Kamau Wainaina—who performs under the moniker Maũ—is creating shape-shifting, avant music that’s as interdisciplinary as his artistic background. Maũ, a senior at NYU Tisch whose work spans film, photography, and music, put out his single “SUNDOWN” via Invertebrate back in September. The song enters a space free from the boundaries of conventional genre where a slinking electro beat meets stream-of-consciousness spoken word hip-hop:“I wish I could call it word vomit but that would understate it / syllables spilling god willing, I turn a phrase to payment.” Born in Nairobi, Wainaina’s work is largely focused on the ways one’s identity can adapt and shift in different environments. You can catch Maũ as well as Jae Luna, Octopus, and Pom Pom Squad at Trans-Pecos on 11/29 at 8 pm in a show put on by NYU Local. Sara Nuta
