new single “Fold” from electronic musical duo UNTER STRØM via renegade label Breathing Records

UNTER STRØM is an electronic musical duo forged in the shadows of Los Angeles and San Diego, blending raw industrial grit with melodic finesse. Led by Alex Gonzales (Matte Blvck) and John Kunkel (The New Division, John Grand), the project is a collision of two prolific creative forces & longtime collaborators whose roots run deep in the darker corners of electronic and alternative music. Gonzales has been on a sharp upward trajectory with Matte Blvck, building a global fanbase through relentless touring and a string of sold-out shows across the United States, while Kunkel’s work as John Grand has earned support from tastemakers like Armin van Buuren on A State of Trance and a guest mix on Group Therapy Radio. Together, they meet at the intersection of underground intensity and melodic dark electronic refinement.

Emerging from years of working together in various bands and studios, UNTER STRØM was born from a shared obsession: pushing the boundaries of techno, melodic house, and industrial sonics into uncharted territory.  The result is a cinematic, visceral sound that moves between brooding intensity and euphoric release, equal parts warehouse and widescreen.

“Fold” is the second single from UNTER STRØM, revealing a darker and more restrained side of the project’s evolving sonic identity. Built around hypnotic low-end pressure, industrial textures, and subtle melodic tension, the track leans deeper into minimalist techno territory while maintaining the cinematic atmosphere that has quickly become part of the duo’s signature sound.

The foundation for “Fold” was created by Alex Gonzales during a flight to Calgary for a festival performance. What began as an experiment with layered bass movement and minimal rhythmic elements quickly developed into one of the project’s most immersive compositions.

Unlike the larger melodic peaks introduced in previous material, “Fold” thrives in restraint. Pulsing bass plucks, evolving textures, and mechanical percussion slowly unfold into a hypnotic late-night atmosphere designed for dark rooms and extended dancefloor moments.

After building the core foundation of the track, Gonzales sent the session to longtime collaborator John Kunkel, whose instinct for melodic tension, atmosphere, and sonic detail helped expand the track into its final form. The creative relationship between the two has become a defining element of UNTER STRØM, with ideas constantly evolving through a fast-moving back-and-forth process that blurs the line between individual contributions and shared vision.

What began as a collaboration rooted in mutual admiration quickly evolved into a creative partnership fueled by experimentation and trust. Both artists approach production from different angles, allowing tracks to naturally transform as they pass between them. That chemistry has become central to the UNTER STRØM identity, pushing the project beyond straightforward club music into something more immersive, cinematic, and emotionally charged.

Continuing the collaborative approach established on the project’s debut material, acclaimed producer and engineer Aaron Short once again handled mixing duties, helping preserve the track’s depth, weight, and cinematic atmosphere while balancing its dense low-end and industrial textures.

Mastering was completed by prolific mastering engineer Mike Marsh, who recently mastered the entire Nine Inch Noize album from Nine Inch Nails, further connecting “Fold” to the lineage of modern industrial and forward-thinking electronic music.

The track has already become a standout moment during UNTER STRØM’s live Transmission sets and audiovisual performances, where audiences have repeatedly asked about the unreleased ID following appearances in mixes and live recordings.

Rather than chasing trends or predictable structures, “Fold” further establishes UNTER STRØM’s commitment to creating emotionally charged electronic music that balances industrial grit, minimalism, and cinematic depth.