In Conversation with Slikback

Join a conversation with Slikback, electronic/experimental music producer from Nairobi (Kenya), invited to the MUTEK Forum for an exclusive Q&A session, before attending his live performance at MUTEK Festival (North-American Premiere).

Slikback is a Kenyan-born, Poland-based producer whose boundary-dissolving approach to electronic music has earned him a global cult following. His sound—intense, emotive, and constantly evolving—merges elements from African club music, noise, rap, and ambient into a hallucinatory blend that is unmistakably his own.

Driven by instinct and emotion, Slikback’s productions oscillate between pulverizing basslines and fragmented rhythms, often infused with collaborations that amplify shared creative visions. His vast discography—featuring releases with artists like Hyph11E and Brodinski — reflects a fearless spirit of exploration and self-expression. Highlights include a landmark set at Unsound Festival, praised by Resident Advisor and The Guardian, and performances at venues like Tresor. His visuals-rich live shows channel an overwhelming sensory intensity, often crafted in collaboration with artists like Weirdcore. Slikback’s current focus extends beyond personal output: he's intent on nurturing Nairobi’s burgeoning drill scene and empowering local creatives.

Attrition (2025) - his first full-length album for Planet Mu - delivers an immersive melding of cinema and game sound design with tough dance music. It's like a sci-fi film for the ears, exploring a chain of events with dark atmospheres and dramatic pacing; trapdoors and jump scares for your ears. These contrasts and the dense painterly colour of his sounds give it a beastly beauty. The album came to life during a period of transition, while waiting for a visa after recently moving to Poland from Kenya, where he grew up. With this unexpected pause in travel, Slikback found himself working at a slower, more deliberate pace. Writing for a label instead of self-releasing also introduced new dynamics, like feedback and structured release schedules. Rather than feeling restricted, he saw this process as a blessing. In a happy and reflective headspace—newly married and welcoming a newborn child—he was able to fully develop his compositions. “I was finally able to explore ideas to a point where I didn’t feel the need to change anything,” he shares. "Attrition" is the result of that creative freedom. While "Attrition" nods to familiar genres, drawing on elements of Gqom, Dubstep, Tech-Step, and Hardcore Techno, it pushes them into new territory, shaping high-tech, intricate compositions. “I worked on the tracks back and forth, drastically transforming some from their original sketches,” Slikback explains. “I wanted to create a journey within each track, like something alien emerging from emptiness—beauty from chaos”.

Please note: This activity will be in English only, without live transcription nor translation. During the event, no interpreter for the Deaf will be present.

Admittance to this Forum activity is on a first come, first served basis. No pre-registration required.

Doors open 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. We encourage you to arrive early to secure your spot. Once capacity is reached, no additional participants will be admitted.

Please note: access to Forum activities is reserved for Forum pass holders only.