Tom Kovacevic Universe Thin As Skin

Universe Thin As Skin is the debut solo album from Portland, Maine’s Tom Kovacevic, a multi-instrumentalist who has been a vital part of the Portland musical landscape through his work with the bands Olas, Fire on Fire, Cerberus Shoal, and tarpigh. For his solo debut, Kovacevic focuses on the Arabic music he has been studying for twenty years. The album features songs performed on the oud, the nay flute, and both djembe and tchung drums.
Kovacevic had played guitar for many years when he decided to learn how to play the guitar’s ancestor, the oud. After playing the oud for some time he learned the nay flute (rim blown and fully chromatic) which is not only one of the oldest instruments in continual use (4,000+ years), but also one of the most difficult to play. One of the predominating musical influences on the record is related to the drums used. The djembe and tchung drums used were made in Senegal, and artists such as Bembeya Jazz National, Super Diamano De Dakar, and Salif Keita are vital influences.