Six emerging Kenyan musicians have taken to the stage for the first time after spending five months under the mentorship of award-winning singer Bien, marking a major milestone ahead of the release of their debut collective album next month.
The six artists—Muringi Matheri, Manasseh Shalom, Zawadi, Chris Barr, Njuguna and Ras Amor—unveiled original music during the inaugural Base to Billboardz (B2B) Jam Session held at Nairobi's K1 Klub House on Friday, giving fans their first taste of the songs they have been creating since the programme began in February.
The showcase served as the artists' first public performance as a collective and offered a preview of the upcoming album, which is scheduled for release in August.
The musicians were selected after a rigorous process that began with 30 artists shortlisted by Bien alongside a panel of industry experts. Public participation and further evaluations eventually narrowed the field to the final six, who now make up the inaugural Base to Billboardz cohort.
Unlike traditional music competitions, Base to Billboardz is designed as a career development programme targeting artists who have already built momentum in the industry. Participants were required to have released original music, gained live performance experience, accumulated at least one million career streams and built a growing fan base before joining the initiative.
Since February, the artists have undergone intensive mentorship covering songwriting, vocals, live performance, dance and the business side of the music industry. They have also participated in professional recording sessions, masterclasses and industry exposure programmes aimed at preparing them for long-term careers.
Speaking after the performance, Tusker Senior Brand Manager Brigid Wambua said the public debut reflected the progress the artists had made during the programme.
"These artists have challenged themselves creatively, refined their craft and gained the practical skills needed to build sustainable careers. Seeing them perform their own music before a live audience is a powerful reminder of what can happen when talent is matched with the right support, mentorship and platform."
She added, "This is only the beginning of their journey, and we are excited to see how they continue to grow beyond the album launch."
The jam session builds momentum towards the highly anticipated release of the collective album in August, which will mark the next phase of the artists' journey.
Following the album launch, the six musicians are also set to join the Oktobafest 2026 artist lineup, where they will perform at events across the country, exposing their music to wider audiences.
The debut performance represents the first major public milestone for the inaugural Base to Billboardz cohort, whose progress will now be closely watched as they transition from a mentorship programme to commercial music releases and nationwide performances.