The LAB with Yohannes Hadish is an explosive music series that offers one of the most anticipated and sought-after music experiences in Addis Ababa. It started at Labrina Restaurant and has now found its home at The Venue Warehouse, showing just how far this collective has come, and they’re only getting started.
The LAB is a platform for multidisciplinary artists, showcasing underground artists and musicians through a monthly music event series in Addis Ababa. Co-Founder and Creative Director Yohannes Hadish had a mission to create a vibrant community of local and diasporic artistic heritage, pushing the boundaries of creativity in Addis. “There are so many talented young people here in Addis, so many!” exclaims Yohannes. “You see people wanting to work and create, even with limited resources. I’m very inspired by how this community expresses itself, and The LAB was born out of a desire to showcase people like that.” Through The LAB, audiences and creatives are guided into new and exciting sonic spaces, with immersive sets ranging from Hip-Hop, Soul, House, Afro Fusion to Jazz, creating an underground taste that represents the diverse flavors of Addis. The resident DJs of The LAB curate cinematic and euphoric performances, setting a new tone for how music is experienced in the city, and the patrons can’t seem to get enough.
Accompanying these genre-defying performances are futuristic visuals, meticulously documented in the digital realm through @thelabwithyh and @yohannes_hadish on Instagram. These videos capture the essence of what The LAB is all about, and their release is highly anticipated just as much as the event itself. The clever use of social media, particularly Instagram, has been a crucial resource in The LAB’s resounding success. “Instagram has played a major role in building our community at The LAB and has propelled us into the mainstream. It has allowed us to discover other creatives with similar vibes who were also seeking what we were producing. There’s a hunger for something fresh, something that embodies the dynamic youth culture, and we’ve become the platform for that. By finding and engaging with emerging talent, showcasing various art mediums, and fostering close discussions with our community, we’ve built trust. Creatives who appreciate our work trust us to continue innovating, and this support allows us to keep evolving and growing. Instagram has been instrumental in this process.”
Curating a multifaceted art-centered programming is not as easy as it sounds. Like many creatives, this kind of bold ambition comes with its own set of challenges. Finding a suitable space that allows for creative autonomy in how the event is experienced took time. Yohannes jokes, “Pushing the creative boundaries of a traditional marketing rollout and insisting on a different and innovative promotional approach took time to gain acceptance. We really had to fight for it. However, people now know our story and are inspired by it, which is the most important thing. Despite these challenges, we are doing our best to maintain our integrity and artistic freedom, and that is the best part. It makes me proud that we are always overcoming because it is a must!” exclaims Yohannes. “It is mandatory; the vision is greater and well within reach.”
Inspired by what they have accomplished so far, the future looks bright for this collective. Some aspirations for the remainder of the year include solidifying their position as leaders in the creative scene. “The community is filled with talented individuals. We are working towards becoming the best at what we do, and we want our work to speak for the impact we are creating.” Some of these aspirations include changing the sound of the events scene and empowering different creatives in the process. “I want The LAB to be known for bringing about new changes, producing quality international standard experiences, and content,” shares Yohannes. “Let’s take The LAB global!” Ultimately, it is the need for expression that drives these ambitions, and creating a legacy of high-quality cultural assets makes it all worthwhile.
They took a break over the Easter fasting period, but they are hard at work for the successful implementation of the next installment. Episode 7 will be held on Saturday, May 11, ushering in the summer festival season with a fresh new sound. Of course, we can expect a combination of explosive visuals. They are the ones to keep an eye on.
