B2B: S/A/M x Kampire

Based out of the old Jewellery Factory in Port Dundas, Glasgow, The Carnival Arts Social Club is an arts and community space home to many artists’ and musicians’ studios and hosts irregular club nights, exhibitions and community events.

For their latest event, and to coincide with International Women’s Day, the Club have invited Ugandan DJ Kampire to make her Glasgow debut, following previous sets in Edinburgh and at last year’s Kelburn Garden Party. Part of Uganda’s Nyege Nyege collective – a group of creatives shaking up Uganda’s music scene – Kampire caught the attention of a global audience playing at festivals around the world, and alongside the likes of The Black Madonna and Diplo, with her energy-fuelled, bass-heavy DJ sets.

Joining her on the night are, one of Glasgow’s most in-demand DJs right now, Sofay and half Sri Lankan, half Scottish DJ and producer S/A/M, with more still to be confirmed.

S/A/M: We know you DJed in Scotland last year at the Kelburn Garden Party but this will be your Glasgow debut. Knowing what a Scottish club audience is like, how do you feel about making your first visit to the city?

Kampire: I’m super excited to be in Scotland again. I may be biased because my experiences at Kelburn and in Edinburgh were so good, but Scottish people are so nice and seem to love to party, which is exactly what I’m hoping for in Glasgow.

You’re part of Uganda’s Nyege Nyege collective – can you tell us a little about that?

Yeah, it’s our ragtag crew of East African party people – DJs, producers, musicians, visual artists, party organisers. It has grown in the past four years from an annual festival and party series to encompass two music labels, a studio and a year-round residency. It’s exciting to see acts that Nyege Nyege introduced getting booked on the continent and in Europe as well.

And how did you personally come to be involved in East Africa’s underground electronic music scene?

My friends, sort of on a whim, decided to throw a music festival back in 2015 and it just spiralled from there. I never even thought about taking up DJing, but when you have an audience and a scene that inspires you, perhaps it was inevitable.

Your Boiler Room set at the Nyege Nyege Festival is pretty unbelievable – it blew me away and everyone else that’s seen it! What was it like for you performing at something that you have been so personally close to?

I’m overwhelmed by people’s responses to Boiler Room. I just wanted the Uganda I know to be represented. We love to dance, we love to party, so it gives me great joy to watch my friends and community show up and show out.

Your sets are a booty shaking hybrid of bass-heavy electronic rhythms and traditional African sound forms. How would you best sum up your sound for the dancefloor and what genres can we expect to hear on the night?

Lots of bass, beats, some Soukous guitar, lots of Afro-influenced music from the continent, the diaspora and East Africa of course.

Last summer you played at some key festivals and this tour includes playing 11 dates – can you tell us some of the highlights and what you’re particularly looking forward to during 2019?

Glasgow is definitely a highlight. I’m also supporting Branko in Berlin and London on his Nosso album release tour, which I still can’t believe.

On top of DJing and working with the Nyege Nyege collective, you’re also involved in campaign work for women’s rights and gender relations – what does that involve?

I wouldn’t say I’m involved in campaign work for women’s rights, necessarily, though I used to work in that sphere. I’m a writer first and being a woman and a feminist, that’s the lens that I apply to all my work. Similarly, as a DJ and being a minority in this industry, my existence is political, and hopefully I’m expanding possibilities by being here.

You’re going to be in Glasgow for 24 hours, what’s on your hit list apart from playing at the Carnival Arts Social Club at the Jewellery Factory?

24 hours is not enough! But I’m hoping y’all will show me what a good Glaswegian night out looks like.

When in Glasgow, which would you rather have and why:

a) A Ruby Murray
b) A Glasgow kiss
c) A taps aff night

I don’t know what any of these are! A Ruby Murray? She sounds nice.

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Kampire will be on Subcity Radio show Body Parts between 4-6pm, 6 Mar, also featuring a guest mix from S/A/M

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Kampire and S/A/M play at the Carnival Arts Social Club, The Jewellery Factory, Glasgow, 9 Mar; tickets available via Tickets Scotland