KMRU is the alias of Joseph Kamaru, a Nairobi-born, Berlin-based sound artist and electronic musician who studied Sound Studies and Sonic Arts at the Universität der Künste Berlin. His work draws on field recordings, drone, noise, and improvisation to build dense, atmospheric compositions. The 2020 album 'Peel' on Editions Mego brought him international recognition, and in 2026 he returned to the label with 'Kin'. He also manages the legacy of his grandfather, celebrated Kenyan benga musician Joseph Kamaru.
KMRU released 'Kin' on February 13, 2026 on Editions Mego, his second album for that label and a tribute to label founder Peter Rehberg, who died in 2021, in collaboration with Fennesz.
'Kin' was described by Pitchfork as 'a life force captured in a riot of barely controlled waveforms' and ranked number 71 in the best albums of 2026 on Rate Your Music.
KMRU's audiovisual work 'As Nature', a co-production with scent artist Mareike Bode, was co-produced by Rewire, the Barbican and Lunchmeat Festival.
KMRU released the collaborative album 'Disconnect' with Kevin Richard Martin (The Bug) via Phantom Limb, on which he uses his voice as an instrument for the first time.
KMRU and Kevin Richard Martin performed together at Le Guess Who? 2024 in Utrecht on November 9, curated in collaboration with Semibreve.
