Statiqbloom & Blush Response interview: ‘Playing with sound, listening, reacting, and building on that’
Statiqbloom & Blush Response
This year saw the release of “Folding In”, a six-track collaboration between Fade Kainer and Joey Gonzalez. Both American artists—celebrated for their work in Statiqbloom & Blush Response, respectively—crafted the album in Berlin, Germany. The result is a gripping fusion of Dark-Electro, Industrial, and Techno, steeped in a brooding Dark-Ambient atmosphere that defines its character. Issued on vinyl through Hands, “Folding In” slots neatly into the ongoing evolution of Industrial-Techno, yet stands apart for its refusal to fall into genre clichés. There’s a spark here—something that feels both instinctive and deliberate. When I spoke with Kainer and Gonzalez, they hinted that this might not be their only venture together. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)
Q: I believe you’ve known each other for quite some time, but how did this joint project Statiqbloom & Blush Response come about? How did the collaboration unfold — who did what, and what did you discover about each other in the process?
Fade: Joey invited me over to his place over multiple sessions, I would bring a few pieces of gear and we would begin with making a rhythm structure then we would start to improvise over it both playing together and recording it after there would be a process of editing and arranging the performance sometimes going back to add some more complimentary elements, sometimes I would add vocal elements over what we had just edited. The process moved very quickly, we would finish an idea in a few hours. For me what I discovered was that Joey works a lot faster than I would typically.
Joey: Yeah once Fade moved to Berlin I knew I wanted to record with him so it was just a matter of finding the right moment.
Q: There’s clearly a shared fascination with analog machines and hardware setups in your music. What makes this so special for you? And how do you view the growing number of artists who work mainly with digital or online synths?
Fade: I feel that a lot of the time playing with physical instruments is more inspiring, I started as a drummer so I really connect with playing a tactile instrument. That being said, I do use a lot of software as well. As far as how other artists use digital vs. hardware it really doesn’t matter to me, if something is interesting or moves me it’s not important to me whether music was made on hardware or in the digital domain.
Joey: I like touching things and doing things manually and get inspired by that approach versus sitting in front of a computer. I like when things happen surprisingly in a moment and when you don’t need to painstakingly edit every micro detail of something. I really don’t care what other people use or do as long as it sounds good.
Q: These days, AI is starting to play an increasingly important role in music creation. How do you see this evolution — and what impact do you think it has, or will have, on the creative process?
Fade: I feel that AI will be useful as tools to help realize ideas for an artist if used creatively. But not as a replacement of art and music made by humans. I also have a bit of fear with the rapid evolution of AI, I feel that we are not being cautious enough and that it has the possibility of running away from us. It’s a tool like a hammer. You can build a house with it or you could smash someone’s skull with it.
Joey: I don’t really care about AI and don’t think about it.
Q: Tell us more about “Folding In”? How did the songs come to life? Did you follow a certain concept or guiding principle from the start, or was the process more intuitive and spontaneous?
Fade: There were no guiding principles, nothing was predetermined or discussed. it was a more intuitive and spontaneous process.
Joey: Yes intuition is key, playing with sound, listening, reacting, and building on that. That’s how I try to do everything.
Q: In what ways did you experience a sense of complementarity or even creative symbiosis? And in what ways do you feel you’re fundamentally different as musicians?
Fade: I think we both are drawn to off kilter broken sounding textures, elements and otherworldly atmospheres. Built upon forceful driving percussion so we were able to predict in some ways where the other was going with an idea. I think the biggest way we are different is that I really like themes to be meditative and drone more, where compared to me Joey is more prone to constant change and more chaotic glitchyness.
Joey: Fade is amazing to work with and there were often many situations where I felt out of ideas and I was like ‘hey this needs something’ and he immediately had the perfect part. I think our styles are super complementary and that is something I value highly.
Q: How do you see the future of this collaboration? Are there plans to continue, or will you now return to your individual projects? What does the near future hold for both of you?
Fade: I don’t know what the future holds, we have done some live recordings, we are both busy with our individual projects. Let’s see.
Joey: I’d do it again if we both find the time. Currently my new album “Ego Death” was just announced which is 12 tracks of new material from me with a big change in sound. Coming October 10 on Artoffact Records. The first track is out now!
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
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