How to record a song in Nairobi

    If you have never booked a studio, the unknown is the scary part: what happens, how long it takes, what you pay. Here is the whole session, start to finish, at StreetChaos in Nairobi.

    The session, step by step

    1. Book the slot

      Pick a session length on the studio page and confirm with a 30% M-Pesa deposit. Two to four hours covers most singles; a full day suits an EP or a group session.

    2. Send the beat ahead of time

      Email the instrumental — WAV or trackouts if you have them — before the session so it is loaded and levelled when you walk in. If you are licensing from our catalogue, it is already in the session.

    3. Warm up and set the take

      The first fifteen minutes are level setting and a warm-up pass. We track the main vocal in chunks, then doubles, ad-libs and harmonies.

    4. Comp and rough mix

      We pick the best lines into one take and print a rough mix so you leave with something listenable the same day.

    5. Mix and master

      Full mixing and mastering is booked separately at the same KES 1,000 per hour, and typically returns in two to four days.

    Rates

    Frequently asked

    How much does a recording session cost in Nairobi?
    At StreetChaos, tracking starts from about KES 1,000 per hour. A half day is roughly KES 5,000 and a full day about KES 10,000. Mixing and mastering are billed at the same KES 1,000 per hour.
    What should I bring to the session?
    Your lyrics (printed or on a device with the screen dimmed), the beat if it is not ours, water, and a rough reference of how you want it to sound. Everything else — mic, chain, engineer — is in the room.
    How long does recording one song take?
    Two to four hours for a single with doubles and ad-libs, assuming the lyrics are finished. Writing in the booth doubles it.
    Do I need to pay the full amount upfront?
    No. A 30% deposit confirms the slot and the balance is due on the day. Payment is by M-Pesa or card through Pesapal.
    Can I record if I have never been in a studio?
    Yes — most first-timers book two hours. The engineer sets levels, guides timing and stops you when a take drifts, so no experience is needed.

    StreetChaos · streetchaoss.space · Nairobi, Kenya