Photokem
Photokem is a five-piece band made up of Nana Acheampong, Nico Fennell, Jack Kelly, Evan Ryckebusch, and Wolfgang Hunter (Fishing in Japan). The group originally formed in Austin, TX in 2021 as students at UT Austin, where they performed with acts like Font, More Eaze, and Quiet Light, and quietly self-released three EPs, developing their sound until it reached a form that called for a full length project.
A Mat in the Garden is the debut album by the Brooklyn-based art-pop band. A Mat in the Garden was written primarily between Fall 2023 and Summer 2024, and recorded mostly between Fall 2024 and Summer 2025. The record features minimalist, neo-classical, 80s no-wave, mid-century chanson, and jazz influence in the instrumental compositions that accompany vocalist Acheampong’s dynamic performances and intimate, esoteric lyricism. The six tracks are rooted in a concise core lineup of vocals (Acheampong), piano & Moog synthesizer (Fennell), guitar (Kelly), cello (Ryckebusch), and bass (Hunter), presented frankly through Fennell’s naturalistic, raw production style. AMITG marks a significant shift in Photokem’s process as compared to their prior output, in that each of these songs was written and foundationally arranged separate from the process of recording and production, starting with only the pieces that could be performed in a live setting.
The album was produced and mixed by band member Nico Fennell, his first full length credit in either capacity. Fennell’s production résumé includes just three EPs for Photokem and two EPs for Quiet Light. Despite the relatively minimal output, his work has attracted some attention, notably having been featured on the Fader’s 50 best songs of 2024 list (#28, “Used To Be Your Angel”). A Mat in the Garden was recorded largely at home in the band members’ apartments in Brooklyn, aside from the pianos which were recorded at recording studios. The production shines a spotlight on the textural grain of each layer, with a notable emphasis on three dimensionality and polished realism.
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