RVNG Intl. announces Ka Baird & Pekka Airaksinen's collaborative album 'Hungry Shells', written & recorded in Utrecht during LGW18

In 2018, as part of a program presented by Brooklyn-based independent record label RVNG Intl., Finnish electronic music composer Pekka Airaksinen (known for his work with ultra-radical, proto-noise group The Sperm) and NYC-based multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Ka Baird convened in Utrecht to write, rehearse, record and perform live.

These recordings now form the 17th installment of RVNG's FRKWYS series, aimed at an ambitious and unique pairing of modern artists and their musical predecessors for the creation of a collaborative album. Entitled 'Hungry Shells', the album was recorded six months before Pekka’s passing.

FRKWYS Vol. 17 will be released in vinyl and digital editions on October 22, 2021. On behalf of Ka and Pekka’s estate, a portion of the proceeds from this release will benefit Nepal Art House, a non-profit art school that provides free art and cultural education to Nepalese children who have limited resources and opportunities. More info and pre-orders can be found via RVNG's website. Watch 'Syzygy (For Pekka)' from the album:

Update: the full album is now released; stream below:

"Sessions took place between contemplative walks along the city’s medieval canals, and, for Airaksinen, lengthy meditations in his hotel room. Early on in the trip, Pekka shared ODO with Ka, a collection of Buddhist parables that he divinely received while meditating. After translating several of these texts from Finnish to English the duo used them as text for the album, and a sort of psychic foundation" - RVNG