Karen Nyame KG curates a passionate playlist for night-time listening

Welcome back to Selections, a series of artist-curated playlists from those in the know.

With London’s Karen Nyame KG, it’s all about the energy. That, and timing. 

The DJ, producer and broadcaster learned to trust her instincts – creative and otherwise – at an early age, having discovered a passion for music and production as a child. Later years saw her dabbling in the craft more seriously as she began to make waves as part of the UK funky movement bubbling up in the capital. In the years that followed, however, she found herself withdrawing from music amidst a period of isolation, job redundancy and post-graduation anxiety. She’d make tunes for fun, here and there, but her focus was elsewhere.

That was until 2018, at least. It was then that she linked up with London label Goon Club Allstars and released her debut EP KG – the first of several releases for the imprint. She’s been on a steadfast upwards trajectory in the years since. From collaborations with the likes of UNIIQU3 and Scratcha DVA through to the release of her well-received Sensei and Sensei II EPs, a jam-packed tour schedule and radio show commitments, KG’s been busy introducing herself and her body-moving percussive sensibilities to new audiences. Her latest single Taboo – self-described as a “sensuous, Afro groove-inspired [and] mystical take on forbidden love” – offers a taste of the KG sound of today.

As does her exclusive Selections playlist, which runs through tracks by the likes of Gina Jeanz, Hagan, Ikonika and Alexander Nut. “I adore these genre-bending artists and producers – they are all culture-shifting heavyweights in their own right,” she tells us. “These tracks include infusions of nu-jazz, soul, afro, dark amapiano, sultry club bounces and edits – as well as some classic house. All the feels, and pretty much my sound palette of inspiration. I throw these on every time I need some passionate, moody, night-time heaters to get me going!”