Releasing Our Work with Kitchen. Label
(TI writes:)
This desire was also tied to a question we’ve often asked ourselves:
Can an FMT sound piece—essentially a digital dataset—truly be called a “work” at that stage? And if it can be, what form allows it to properly exist as one?
As one approach, we wanted to explore the idea of translating the "unreal" into the "real"—turning digital concepts into tangible artifacts. The most immediately conceivable form of that was, of course, the physical music medium: vinyl records, music tapes, or CDs.
However, what we envisioned was not the mass-produced media of the 20th century, but rather something more akin to a physical artwork—an object that could stand as a work in itself, recorded onto a physical medium.
Achieving this at a high standard, though, was beyond our means alone.
Just as we’ve always said we want to create music that we’ve never heard before but desperately want to hear, the work also had to be something we ourselves would want to own. And for that, we needed trusted collaborators.
Naturally, we knew traditional record labels wouldn't be interested in producing works like ours—virtually unknown artists with uncertain commercial appeal. Very few companies in the world have both the capacity and the intent to take on projects like ours.
Among those few, we had been closely following Kitchen. Label for some time. What struck us was not only the musical quality of their catalog, but also the exceptional graphic and packaging design that accompanies each release. They clearly weren’t aiming for mass production. Their website and social media reflected an organized and well-sustained approach, and we often encountered their work in articles and at record stores—an indication of their meaningful presence and consistent activity.
When we saw on their website that they were accepting demos ("We are now accepting demos. Only selected submissions will receive a response."), we casually sent them our Le Cube Dans Mon Rêve via SoundCloud at the end of 2024.
We weren’t expecting a response—and understood that was likely—but deep down, we hoped that if they truly listened to the piece, they wouldn't pass over it. To our surprise and honor, we received a positive reply from Kitchen. Label’s founder, Ricks Ang, right after the new year. He expressed interest in staying in touch and collaborating.
Even more surprising, he followed up with a concrete release plan: a single in March, and a full album in May 2025.
He also suggested releasing it on music cassette, which was an ideal fit for us. Although CDs do benefit from Kitchen. Label’s beautifully crafted packaging, they remain, at their core, a digital medium—fundamentally no different from streaming or downloads. Cassettes, by contrast, offer a distinct analog presence. We also felt Le Cube Dans Mon Rêve sounded particularly well-suited to tape.
From the beginning, Ricks and the Kitchen. Label team carefully listened to our concepts and intentions. Their feedback was always thoughtful, and their proposals deeply aligned with our sensibilities. Over time, we discovered we shared many artistic and cultural touchpoints—even if we come from different generations and backgrounds—which only deepened our trust.
To our delight, it became clear that they had read through our blog and notebooks with great attention. They wrote the text for our artist page with a tone and clarity that not only captured the essence of our project with stunning accuracy, but also did so in a beautifully written style. Beyond that, they developed a visual identity and packaging design that far exceeded our expectations in both elegance and conceptual cohesion.
In terms of sound, they also addressed a concern we ourselves had: the need for improved mastering. They suggested Kin Leonn, one of Kitchen. Label’s core artists, to handle it. His mastering work elevated the overall quality significantly and brought out the sonic nuances of the album in remarkable ways.
Kitchen. Label approached our concepts with deep respect, while maintaining a clear and steady vision for the label and its business. Their ability to balance artistic integrity with operational professionalism resonates with us strongly—as we also engage in business in fields outside of music and art.
Collaborating with Kitchen. Label has been more than just a release—it’s been the realization of a cohesive work that integrates sound, design, philosophy, and form. We're truly grateful to be part of this shared vision.
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