Gatthoni

The best sets often feel like a curated mixtape from a friend with impeccable taste, and Gatthoni’s afrobeat and global hip-hop journey at The Mist Presents in Nairobi is exactly that—warm, eclectic, and rhythmically sophisticated. Imagine a backyard party spilling into the street, where the BPM (averaging a relaxed 114.1) is just a suggestion for how to move. The vibe is sun-drenched and communal, with soundsystem bass providing a physical heartbeat for the lyrical flow. Technically, it’s a genre-hopping ride, using keys like 12A and 4B to smooth transitions from soulful house to hip-hop bangers.

The energy is beautifully balanced between low and mid (0.44 and 0.48), allowing both the grooves and the vocals to shine without ever feeling overcrowded. Gatthoni’s selections are storytellers: ‘Steelix - Lay It Down’ sets a smooth, funky tone, while ‘Juliani - Bahasha Ya Ocampo’ roots the set in Kenyan flavour. ‘Wayne Snow & Max Graef - Rosie (Hubert Daviz Remix)’ is a modern deep house jewel, and ‘Amerie - 1 Thing’ is a timeless R&B flip that never fails. The inclusion of ‘Africa Express - Morals’ showcases a global collaborative spirit, and ‘Darondo - Didn't I (Dave Allison Rework)’ is a soulful deep cut.

The journey opens with the laid-back funk of ‘Lay It Down’, builds to a peak with the iconic gun-cock samples of ‘M.I.A. - Paper Planes’, and closes with that same track’s fading echoes.