Three years ago, Ongeza Volume started as a podcast.
Perfect side quest for the yapper that I am. At the time, I wasn't thinking about building a brand. I wasn't thinking about teams, events, partnerships or newsletters. I just wanted to talk about the events I attended, the music I was listening to and the people shaping the spaces around it in the spirit of trying to push the ‘Play Kenyan Music’ agenda.
Three years later, OV has become so much more than a podcast.
Along the way, a team formed around the vision. Together, we've covered events, curated experiences, created content, launched playlists and continue to tell stories about the music and stories we care about within the Kenyan creative space.
To be honest, building something isn't always as glamorous as it looks from the outside. There are moments of excitement and moments of doubt. Moments when opportunities arrive and moments when you wonder whether the effort is worth it. There are ideas that work, ideas that don't and many days spent figuring things out as you go.
But when I look back, I'm reminded that Ongeza Volume exists because of a community that has chosen to listen, attend, watch, share and support what we're building, and for that, we are are truly grateful. As OV turns three, I wanted to create something new as a thank you to this community. To you, yes, wewe, who is reading this. Thank you. Aaaaaannnddddd (drum rolls please),
Welcome to The OV Read!
This newsletter is where I'll share music discoveries, podcast updates, event recommendations, reflections and the things inspiring me along the way. Thank you for being part of the journey so far.
Tuendelee kuongeza volume!
What I’m listening to
Because we just turned 3, here are 3 works that have been sitting with me lately. These aren't ranked; they're simply what I've found myself returning to and recommending to friends.
Tabia Mbaya by Petrooz & Gathogo. This is the sixth track from a project titled ‘From Bamburi to Roysambu’ by Petrooz which is a funny title juu hakuna tofauti ya the two locations, usherati is constant. Do I relate to the lyrics? I wish hahaha.
Midnight Musings: The Performance Film by Roger. Nimekua nikifikiria kuhusu Roger sana recently, why, sijui. I like him, he’s such a cool human. Four months ago he shared this incredible work with us. Alituita gig some time back and I experienced some of it. Nafeel kama the person who first experienced it and the person experiencing it sahii are two very different people. Maybe that’s why imekwama nami juu every time different parts of the piece speak to me in different moments. Zaituni’s vocals kama cherry on top na Anariko’s solo towards the end pia hunirudisha huko.
Hao ama mimi by Ach13ng & Baraza. I’ve had this song on repeat for a while now. See, sometimes hua narudia ngoma hadi nachoka nayo. Well clearly this isn’t one of those. There’s more of that from Ach13ng’s recent EP ‘You’. Love the cover art just as much as the tracks on it.
From the podcast
Episode 35 should already be out by the time you're reading this. If not, kindly allow us to disappear kwa kichaka briefly before returning with it. This conversation looks back at some of the events and moments that stood out across April 2026. Meanwhile unaeza kua up to date with the recently released episodes available on all platforms. Here are this week’s picks.
Episode 28 reflects on the music releases and live experiences that shaped January 2026, including Shad Mziki, Industry Talks, Maali, Ochiko and N’Jiru, and Kethan Live Experience III. Titled Learning Curve, the episode explores the process of sharing opinions, reviewing events and growing through feedback, embracing curiosity and continuous learning mwaka ikianza.
Episode 33 reflects on events attended across late March 2026, from Kenyan Funk Affair and Hornsphere x The Unit Live to industry workshops, networking spaces and listening experiences, while exploring themes of music discovery, creation and community. It concludes with a roundup of March releases, highlighting how people continue to show up for one another through music and beyond.
A Small Win We're Celebrating
Ongeza Volume has been nominated for a 2026 BAKE Award under the Audio Creator of the year!
Recognition has never been the reason we do this work, but moments like these remind us that the conversations, stories, events and content we've spent the last three years building are reaching people.
Thank you to everyone who has listened to an episode, attended an event, shared our work, collaborated with us or simply told a friend about OV. This nomination belongs to the community as much as it does to us.
Public voting is now open until 18th June and if you've enjoyed what we've built over the years, we'd be grateful for your vote. If you've already voted, thank you. If you haven't, hii ndio reminder yako.
Meanwhile at OV
One of my favourite things we've started recently ni our Wednesday TikTok Lives.
Every Wednesday at 8:30pm we get together to talk music, recent releases, industry happenings and whatever else finds its way into the conversation. It has become a really fun way to connect with the OV Fam in real time and to hear what everyone else is listening to and thinking about kwa mambo ya Kenyan Music.
We've done three so far and two of the conversations are already available on YouTube if you'd like to catch up.
If you're free next Wednesday, join us live. We'd love to have you there. Inabamba.
Thank you for spending a few minutes with the first edition of The OV Read.
If you enjoyed it, feel free to forward it to a friend who loves discovering Kenyan music, attending events or having unnecessarily long conversations about music.
Tuendelee kuongeza volume
Turus :)