringing in the equipment to sourcing the vinyls from different areas.” Mugambi pauses to reflect on the highs and lows of the journey. That brief moment of silence filled with emotion illuminates our phone call and speaks volumes, even before he searches for the right words to say, “actually, looking back, I think it’s been quite beautiful.” 

It’s evident that Mugambi not only built the dream space his 13-year-old self always longed for, but his studio-bedroom hybrid has achieved something much bigger by promoting accessibility and mentorship, helping teleport Nairobi’s music scene into the future.