Mo: Spreading Peace and Love Through Song
Few artists describe their work as healing, but for Nairobi-born singer-songwriter Mo, music has always been exactly that. Her sound blends soulful vocals, rich melodies and rhythmic grooves with lyrics designed to soothe, uplift and connect.
As she prepares to release her EP Wanderer and continues work on her debut album Mo’s Garden, we caught up with Mo to talk about her journey through Nairobi’s music scene, her inspirations and her mission to spread love through song.
iN NAIROBI: For readers discovering you for the first time, how would you describe your music?
Mo:
My music is really about healing and connection. I love blending smooth, soulful vocals with sweet melodic sounds and powerful rhythms. The intention is always to uplift people and bring a sense of peace. Music has this incredible ability to shift energy, and I try to create songs that feel grounding and inspiring at the same time.
iN NAIROBI: You grew up in Nairobi. What role did the city play in shaping your sound?
Mo:
Nairobi shaped everything. I was born and raised here in the early 90s and grew up surrounded by such an incredible mix of music. At home and in the city you could hear everything from Franco and Them Mushrooms to Mercy Myra, E-Sir and Ukoo Flani Mau Mau.
At the same time I was discovering artists like Salif Keita, Angelique Kidjo, Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza, Jill Scott, Nina Simone, Boyz II Men and Erykah Badu. All those different sounds found their way into my musical world.
iN NAIROBI: When did you realise music would become a serious path for you?
Mo:
It started quite early. As a young person I was always involved in choirs and loved singing hymns. Later in high school I fell in love with musical theatre and ended up playing lead roles in two international stage productions, In The Heights and High School Musical.
That experience really helped me grow as a performer and made me realise that music could be a big part of my life.
iN NAIROBI: After school you went on to study music formally. Tell us about that experience.
Mo:
After high school I took a year to focus purely on vocal training and was accepted to Sauti Academy at Penya Africa. That was a huge turning point. I learned so much about vocal technique, songwriting and the power of words in music.
It was also where I met my future bandmates and became part of Yellow Light Machine, which was a collective of young musicians who just loved creating and performing together.
iN NAIROBI: Yellow Light Machine became a big part of your musical journey.
Mo:
Yes, absolutely. I was the lead vocalist for the band and we spent about seven years performing together. It was an incredible time of exploration and collaboration.
We travelled across East Africa performing at festivals like Blankets & Wine, Africa Nouveau, Kilifi New Year and Nyege Nyege Festival in Jinja, Uganda. Those experiences were magical and really shaped who I am as an artist.
iN NAIROBI: During that time you were also immersed in Nairobi’s live music culture.
Mo:
Yes, we were doing residencies and artistic exchanges at places like The Alchemist and K1 Klub House, which were really important spaces for creative expression.
I was also discovering new sounds and artists that influenced me deeply. People like Jamiroquai, Lianne La Havas, Prince, Snarky Puppy, Lalah Hathaway, D’Angelo, Chronixx and Dezarie. I was also lucky to collaborate with incredible artists including Kalamashaka, Mr Boom and Mighty Joshua.
iN NAIROBI: More recently you’ve been based on the coast.
Mo:
Yes, since around 2020 I’ve been spending more time in Diani. I’ve been focusing on creating intimate music events and performing at weddings and private gatherings.
Those smaller spaces can be really powerful because the connection between the music and the audience is so direct. The goal is simple. Spread love through music and have a good time while doing it.
iN NAIROBI: Let’s talk about your music releases. Your demo mixtape Embe came out in 2023.
Mo:
Yes, Embe was really the beginning of putting my music out into the world in a more intentional way. It gave people a first glimpse of my sound and songwriting.
iN NAIROBI: Your EP Wanderer came out in 2024, tell me more about it
Mo:
Wanderer is a very personal project. The songs explore thoughtful questions about life, growth and finding your path. There’s also a sense of guidance in the music. It’s meant to calm the mind and put the soul at ease.
iN NAIROBI: You’re also working on a full album.
Mo:
Yes, my debut album is called Mo’s Garden. It’s really a collection of songs written across my entire journey as a musician.
Some of them are the very first songs I ever wrote. Others came later when I was performing as a lead vocalist and learning guitar. And some were written right in the studio while we were recording in Kilifi at Baobab Studios.
So the album really captures the full arc of my musical story so far.
iN NAIROBI: Finally, what do you hope people feel when they listen to your music?
Mo:
Peace. Love. Freedom.
If someone listens to a song and feels lighter, more hopeful or more connected to themselves, then I feel like the music has done its job.
And honestly, this journey is only just beginning.
