Photokem’s new track “Cactus Flower” is the lead single from their upcoming debut album slated for release next month. The five-piece is composed of Nana Acheampong (vocals), Nico Fennell (piano, Moog, production), Jack Kelly (guitar), Evan Ryckebusch (cello), and Wolfgang Hunter (bass). As expected by such a wide range of instruments, “Cactus Flower” is heavily textured yet still it maintains a minimal core that never overwhelms. Combined with Acheampong’s deep, commanding vocals, the song carries a natural sense of grounding. Lyrically, the track delves into lingering emotions that refuse to fade and the uneasy dependance on someone else for stability. The instrumentation pulls back midway through to a subtle hush before gradually rising again, mirroring these themes.
“Cactus Flower” exemplifies the group’s ability to merge their art-pop tendencies with breathy songwriting, resulting in a lovely slow-burning ballad. The track features guest vocals from Horsepower‘s Charlotte Weinman and, like the rest of the upcoming album, was mostly recorded across several apartments in Brooklyn. “Cactus Flower” feels like a blossom in motion, shaped by minimal, steadily climbing textures that seem to unfold endlessly.
Photokem’s upcoming release, A Mat in the Garden, is both their debut and final album as a band. The album is meant to trace the group’s sonic lifespan from their formation on the UT Austin campus in 2021, to their move to Brooklyn in NYC. With A Mat in the Garden, the five-piece are buttoning up their college project and parting ways for their next musical chapters.
“Cactus Flower” is released ahead of Photokem’s upcoming album, A Mat in the Garden, out February 27th, 2026 via Crafted Sounds.
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