Mainland House Music, a Lagos-based electronic music collective, has been awarded a £10,000 (₦20,000,000) grant by Studio Monkey Shoulder to bring their ambitious new project, See The Sound, to life. The initiative, run in partnership with globally renowned DJ Gilles Peterson and music platform Worldwide FM, celebrates community-driven projects pushing sonic boundaries and spotlighting local music innovation.
The 2025 edition of Studio Monkey Shoulder received thousands of applications worldwide, with over 122,000 entries from Nigeria alone. Nigerian finalists included Group Therapy NG, RAWA Funk, Kevwe & Cam, Rehash, House x House x House, Honey Pot FM, and the eventual winners, Mainland House Music.
Lagos’ Alternative Sound Movement
Founded as a Lagos-born music and rave series, Mainland House Music has also become a cultural force for Afrohouse and deeper electronic sounds, carving out inclusive, alternative spaces within a city largely dominated by Afrobeats. Their events bring together a vibrant community of dancers, artists, and DJs such as Etté, Fāëm, Earth Surfing, and Codename: KND. In March 2025, they celebrated their second anniversary, and now with the Monkey Shoulder grant, they enter an exciting new chapter.
Their winning project, See The Sound, stood out for its multi-sensory storytelling concept, which merges DJ performances with immersive audio-visual installations and creative discussions. The initiative not only preserves Lagos’ underground electronic scene but also pushes it onto the global stage as a cultural hub for innovative house sounds.
The See The Sound event will debut on September 27th, 2025, in Lagos, produced in collaboration with Worldwide FM and Monkey Shoulder.
Global Spotlight for Lagos’ Underground Scene
Gilles Peterson praised the Lagos collective:
“They’re clearly building something exciting on the mainland in Lagos. I love how they’re taking their distinct sound and community and want to build an experience that showcases the DJs, their stories, and the energy of their scene. It’s a great opportunity to cement Lagos’ place on the global electronic scene and develop the unique Lagos house sound.”
Through the award, Mainland House Music will gain global exposure via Worldwide FM’s radio and film broadcasts, introducing Lagos’ underground electronic scene to new international audiences. The winners will also join Worldwide FM’s international creative network, paving the way for long-term collaborations and visibility.
Other winning projects from the 2025 Studio Monkey Shoulder edition include Neighbourhood (UK), 90MIL (Germany), Sound of Women (India), and Flavour Hualien (Taiwan).
By spotlighting record stores, DIY venues, online radio platforms, and grassroots creative hubs, the initiative reaffirms its mission to also strengthen local music communities worldwide. For Lagos, Mainland House Music’s recognition signals not just a win for electronic culture but also global recognition of Nigeria’s diverse and evolving sonic identity.
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