Martin Kanja (aka Lord Spike Heart) and Sam Karugu emerge from Nairobi’s flourishing underground metal scene as former members of the bands Lust of a Dying Breed and Seeds of Datura. Together in 2019 they formed Duma (Darkness in kikuyu) with Sam abandoning bass for production and guitars and Lord Spike Heart providing extreme vocals to the project. Their unique sound fuses the frenetic euphoria, unrelenting physicality and rebellious attitude of hardcore punk and trash metal with bone-crunching breakcore and raw, nihilist industrial noise through a claustrophobic vortex of visceral screams. Duma are a sinister force facing pain and difficult emotions head on is the place from which Kanja writes. A sonic aggression of feral intensity with disregard for styles, the duo promises to impact the hungry East African metal scene moving it into totally new, boundary-challenging experimental territories.

Devi Mambouka, known as Masma Dream World, is a multi-disciplinary artist and sound therapist. Known for her otherworldly and haunting exploration of the shadow side, Mambouka’s music is heavily influenced by her multiethnic heritage, sacred lineage and personal evolution to overcome trauma, abuse and addiction. Born in Gabon, Africa to a Gabonese ambassador and Singaporean mother, Mambouka immigrated to the United States at age 12, grew up in the Bronx and became one of the youngest influential voices in the NYC nightlife scene. She promoted parties and DJ-ed in legendary NYC venues like Son Cubano, Lit Lounge, and Lotus. She curated music for the 2012 Alicia Keys’ Black Ball Redux.

Only Now is the vision of Kush Arora, based in Berkeley, CA. His sound is an unremitting emission of razor cut rhythms, primitive channelings, and ritualistic electronics. There is wild abandon in his approach; from seething tribalism to cold fronts of ambience that highlight Arora’s ability to juggle disparate sonics. His galvanizing of traditional percussion, physical modeling synthesis, and industrial field recordings is present across his propulsive live shows and constant output. Active in the Bay Area since the late 90’s, Kush produces in scenes ranging from noise to global club sounds and dancehall.