Name: Afrorack + Phèdre + Arc & Texture
Start: 2026-06-16T20:00:00-04:00
Location: BSMT 254

$Afrorack + Ph\u00e8dre + Arc & Texture$

co-presented with Not Dead Yet
AFRORACK
PHÈDRE
ARC & TEXTURE
@ BSMT 254 (254 Lansdowne Ave.)
8pm, $25 Adv / $30 Door
AFRORACK (https://hakunakulala.bandcamp.com/album/the-afrorack)
Brian Bamanya, known professionally as Afrorack, is a Ugandan multidisciplinary artist, engineer, and musician who has pioneered Africa’s first DIY modular synthesizer. Driven by a passion for electronics and a desire to make modular synthesis accessible in Uganda, Bamanya constructed his own synthesizer using locally sourced components and self-taught engineering skills. This innovative instrument, also named “The Afrorack,” serves as both his artistic moniker and a symbol of his commitment to blending technology with African musical traditions. He has appeared at several international festivals which include Sonar, Rewire, Elevate, Dakar Art Biennale and CTM among others.
In May 2022, Afrorack released his self-titled debut album, The Afrorack, through the Ugandan label Hakuna Kulala. The album showcases his unique approach to electronic music, merging polyrhythmic structures inherent in African music with elements of acid, techno, and ambient sounds. Tracks like “African Drum Machine” exemplify his use of Euclidean rhythm sequencing to create complex, algorithmic patterns that echo traditional East African rhythms. The album was received with popular acclaim making it to several music writers’ best albums of 2022 including The Wire Magazine top 50 albums of 2022, The Quietus best of 2022 and He has also been featured on the BBC world service radio.
Afrorack’s innovative work continues to inspire a new generation of musicians and technologists, bridging the gap between traditional African music and contemporary electronic soundscapes.
PHÈDRE (https://phedre.bandcamp.com/album/liquid-constancy)
Phèdre is the electronic duo of Daniel Lee and apè Aliermo, based in Tkaronto/Toronto. Emerging from experimental pop, their sound has evolved into fast-paced, bass-driven sets blending sequencers, samplers and synths into kinetic, genre-bending performances. Performed entirely on live hardware, the duo weaves club, jungle, breakbeat and techno influences, through a blend of playful rhythms and disruption. Phèdre returns with a raw, semi-improvised live set shaped by their new album Liquid Constancy. Expect deep grooves, sharp turns, and a pulse that never lets go.
ARC & TEXTURE (https://www.instagram.com/arcandtexturemusic/)
Arc & Texture is the sonic unification of Toronto-based sound artists Vanese Smith (Pursuit Grooves, Mo:delic Arts) and Caleb Klager (MMRI, wavemap). Blending their respective expertise in unorthodox cinematic percussive sounds with emotive modular synthesis tones, they create layered bass-driven techno, dub, and ambient live sets that stirs equal parts body and mind. Each set is completely improvised, unfolding deep, unique auditory encounters between performer and listener. Coming off recent performances at MUTEK Montréal, Toronto’s Long Winter, and a guest-lecture series at Queen’s University, they continue to deliver thought-provoking and multi-disciplinary experiences.