FRIDAY
Frædag x MUD x SSO: Kevin Saunderson + Waajeed

Kevin Saunderson | Waajeed  | g-HA & Olanskii | Dj R-ZO | DJ Niwin | DJ Ghar | Soldal

ID: 20 

This event is free for personal assistants with the display of a valid “ledsagerbevis”.  For more information go to http://jaegeroslo.no/accessibility/

Kevin Saunderson

Platinum-selling recording artist, label boss, festival promoter, true innovator in the pantheon of popular music, cultural champion, cracking DJ: there’s a lot to be said about Kevin Saunderson.

His influence runs deep, through both adopted hometown of Detroit, and music culture as a whole: as one of the Belleville Three, the high school trio which also includes Juan Atkins and Derrick May, he irreparably changed the face of electronic music; with Inner City, he gave it some of its most memorable tunes.

Between “Big Fun”, “Good Life”, debut album Paradise and a number of follow-up singles, Inner City (Saunderson and vocalist Paris Grey) amassed 12 UK top 40 hits and over six million records sold worldwide during their peak. A dancefloor-dominating remix by Luciano in 2008, and a globetrotting reunion tour in 2012, underscores the longevity of Inner City’s classic sound.

His nickname of ‘The Elevator’ is apt: for his role in transporting Detroit’s new sound to a wider audience; as anyone who has seen him perform live can attest, his high-energy, high-spirit and high-impact DJ sets; and for spending the past 35 years of his life progressing the culture he helped create.

Waajeed

(Robert O’Bryant IV) is a Detroiter, musician, educator and, as his chosen name translates, “the mighty revealer. Raised in Conant Gardens on Detroit’s east side-an incubator for techno, funk and underground hip-hop that produced artists such as Amp Fiddler and J Dilla-Waajeed became immersed in the city’s musical culture from an early age. At fourteen, he began collaborating as a DJ and producer with J Dilla, T3 and Baatin, becoming one of the founding members of the group that would eventually become Slum Village. His path has since moved fluidly across music and visual arts, always deeply rooted in the creative culture of his hometown. In 2000, Waajeed co-founded Platinum Pied Pipers, later establishing his own label Bling47 as a platform to amplify Detroit’s musical community. Through the label, he was among the earliest to release J Dilla’s instrumental work, while his own productions explored the space between hip-hop and Detroit techno. In 2012, he continued that vision with Dirt Tech Reck, releasing music by artists including Amp Fiddler and Electric Street Orchestra. Waajeed’s work extends far beyond the dancefloor. In 2015, he founded Detroit’s Underground Music Academy (UMA), a music school championing artistic independence, autonomy and collective creation. Bringing together decades of work as a musician, producer, artist and community organizer, Waajeed remains dedicated to both progressing Detroit’s musical legacy and creating space for the generations that follow.

Insta: https://bit.ly/Waajeed-Insta
BandCamp: https://bit.ly/Waajeed-BandCamp

g-HA & Olanskii

Two pivotal bodies in the sphere of Norwegian electronic music, g-HA & Olanskii are an event, a club, a DJ duo, and a musical authority for Norway. Individually adept as DJ, selectors and tastemaker, Ola “Olanskii” Smith-Simonsen and Geir “g-HA” Holger’s musical voices unified for Sunkissed, an events series that has become the backbone of Oslo’s electronic music scene and  beyond. They have played a fundamental role in the development of Norwegian music abroad with residencies at Panorama Bar, Fabric, Robert Johnson, Into the Valley and Moog, where they’ve given fellow Norwegian artists a platform to the outside world, proving to be a motivational force behind Oslo and Norway’s thriving electronic music scene, through Sunkissed and more recently through Jæger – the club founded by Olanskii and host to their internationally acclaimed Frædag residencies.

R-ZO

Zo Baki, aka DJ R-Zo, is an essential figure within music and street dance, hailing from Paris, France. With early beginnings in hip-hop and the crews Section C and Wanted, R-Zo discovered house dance in the early ’90s and became part of Paris’s formative house dance and club culture. As a member of Queen Step — the second generation of Parisian house dancers — he came up during the legendary era of the Queen nightclub and its Respect Is Burning parties. Behind the decks since 2004, R-Zo has built a seasoned career as a DJ and crate digger, warming up for heavy hitters such as Theo Parrish, Joe Claussell, Levon Vincent, Tama Sumo, DJ QU and Joey Anderson. A regular within the Paris club circuit, he has played venues such as Rex Club, Djoon, Concrete, La Bellevilloise and La Machine du Moulin Rouge.

Deeply informed by his background as a dancer, R-Zo’s DJ sets are rooted in groove, movement and musical discovery, paying homage to the legacy of disco, house and techno while blending old and new gems into musical stories for the dance floor. A sought-after DJ and respected figure within the street dance scene, R-Zo has graced international events such as Streetstar (SE), Hip Hop Weekend (SE) and Juste Debout (FR), and has been part of Soul Sessions Oslo’s Extended festival since its early beginnings in 2009. In simple words, R-Zo is a true trooper — a seasoned DJ and dancer whose dedication to music, dance and club culture runs deep.
Insta: https://bit.ly/R-ZO-Insta

SOLDAL

Delivers high-energy club sets with a distinctive, genre-defying blend of techno, house, UK funky and grime. With a strong focus on rhythm, groove and dynamic storytelling, she builds the dancefloor from start to finish. She hasplayed at prestigious clubs and festivals across Norway and Europe, establishing herself as an uncompromisingyet playful DJ. As one of the driving forces behind the club concept KOSO CLUB, she has also collaborated with the Ballroom community for several years. Her music has been released on labels including Soul Feeder, Ashida Park, Classical Trax and HTS, where she explores the space between hard-edged club music, experimental textures and melodic hooks.

Insta: https://bit.ly/SOLDAL-Insta

MUD DJs

DJ Ghar घर and Niwin are the resident DJs and driving forces behind MUD Session Oslo, a club concept rooted in underground House music, dance culture, and the connection between music and movement. Both DJs and dancers, their different musical backgrounds meet through a shared devotion to rhythm and the dance floor. Ghar घर is a dedicated crate digger and vinyl enthusiast whose background in Indian percussion informs selections moving through House, Disco, Funk, Boogie, and Broken Beat. Niwin is a DJ, producer, and multidisciplinary artist with releases on Atjazz Record Company, Akers Rec, Closer To Truth and his own label Niwin Music, whose work extends into live performance, dance, and theatre. A familiar presence in Oslo’s House music community, MUD Session has also been a longtime close collaborator of Soul Sessions Oslo, joining forces across numerous events over the years. Together, Ghar घर and Niwin have played clubs including Jaeger Oslo, The Villa, Ingensteds and Blå to name a few, and shared lineups with artists such as Atjazz (UK), Boddhi Satva (CAR), Coflo (US), Lay-Far (RU), Crackazat (SE/UK), Mark de Clive-Lowe (UK/NZ/JP), Marcia Carr (UK), Fényan (FR), Lea Lisa (CHE) and Hugo LX (FR). Behind the decks, Ghar घर and Niwin bring their musical worlds together through **rhythm, groove, and a deep connection to the dance floor.

Insta: https://bit.ly/NIWIN-INSTA
Insta: https://bit.ly/DJ-GHAR-INSTA

DIESEL (Host/MC)

Daniel “Diesel” Soheili is an unapologetically open gay man with roots in Iran, born in Sweden and now based in Norway. He has a background in classical dance from the Carlforsska High School (2007–2010) in Sweden and the Åsa College Street Dance Program, as well as studies at the Broadway Dance Center in New York (ISVP) Program in Contemporary & Jazz Dance, 2011). As a dancer, Diesel’s journey has spanned nearly two decade and countless artistic projects and expressions. Over time, his body has evolved into not only a vessel for movement and creativity but also a statement of bodily and sexual liberation — his art has become his political voice. Diesel has been teaching and performing since 2008, both nationally and internationally. He has also made a name for himself in the Ballroom scene, earning more than 40 wins across 12 countries. In 2019, he was honored with the “Prince of Seduction” award by the European Ballroom Scene, among several other recognitions and accolades.

Insta: https://bit.ly/DIESEL-INSTA