Joana Gama & Luís Fernandes - Strata [2025]

DESCARGA (320 Kbps)

Ten years on, Joana Gama and Luís Fernandes show no signs of slowing down. Over the past decade, the duo has released five albums, composed soundtracks for film and television, and created pieces for performing arts. With “Strata”, they embark on a bold exploration of their musical identity, breaking new ground by seeking the primordial, the raw, and forging a deeper creative synergy. This evolution makes their music feel less like a conversation and more like a unified, introspective monologue.

Until now, their work has largely been defined by dialogue—a dynamic exchange of ideas evident in their earlier records. However, in their relentless drive to push boundaries, they now turn inward, embracing a monologue as a pathway for growth, innovation, and celebration of their journey so far. Two key elements shape this transition: Joana’s growing affinity for synthesizers over piano, a direction initiated in “There’s no knowing”, and her integration of field recordings gathered from diverse locations around the world. Rather than stepping into each other’s domain, the duo finds common ground, creating music that thrives on harmony and introspection.

“Strata” stands as Joana and Luís's quieter and most cohesive record to date. It reflects their desire to craft music that resonates with the natural world, unfolding as a seamless stream of sound that enhances their connection and invites the listener into their creative process. While their previous works were compelling, they often felt distant, as if the listener was observing from the sidelines. “Strata”, by contrast, draws the listener in, encouraging them to fill the spaces and find their own place within the duo’s monologue.

This process climaxes in the closing track, "Geode," where the subtle sounds of debris underscore the tightly woven structure of “Strata”. It’s a testament to the duo's commitment to evolution and their ability to surprise both themselves and their audience. A decade into their collaboration, “Strata” reaffirms Joana and Luís's creative vitality, offering a record that feels both fresh and deeply rooted in their artistic vision. 

lançado em 31 de janeiro de 2025

Music composed by Joana Gama & Luís Fernandes

Joana Gama: piano, synthesizer, field recordings

Luís Fernandes: electronics, field recordings

Piano and amplified electronics recorded at Arda Recorders by João Brandão

Recorded and mixed by Luís Fernandes

Mastered by Taylor Deupree

Cover photo by Eduardo Brito

Design by André Covas

Supported by Casa das Artes de Famalicão, Culturgest, Teatro das Figuras, Teatro Municipal do Porto, Theatro Gil Vicente

braga classical contemporary electronic experimental holuzam joana gama joana gama & luís fernandes luís fernandes modern classical Portugal

Luís Fernandes - A Guide to Getting Lost [2022]

YANDEX (192 Kbps)

released September 30, 2022

Composed, performed and engineered by Luís Fernandes

Mastered by Clara Araújo

Design by João Novais

RVLV53

© Revolve 2022

electronic ambient electronic experimental Portugal

Joana Gama & Luís Fernandes - There's no knowing [2022]

YANDEX (192 Kbps)

"Starting with an open dialogue seems like a good way to approach a collaboration. Almost a decade ago, that’s how Joana Gama (piano) and Luís Fernandes (electronics) started to work together, and both quickly understood that it was an ideal moment to develop and explore new paths in their music. “There’s no knowing” is their fifth album, 50 minute piece in which the two artists' have a dialogue while interacting with the void and silence around them.

The origin of this work explains the frequent tension in this piece; Invited by Nuno M. Cardoso to compose the soundtrack for a TV series, “Cassandra”, Joana and Luís found themselves with the material and inspiration to extend this work into a long piece. At times, “There’s no knowing” feels like a tense and knife cutting soundtrack to a thriller. Joana’s tempo adds to a well-architected sound-design by Luís that pushes the boundaries of what the duo can achieve. The ambition, always present in their music, provides a fascinating backdrop - the focus in the moment coupled with the feeling of latent anxiety pushing each other to their limits.That tremendous momentum can be felt while listening to any of their records. As they push each other, we are invited to other realms of contemporary electronics and modern classical. “There’s no knowing” is their finest to date. But that’s no surprise, their work is based on that continuous progression."

released January 20, 2022

Music composed by Joana Gama and Luís Fernandes

Joana Gama: Piano, MS20

Luís Fernandes: Electronics

Engineering and mixing: Luís Fernandes

Mastering: Taylor Deupree

Design: Marta Ramos

Recorded at Centro Cultural Vila Flor, Guimarães

Supported by Culturgest, Centro Cultura Vila Flor, Cineteatro Louletano, Centro de Arte de Ovar, Casa das Artes de Famalicão and Theatro Circo

contemporary contemporary classical electronic experimental piano Lisbon

Drumming GP, Joana Gama, Luís Fernandes - Textures & Lines [2020]

YANDEX (192 Kbps) Size:67.1 MB LINK CORRIGIDO

NOTA: FAIXAS 1 e 4 IGUAIS NO BANDCAMP. TIVE QUE IR BUSCAR A FAIXA 1 CORRECTA AO SPOTIFY. ERRARE HUMANUM EST 😁

"Textures & Lines" started as an invitation by Portuguese ensemble Drumming GP to work with the duo Joana Gama & Luís Fernandes. Joana's piano and Luís's electronics find new territories in a mix of subtle and raw use of percussions. In four pieces they defy the limits of classical contemporary music and create a landscape that evolves in each listening.

Joana Gama - Piano, Percussion

João Dias - Percussion

João Miguel Braga Simões - Percussion

Luis Fernandes - Electronics, Percussion

Miquel Bernat - Percussion

Composed and performed by Joana Gama, João Dias, João Miguel Braga Simões, Luís Fernandes and Miquel Bernat

Recorded by Süse Ribeiro

Mixed by Luís Fernandes

Mastered by Süse Ribeiro

Design by Isabel Lucena

Inlay images by Pedro Maia

This record was possible due to the support of Campo Aberto - Residências Artísticas da Câmara Municipal do Porto and Teatro Campo Alegre.

released May 1, 2020

classical experimental Portugal

Luís Fernandes - Seis Peças Sintetizadas (FLAC) [2019]

YANDEX (FLAC) Size:189.8 MB

CD VERSION: Limited CD Edition of 120. Artwork by Portuguese graphic designer Isabel Lucena. Cover printed in silkscreen at Oficina Loba in Lisbon. Comes with a 30x43,50 offset poster of a variation of the album’s artwork.

2019 has been a tremendous year for Luís Fernandes, apart from his daily work as an Artistic Director of gnration and SEMIBREVE Festival. He released his first solo album under his own name, “Demora”, on Lawrence English’s Room40 and had a song on the commemorative compilation of The Wire, “The Wire Tapper 50”. He also collaborated with Black Bombaim in the brilliant record “W/ Jonathan Saldanha, Luís Fernandes & Pedro Augusto” and has worked on a new piece with his longtime collaborator, the pianist Joana Gama, called “Texture & Lines” with the Portuguese ensemble Drumming GP. 2019 ends with another release, “Seis Peças Sintetizadas”, the first CD release of Holuzam.

Luís Fernandes decided to approach improvisation in two different ways in his 2019 releases. In “Demora” he works with a modular synth and he accepted the immediatism of his improvisation. For “Seis Peças Sintetizadas” he used the same synth and an organ but let his ideas slow cook for a while and allowed them to change...  more

released November 28, 2019

Composed, recorded, mixed and mastered by Luís Fernandes

Artwork by Isabel Lucena

Cover of the CD version was silkscreened at Oficina Loba in Lisbon.

ambient dance electronic experimental jazz experimental electronic synth Lisbon

Joana Gama I Luís Fernandes - At The Still Point Of The Turning World [2018]

PARTILHAR (320 Kbps)

Joana Gama, Luís Fernandes - Quest [2014]

PARTILHAR (192 Kbps)