A Kenyan sound in an Australian market
“More Energy” combines Swahili and English over hip-hop production, reflecting Komanda X’s Kenyan roots and his experience living and creating in Australia.
One triple j reviewer praised the rapper for moving between Swahili and English with ease.
“This is too tight. The Swahili coming in and out is too effortless.”
The recognition matters because triple j has a long-standing role in introducing new and emerging music to Australian listeners. Its Unearthed platform provides artists with a route to exposure beyond their immediate markets.
For Komanda X, however, the moment is about more than having his song reviewed.
He has described his music as a way of connecting Kenya and Australia, two markets that rarely overlap in mainstream music.
“I would like to strengthen the bridge between creatives in Kenya and Australia,” he said.
Swahili as a musical advantage
Swahili already has a large audience across East Africa and is spoken widely beyond Kenya and Tanzania. But its use in rap has largely remained connected to regional audiences.
That could be changing as African music continues to find listeners outside the continent.
Afrobeats has demonstrated that African languages do not necessarily need to be replaced by English to reach international audiences. Instead, distinctive languages and cultural references can become part of an artiste's identity.
Komanda X’s Australian experience gives him another route into that conversation.
His music brings together East African influences with elements of the Australian creative environment. That combination could make Swahili rap more accessible to listeners who may have little previous exposure to Kenyan hip-hop.
Komanda X believes his position can help create those connections.
He has also cited Kenyan-Australian artiste Elsy Wameyo as an inspiration and wants to encourage more collaboration between creatives in the two countries.
