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Jan 24, 2025 - New releases
WHO IS FAEM AND WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?!
Journey, experimentation, and the recently released debut album–– WAWDH?!
Jan 24, 2025 - New releases
WHO IS FAEM AND WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?!
Journey, experimentation, and the recently released debut album–– WAWDH?!
Jan 24, 2025 - Written by Israel Ajayi
FāëM is a DJ/producer duo made up of Fapelo (Favour Pelumi Onaleye) and Demii (Oluwademilade Onaleye. Based in Lagos, they’ve made a name for themselves in the Naija Dance Music (NDM) scene by blending electronic music with indigenous sounds like Fuji and Apala. Their remixes of popular Afrobeats tracks helped bring them into the spotlight, and they’ve played sets at events like Sweat It Out, Monochroma, and Mainland House.
Last month, they released their debut album, What Are We Doing Here?! (WAWDH?!). It is an ambitious 16-track project that opens with INTRO, an airy, reflective start built around distorted, hypnotic vocals from their manager and friend, Fola. It moves into SAIGON, which pulls from 90s video game nostalgia but is grounded by the soundscape of the city it was made in. By Snake Oil, familiar textures start to appear, calling back to earlier work like Fuji House of Commotion.
Taken together, the album offers a distinct, slightly left-field take on what Nigerian music can sound like. For a deeper look, I spoke with FāëM about their journey, the process behind WAWDH?!, and its reception so far.
Jan 24, 2025 - Written by Israel Ajayi
FāëM is a DJ/producer duo made up of Fapelo (Favour Pelumi Onaleye) and Demii (Oluwademilade Onaleye. Based in Lagos, they’ve made a name for themselves in the Naija Dance Music (NDM) scene by blending electronic music with indigenous sounds like Fuji and Apala. Their remixes of popular Afrobeats tracks helped bring them into the spotlight, and they’ve played sets at events like Sweat It Out, Monochroma, and Mainland House.
Last month, they released their debut album, What Are We Doing Here?! (WAWDH?!). It is an ambitious 16-track project that opens with INTRO, an airy, reflective start built around distorted, hypnotic vocals from their manager and friend, Fola. It moves into SAIGON, which pulls from 90s video game nostalgia but is grounded by the soundscape of the city it was made in. By Snake Oil, familiar textures start to appear, calling back to earlier work like Fuji House of Commotion.
Taken together, the album offers a distinct, slightly left-field take on what Nigerian music can sound like. For a deeper look, I spoke with FāëM about their journey, the process behind WAWDH?!, and its reception so far.
Let’s start with the fact that you are a duo and there aren’t many in Nigerian music right now. What’s it like being one?
There was no deliberate decision to become a duo. We just found ourselves making music around the same time. Being in the same space as schoolmates made it easy to collaborate, and by late 2017 we had our first performance. At that point, Fapelo was the one on stage while Demii played more of a supporting role.
It was at our second event in 2018 that FāëM really became an identity. We put together a Halloween party to share electronic music with our friends, and from then on, we stuck as a duo. Being a duo helps keep us from getting stuck in our own heads all the time. It offers someone who is always available to bounce ideas off.
Let’s start with the fact that you are a duo and there aren’t many in Nigerian music right now. What’s it like being one?
There was no deliberate decision to become a duo. We just found ourselves making music around the same time. Being in the same space as schoolmates made it easy to collaborate, and by late 2017 we had our first performance. At that point, Fapelo was the one on stage while Demii played more of a supporting role.
It was at our second event in 2018 that FāëM really became an identity. We put together a Halloween party to share electronic music with our friends, and from then on, we stuck as a duo. Being a duo helps keep us from getting stuck in our own heads all the time. It offers someone who is always available to bounce ideas off.
Let’s start with the fact that you are a duo and there aren’t many in Nigerian music right now. What’s it like being one?
There was no deliberate decision to become a duo. We just found ourselves making music around the same time. Being in the same space as schoolmates made it easy to collaborate, and by late 2017 we had our first performance. At that point, Fapelo was the one on stage while Demii played more of a supporting role.
It was at our second event in 2018 that FāëM really became an identity. We put together a Halloween party to share electronic music with our friends, and from then on, we stuck as a duo. Being a duo helps keep us from getting stuck in our own heads all the time. It offers someone who is always available to bounce ideas off.
Do you ever have conflict when working? How do you handle it?
We wouldn’t call it conflict, more like disagreements. The partnership is equal, and we respect each other’s perspectives. Usually, we either talk things through or try both ideas and go with what works best.
We’re brothers, so there’s already a level of understanding. It’s rare for either of us to feel like the other person is acting in bad faith.
Do you ever have conflict when working? How do you handle it?
We wouldn’t call it conflict, more like disagreements. The partnership is equal, and we respect each other’s perspectives. Usually, we either talk things through or try both ideas and go with what works best.
We’re brothers, so there’s already a level of understanding. It’s rare for either of us to feel like the other person is acting in bad faith.
Do you ever have conflict when working? How do you handle it?
We wouldn’t call it conflict, more like disagreements. The partnership is equal, and we respect each other’s perspectives. Usually, we either talk things through or try both ideas and go with what works best.
We’re brothers, so there’s already a level of understanding. It’s rare for either of us to feel like the other person is acting in bad faith.
How has it been trying to make a livelihood from music?
It’s not quite a livelihood yet, but we’re working towards it. The kind of music we make isn’t very familiar to a lot of people here, so building a strong enough base to sustain ourselves has been slow.
Right now, the focus is on positioning ourselves globally so the work becomes more viable financially. That said, it’s still been fulfilling to see people support something that started as just an idea. WAWDH?! is part of that push toward making our careers sustainable.
How has it been trying to make a livelihood from music?
It’s not quite a livelihood yet, but we’re working towards it. The kind of music we make isn’t very familiar to a lot of people here, so building a strong enough base to sustain ourselves has been slow.
Right now, the focus is on positioning ourselves globally so the work becomes more viable financially. That said, it’s still been fulfilling to see people support something that started as just an idea. WAWDH?! is part of that push toward making our careers sustainable.
How has it been trying to make a livelihood from music?
It’s not quite a livelihood yet, but we’re working towards it. The kind of music we make isn’t very familiar to a lot of people here, so building a strong enough base to sustain ourselves has been slow.
Right now, the focus is on positioning ourselves globally so the work becomes more viable financially. That said, it’s still been fulfilling to see people support something that started as just an idea. WAWDH?! is part of that push toward making our careers sustainable.
What led you to create WAWDH?!
We’d tried to make albums before but didn’t really have the direction or discipline to finish them. Early in 2025, it became clear that a full project like WAWDH?! was the next step for us. Having made those prior attempts helped. We understood the process better and knew we were ready to tell a more complete story.
The album reflects a period where we were dealing with a lot of disappointment, especially in relationships. It pushed us to spend more time on ourselves, to step back from certain situations, and to question things more seriously.
As we worked, the question, “What are we doing here?” started to apply to other parts of our lives too. Are we making the right decisions? Are we moving in the right direction? That’s the kind of thinking that shaped the project.
What led you to create WAWDH?!
We’d tried to make albums before but didn’t really have the direction or discipline to finish them. Early in 2025, it became clear that a full project like WAWDH?! was the next step for us. Having made those prior attempts helped. We understood the process better and knew we were ready to tell a more complete story.
The album reflects a period where we were dealing with a lot of disappointment, especially in relationships. It pushed us to spend more time on ourselves, to step back from certain situations, and to question things more seriously.
As we worked, the question, “What are we doing here?” started to apply to other parts of our lives too. Are we making the right decisions? Are we moving in the right direction? That’s the kind of thinking that shaped the project.
What led you to create WAWDH?!
We’d tried to make albums before but didn’t really have the direction or discipline to finish them. Early in 2025, it became clear that a full project like WAWDH?! was the next step for us. Having made those prior attempts helped. We understood the process better and knew we were ready to tell a more complete story.
The album reflects a period where we were dealing with a lot of disappointment, especially in relationships. It pushed us to spend more time on ourselves, to step back from certain situations, and to question things more seriously.
As we worked, the question, “What are we doing here?” started to apply to other parts of our lives too. Are we making the right decisions? Are we moving in the right direction? That’s the kind of thinking that shaped the project.
Were there any major breakthroughs or challenges during production?
Honestly, finishing the album was the biggest breakthrough. We went into it without heavy expectations, just wanting to express ourselves and see where it led.
Funding was the most consistent challenge, especially when we needed to move faster. At one point, our laptop stopped working for about two weeks, so we had to fix it and reinstall everything, which delayed progress.
Outside of that, it was relatively smooth.
Were there any major breakthroughs or challenges during production?
Honestly, finishing the album was the biggest breakthrough. We went into it without heavy expectations, just wanting to express ourselves and see where it led.
Funding was the most consistent challenge, especially when we needed to move faster. At one point, our laptop stopped working for about two weeks, so we had to fix it and reinstall everything, which delayed progress.
Outside of that, it was relatively smooth.
Were there any major breakthroughs or challenges during production?
Honestly, finishing the album was the biggest breakthrough. We went into it without heavy expectations, just wanting to express ourselves and see where it led.
Funding was the most consistent challenge, especially when we needed to move faster. At one point, our laptop stopped working for about two weeks, so we had to fix it and reinstall everything, which delayed progress.
Outside of that, it was relatively smooth.
What influenced the sound of the album?
A lot of electronic artists shaped how we think about music. We wanted to recreate that feeling of discovery we had when we first got into EDM.
While working on WAWDH?!, we spent time looping albums and trying to understand why they worked the way they did. A lot of our international influences are duos like Gorgon City, Disclosure, and Odesza. On the local side, Luna had a strong influence, along with Tsuni and Mel.
What influenced the sound of the album?
A lot of electronic artists shaped how we think about music. We wanted to recreate that feeling of discovery we had when we first got into EDM.
While working on WAWDH?!, we spent time looping albums and trying to understand why they worked the way they did. A lot of our international influences are duos like Gorgon City, Disclosure, and Odesza. On the local side, Luna had a strong influence, along with Tsuni and Mel.
What influenced the sound of the album?
A lot of electronic artists shaped how we think about music. We wanted to recreate that feeling of discovery we had when we first got into EDM.
While working on WAWDH?!, we spent time looping albums and trying to understand why they worked the way they did. A lot of our international influences are duos like Gorgon City, Disclosure, and Odesza. On the local side, Luna had a strong influence, along with Tsuni and Mel.
Faem
Faem
How have people responded to the album so far?
We finished the album last August and shared it with about 20 people before releasing it. What stood out was how differently everyone experienced it.
We didn’t set out to make something that would connect with people in various ways, but that’s what ended up happening. Since the release, we’ve noticed people tend to pick one song, stay with it for a while, then gradually find another.
It’s still early though. Ask us again at the end of the year.
How have people responded to the album so far?
We finished the album last August and shared it with about 20 people before releasing it. What stood out was how differently everyone experienced it.
We didn’t set out to make something that would connect with people in various ways, but that’s what ended up happening. Since the release, we’ve noticed people tend to pick one song, stay with it for a while, then gradually find another.
It’s still early though. Ask us again at the end of the year.
Are you working on anything right now?
Yes. We’re working on a live show for the album. The idea is to take WAWDH?! beyond streaming and turn it into a full audio-visual experience. Something people can feel in real time and remember for years.
Are you working on anything right now?
Yes. We’re working on a live show for the album. The idea is to take WAWDH?! beyond streaming and turn it into a full audio-visual experience. Something people can feel in real time and remember for years.
Faem
Faem
Faem
Faem
Faem
Faem
What do you want to see in the Naija Dance Music scene this year?
We’re part of the scene, so first, we want to see ourselves execute what we have planned.
More broadly, we’d like to see a wider range of sounds being explored. A more open idea of what Nigerian music can be. And more spaces for electronic music, especially events that allow people to actually experience it.
What do you want to see in the Naija Dance Music scene this year?
We’re part of the scene, so first, we want to see ourselves execute what we have planned.
More broadly, we’d like to see a wider range of sounds being explored. A more open idea of what Nigerian music can be. And more spaces for electronic music, especially events that allow people to actually experience it.
Black Noise Mag
Black Noise Mag
Black Noise Mag