Emerging from the creative partnership of Alex Gonzales and John Kunkel, UNTER STRØM continue to carve out their distinctive place within the underground electronic landscape with the release of their second single, “Fold.” The project, born between Los Angeles and San Diego, merges industrial textures, melodic depth, and cinematic storytelling into a sound that feels equally at home in dark warehouses and expansive festival settings.
The duo brings together two established forces in electronic music. Gonzales, known for his work with Matte Blvck, has cultivated a dedicated global following through extensive touring and sold-out performances across the United States. Meanwhile, Kunkel, through his melodic electronic alias John Grand and longstanding project The New Division, has earned recognition from influential tastemakers, including support from Armin van Buuren and appearances on A State of Trance and Group Therapy Radio.
With “Fold,” UNTER STRØM reveal a darker and more restrained side of their evolving artistic identity. While earlier material showcased sweeping melodic moments, the new single embraces minimalism, relying on hypnotic bass movement, industrial sound design, and subtle melodic tension to create an immersive listening experience.
The track’s origins began during a flight to Calgary, where Gonzales experimented with layered low-end textures and sparse rhythmic elements while traveling to a festival performance. What started as a simple idea gradually evolved into one of the duo’s most atmospheric productions. Rather than building toward explosive drops, “Fold” thrives on patience, allowing pulsing bass plucks, mechanical percussion, and evolving textures to slowly draw listeners into its late-night sonic landscape.
After establishing the track’s foundation, Gonzales passed the project to Kunkel, whose instinct for melody and atmosphere helped shape the composition into its final form. That collaborative process has become central to the UNTER STRØM identity, with tracks evolving organically through a fluid exchange of ideas between both artists.
The production team behind the single further strengthens its impact. Acclaimed producer and engineer Aaron Short handled mixing duties, preserving the track’s dense low-end power while maintaining clarity and cinematic scope. Mastering was completed by Mike Marsh, whose recent work on Nine Inch Nails projects adds another layer of industrial credibility to the release.
Already a standout moment in the duo’s live Transmission audiovisual performances, “Fold” has generated significant interest from audiences eager to identify the previously unreleased track after hearing it in DJ sets and recorded mixes.
Rather than following current trends, UNTER STRØM continue to prioritize atmosphere, emotion, and sonic experimentation. With “Fold,” the duo further establish themselves as a compelling new force in dark electronic music, balancing industrial grit, minimalist techno, and cinematic storytelling into a sound that feels both modern and deeply immersive.