Kenya’s R&B Pulse: DJ Karrl Brings Nairobi to Life at Koda

It was one of those nights that started without a plan. Just landed in Nairobi and somehow found myself at Koda, tucked away in Westlands, for R&B Night curated by @nairobirnb. From the moment I walked in and heard DJ Karrl spinning, I knew this wasn’t just another set. His set was very intentional, every blend, every drop, every look he gave the crowd carried purpose. This wasn’t someone hiding behind a “good playlist.” This was an artist performing on stage.

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A Night with DJ Karrl in Nairobi

I’ve seen a lot of DJs, but few make you stop dancing just to watch them work. Karrl has that presence. No mic-talk, no forced hype, just pure crowd control, commanding the room to dance and move to the rhythm he sets. The way he layered riddims and folded new tracks into familiar grooves was poetry in motion. One minute he was deep in 90s R&B, the next he had us vibing to something fresh out of Nairobi’s underground. I kept catching myself pulling out my phone just to Shazam song after song. There was this one moment, when Karrl dropped Nviiri the Storyteller’s track “Niko Sawa” featuring Bien. I couldn’t even tell you how he got there, I think it was off a Keyshia Cole or Tevin Campbell track, but either way it was unexpected. All I know is when that beat landed, I froze for a second, laughed to myself, and silently mouthed, “Who the fuck is this guy?”and I meant that with full respect. From that moment on, I wasn’t just listening; I was fully locked in.

Karrl didn’t just play for the crowd, he moved with us. You could see it in how he built the tension in his transitions, how he made you guess what was coming next, then flipped it in a way that still made perfect sense. Every transition was a reminder that DJing is like playing an instrument and when done right, its like an act of storytelling. It’s that rare mix of intention and instinct that separates a playlist from a performance.

Be Present for the Music

For a time, everything disappeared in the crowd, no phone in hand, no recording, just sound, light, motion and presence. Watching Karrl reminded me why being in the moment still matters. There’s nothing like catching that look on someone’s face when the beat hits and the collective release when the crowd has when they move as one, that’s the magic we all as artists chase. Those subtle moments, when crafted with intention, are what turn a good DJ into a great one. It’s not always about playing what’s trending to spark a crowd. I have to believe there is greater satisfaction when you take risks and pop an underground song into a set and cause the crowd to have no clue why they starting vibing even harder to something “unfamiliar”. Karrl has that spirit. You can tell he’s not chasing clout; he’s chasing craft.

Koda Nairobi Energy

Koda was the perfect backdrop, minimalist, raw, the kind of place where the music does the heavy lifting. Upstairs, an open bar overlooked a dance floor full of people who weren’t too cool to move with tons of sections and VIP areas. Maybe it was the R&B crowd, but the night felt communal, like everyone came to exhale together.

Shoutout to @nairobirnb for curating a night that gave space to up and coming artists. The night felt like a reflection of what “real music” can do when given space to breathe. Anytime we at Sheddin find ourselves in a place that lives and moves in the spirit of our ethos "where real music happens” it hits home.

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Stay Connected

Follow @iam_karrl for a glimpse into his world.If you’re in Nairobi and want to feel the city’s rhythm and blues, tap in with @nairobirnb and @kodanairobi.