Thanks for Understanding and Fermi Lekunde come together for a debut collaboration

Two new tracks by these Toronto-based artists produce innovative sound

‘Donovan Birds’ is the first collaboration between Toronto-based musicians Thanks for Understanding and Fermi Lekunde. The former is the alias Ali Awah who brings an indie sound to the two-track collaboration. The latter, Fermi Lekunde, brings the other dimension to the sound; he was classically trained in piano before turning to experiment with electronic music beginning with FM synthesis, deconstructed analog beats, and Space FX. His inspiration comes from the emerging Toronto techno scene that he saw growing up, including Jeremy Greenspan, Ciel, and Daphni.

Thanks for Understanding released Year of Uncertain Gods in 2021—his second album after Kevin Nishri Tape from 2020. Additionally, he has released singles including ‘Milk’ in 2019, and ’Kulish Helu’ in 2020. A live set from 2020 featuring Thanks for Understanding can also be replayed via Biblioteka Records. Fermi Lekunde has released two EPs in collaboration with Toronto-based label Doubt & Uncertainty: Hydra in 2020, and The Once and Future in 2019. Prior to that, he released the EP Comess in 2019.

Thanks for Understanding brings his self-described androgynous and genre-less sound to Donovan Birds. He adds the elements of real-life-sound, voice, and bubbly disorientation. Mixed with Fermi Lekunde’s warm techno feel that combine ambient sound textures, glitches, and rhythmic beats, the collaboration arrives at an unpredictable set of jazzy, techno, acoustic music that leaves the listener in an auditory cliff hanger.

See more from the artists:

Thanks for Understanding
Spotify | Bandcamp | Instagram

Fermi Lekunde
Spotify | Website | Instagram

New steps into new landscapes, with Fermi Lekunde

There seems to be life in Fermi Lekunde’s music that the artist didn’t put there himself. There are artists that look to echo the ambience of scenes in nature, and do so well, but Fermi Lekunde brings about unexplored synthetic ecosystems. The glitchy, quirky beats are surrounded by brittle, insect-like melodies, and there’s constant alien warmth generated by the contrast of an unfamiliar environment set against a sense of discovery.

Fermi Lekunde is the alias of Marlin Tusha, an artist based in Toronto and heavily inspired by the techno and electronic scene that exists in the region. IDM and ambient music tends to be his area, with a well measured addition of glitch to the mix.

May 15th saw the release of Lekunde’s third release, the six track EP ‘Hydra’. The characteristic creation of new space continues, with songs like ‘Another’ placing samples further out in stereo, then reflecting them back and forth. The carefully engineered beats and synths which carry each track are to be praised, but the sounds which take background roles provide a more detailed and less tangible flavour.

As with previous releases, ‘Hydra’ has been released through Doubt and Uncertainty Records, another confident step in a growing discography.

Support the album on Bandcamp or stream it on Spotify.

Hear more from Fermi Lekunde
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Check out the label- Doubt and Uncertainty
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Experimental expeditions from Fermi Lekunde, with 'Flex 1_Toast'

Toronto based artist Fermi Lekunde returns with a curiously titled song ‘Flex 1_Toast’, which forms part of his recently released EP, The Once and Future. The recordings have been released by way of Doubt and Uncertainty Records, and produced over in Northview Studios Toronto.

The EP itself is a five piece collection which endeavours to tread new ground in the realm of electronic music, and the creative choices made during production have certainly left us with a captivating quality here. Each track takes a rather different direction, and the EP is richer for it, with different facets of Lekunde’s talent on display. As a by-product of this, though the quality is consistent, favourites are easy to identify; the glitch based track ‘A.L.L’ has a satisfyingly enjoyable kick to it.

Flex 1_Toast falls more into the region of downtempo or IDM, and comfortably embraces the electronic side of sound. In the backdrop synth-waves usher in that cosmic ambience, but the electronic melodies feel refreshingly untouched by anything too real world. In an oxymoronic way, the synthetic sounds are organic, as if each sample existed previously as some computer output then was repurposed without too much interference. The electronic scales delivered staccato style are invaluable in driving this track home.

Support the EP over on his bandcamp

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Website / Soundcloud / Soundcloud / Facebook / Spotify

Idm infused techno from Toronto's Fermi Lekunde

Fermi Lekunde offers warm techno atmospheres in his first release “Comess”, a two-track EP of textured rhythmic beats, glitches, and hyper melodies. Combining ambient textures and cinematic pads with IDM influences at a speed of 130bpm, he is able to create dance-pounding experiences tuned to headphone listeners as well as the dancefloor. 

The EP opens with ‘Fist 20’ which features a blizzard of noises, textures and finely crafted points of percussion. The track feels quirky and jittery but never veers too far off track as the solid arrangement keeps things chugging ahead. Things get a bit more moody with the B side as Lekunde shifts to a more melancholic part of his psyche. Still characterized by rich percussion and sound design ‘Usery’ also brings with it euphoric pads and nested notes of melodic madness.

Fermi Lekunde is a musical project of Toronto-based artist Marlin Tusha. Classically trained in piano, he began to experiment with electronic sounds early on, including FM synthesis, deconstructed analogue beats, and space FX. Being inspired by the emerging techno scene in Toronto, with venues like 500 Keele and an array of artists like Jeremy Greenspan, Ciel, and Daphni, Fermi Lekunde embarks on a new challenge of establishing his own sound for dance floors across the City.

Hear more:
Website
Soundcloud
Spotify
Instagram
Bandcamp