Kombé is a Basel-based artist and DJ making a bold impression on the global electronic music scene with his deeply textured sound that fuses Somali-Kenyan rhythmic traditions with forward-facing club sonics from the UK, Europe, and beyond. A dynamic presence behind the decks, Kombé has carved out a vital space in Switzerland’s underground through his signature blend of pulsating beats, hypnotic grooves, and cross-cultural fluency.
In 2017, he co-founded Somatic Rituals, a label and platform committed to showcasing boundary-pushing electronic music rooted in complexity, community, and cultural exchange. Through Somatic Rituals and beyond, Kombé has become a connector of dots—collaborating with leading voices in the electronic avant-garde including Batu, Jeff Mills, DJ Lag, Carl Craig, and Courtesy. His collaborative spirit also shines through in local projects like Basel’s OKRA collective, with whom he co-created Black Atlantic Life World, a multidisciplinary performance exploring the city's cultural intersections.
Now, with the release of his debut EP Foreign Exchange, Kombé steps into the spotlight as a producer with a distinctive artistic voice. Out on Somatic Rituals, Foreign Exchange is a 5-track exploration of flux, movement, and multiplicity—sonically inspired by the ever-shifting global currency markets and the layered nature of Kombé’s own identity. Built for adventurous DJs and deep listeners alike, the EP harnesses liquid polyrhythms, intentional sampling, and a fusion of organic and machine-made sound to explore parallels between economic systems and cultural flows.
Over its 25-minute arc, Foreign Exchange balances function and narrative, juxtaposing East African and European vocal fragments over angular percussion and ritual-inspired rhythms. Each track is a stand-alone statement and part of a coherent whole—inviting dancers into shifting syncopations that ebb, surge, and briefly settle before transforming again. It’s a body of work that reflects not just Kombé’s craft as a producer, but also his role as a cultural translator—turning movement, memory, and multiplicity into mesmerizing sound.
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Mafou is a Basel-based DJ and producer whose layered sound expands the medium of dance music into otherworldly
atmospheres.
His debut EP Khezu, released in 2021 on his own imprint Somatic Rituals – co-founded with Kombé and Mukuna – is
a percussive workout that’s as hypnotic as it is ecstatic, taking the limitless spirit of techno and pushing it forward to
bold horizons. His productions have also appeared on compilations via Rhythm Section International, Grid, and Tilt.
Behind the booth, his warm presence and forward-thinking selections add richness and depth to the dance floor. A
resident DJ at the renowned Elysia club and with Frankfurt’s EOS Radio, Mafou’s practice as a DJ has seen him tour
across Europe, with performances at Tresor 31, Macadam, and RSO.BERLIN.
International acclaim has also come from media outlets like Mixmag, PAM, Groove Magazine, Electronic Beats, and
Worldwide FM, charting his increasing momentum as one of Switzerland’s most exciting artists.