Panda Bear and Sonic Boom Drop FADER Mix
The electronic duo recorded a nostalgic new mix in their home base of Sintra, Portugal.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in New Age
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Panda Bear and Sonic Boom have released a new guest mix for The FADER. The project features a curated selection of tracks including work from MGMT and Sam Cooke.
Why it matters
The collaboration highlights the duo's ongoing partnership and their shared interest in exploring alternative distribution models for their music.
The duo previously released the collaborative album Reset in 2022 and maintains a partnership dating back to the 2011 production of the album Tomboy. Their latest project, A ? of WHEN, was released in July 2026 exclusively through physical formats.
The players
Panda Bear
Also known as Noah Lennox, he is a musician who resides in Lisbon and has been a central figure in the electronic and experimental music scenes.
Sonic Boom
Also known as Pete Kember, he is a musician living in Sintra who previously gained prominence as a member of the band Spacemen 3.
The details
Recorded in Sintra, Portugal, the mix blends personal collaborations with hits and nostalgic tracks. The duo remains vocal about their views on the modern streaming music economy, favoring formats that differ from digital ubiquity.
Timeline
Mid-80s: Pete Kember hosted the Reverberation Club night.
1989: Spacemen 3 played a show in Chester.
2001: Noah Lennox began DJing at Plant Bar.
2011: Kember mixed and produced Panda Bear's Tomboy album.
July 2026: Release of the project A ? of WHEN.
Industry Dynamics
This release follows the precedent set by the 2022 collaborative album Reset, continuing a long-standing creative partnership. It marks a broader shift toward independent artist strategies that prioritize physical media over the standard digital streaming model.
Listeners can access the new mix through The FADER's platform alongside their previous catalog of collaborations. Those seeking the duo's latest work, A ? of WHEN, will need to source it via physical media as it is not available on streaming services.
The takeaway
The duo continues to push against standard industry distribution norms by championing physical-only releases. Listeners looking to support artists directly may find value in exploring non-digital formats as a way to engage with music beyond the algorithm.
Further reading
Explore more about the evolving landscape of New Age music.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The FADER.
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