The new single “Fragment” electronic musical duo UNTER STRØM via renegade label Breathing Records. Led by Alex Gonzales (Matte Blvck) and John Kunkel (The New Division, John Grand), UNTER STRØM was born from a shared obsession: pushing the boundaries of techno, melodic house, and industrial sonics into uncharted territory.
Unter Strøm unites John Kunkel (The New Division / John Grand) and Alex Gonzales (Matte Blvck), merging progressive electronic music with industrial textures, cinematic songwriting, and immersive club-driven production. Already earning support from leading electronic tastemakers including Above & Beyond’s Group Therapy, Armin van Buuren’s A State of Trance, Ferry Corsten, and Markus Schulz, the duo returns with their third single, “Fragment.”
Unlike Unter Strøm’s first two releases, which were developed remotely, “Fragment” marks the first time Kunkel and Gonzales wrote a track entirely together in the same room. During one of the duo’s first dedicated writing retreats at Los Angeles’ legendary Sound Factory, they spent two uninterrupted days without schedules, deadlines, or distractions—allowing the music to dictate its own direction.
Beginning with nothing more than a blank session, ideas passed organically between the two producers as they continuously traded places behind the desk. Every time the arrangement felt complete, another section emerged. Rather than forcing the song into a conventional structure, they followed instinct, creating a composition that constantly evolves, rarely repeats itself, and reflects the freedom that has become central to Unter Strøm’s creative identity.
Originally intended to remain an exclusive live ID, “Fragment” gradually revealed itself as one of the project’s defining works. Inspired by the creative legacy of Sound Factory and liberated by the absence of expectation, the session became a turning point for the duo—capturing the moment Unter Strøm evolved from exchanging ideas across cities into a project built on spontaneous collaboration and shared intuition.
“Fragment” was mixed by Aaron Short (The Naked and Famous, So Below) and mastered by Mike Marsh, whose mastering credits include Depeche Mode, Massive Attack, The Prodigy, and The Chemical Brothers.
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