Published by Alessandro Violante on July 28, 2023
n 2020, Unhuman and Petra Flurr started collaborating together releasing Cause Of Chaos LP on She Lost Kontrol. This release includes eight songs in which these two artists celebrate post-punk and the early EBM sound. Two years later, they published the Disintegration EP with the Greek label OSM Tapes. This August, after having participated with a song on the celebrative BITE Records release entitled Shedding Skin and after having played a gig at Berghain during a BITE label night, they will publish their first release on Phase Fatale label, entitled Mala Vida, which we consider their best release so far.
Q: Hi Unhuman and Petra Flurr! I’m very glad to have an interview with you on this website, as I follow your project since the release of Cause of Chaos. I remember that, at that time, with FLUX we premiered the song Suriv. How did this collaboration start?
Hey there! Thank you for the invitation.
Unhuman: The collaboration between Petra Flurr and myself actually began back in 2019 during the early years of Bite Records when I released my first EP on the label, titled Nylon Speech. While the EP mainly consisted of raw industrial rhythmic tunes, I also wanted to include a track that drew from my personal musical influences. As I’ve been long-time friends with Petra, whom I greatly admire for their unique talent, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to collaborate and combine our creative visions. That’s how Seuche was born, and we started jamming together in my studio. Subsequently, we recorded more music and released a single tape featuring the songs Hier! and Had Enough. We were thrilled with the outcome of this project because it possessed a special dynamic that we wanted to further develop and eventually bring to life on stage.
When “Cause Of Chaos” was released in September 2020, it was during the midst of the pandemic. When the team at She Lost Kontrol approached us for a 12″ album, our vision to the sound was slightly different than before, as it was heavily influenced by the current situation. We embarked on extensive experimentation with various recordings and different instruments. During that time, our focus was on creating a cohesive and captivating long play that maintained a rhythmic and danceable quality, reminiscent of punk music. While performing live wasn’t at the forefront of our minds then, we aimed to craft an album that resonated with the challenging times we were all experiencing.
Petra Flurr: Sincerely, I believe that COVID-19 played a significant role in inspiring the creation of this album. During these challenging times, I found myself filled with a newfound energy and determination to push artistic boundaries and encourage people to contemplate their own beliefs. The year 2019 was delicate, and it sparked a sense of urgency to bring something meaningful into existence, with music being the only solace during that period. In my case “Cause of Chaos” came to my mind as a response to the overwhelming influence of mass media and its impact on our lives. Through this album, I aim to provoke thought and reflection of humanity.
Q: Let’s talk about your new release, Mala Vida, which will be released on 4th August on BITE Records. According to me, that’s your best release so far. You’ve created a very particular sound, in which several music styles are synthesized very well. As a listener, according to me, with this release you’ve enriched your sound palette, and there are many details enriching each song. As well as in your previous releases, your music is always influenced by the past, but I consider Mala Vida an important evolutive step in the history of this collaboration.
Unhuman: We’re thrilled to hear that you find it to be our best release thus far. As you mentioned, the album synthesizes several music styles very well, blends different influences and genres and creates a unique and distinctive sound. While we respect the past and draw inspiration from it, we also aim to bring a fresh and innovative approach to our music. We understand that our music carries influences from the past, as it is rooted in various genres and movements. However, with “Mala Vida,” we aim to take an important evolutionary step in our collaboration. It’s a continuation of our creative journey, where we explore new ideas, and taking a slightly different path. We’ve coined the term “queer-death techno” to describe the sound we’ve developed, which signifies our intention to create music that is both rebellious and introspective, transcending traditional genre classifications.
Q: If I should choose a song above others, my favorite would be Short Life, in which you’ve collaborated with Garden Krist. It seems to me that, as well as in other songs such as Rush and Mala Vida, here you have used some of the sounds that in the ‘90s were called “electro-industrial”. According to me, it has that kind of dark approach. What could you tell us about this song?
Unhuman: “Short Life” holds a special place for us as well, as it was initially created for our first live show at Berghain. During its development, the track had the working title “Drunk Sailor” due to its melancholic Anatolian scale, which lent a sense of wistfulness to the composition.
The idea of collaborating with Garden Krist came about through the suggestion of Phase Fatale, the label boss. Garden Krist’s involvement brought a fresh perspective to the song, leading to a completely different approach than initially anticipated. Collaborations often introduce new elements and influences, and Garden Krist’s contribution helped shape the final outcome of “Short Life.”
Photography by Dennis Schoenberg
Styling and makeup by Thea B. Adora
Designed by Eloise Leigh
Q: While listening to the whole release, I perceive a clear hybridization of the languages of post-punk and of early EBM as well as that of techno more than in your previous releases. What I appreciate the most about your approach is that your music is constantly subject to evolution, each release is different and that’s not a common thing. Do you agree with this thought?
Petra Flurr: Our music is indeed a result of the hybridization of post-punk, early EBM, and techno, and we consciously incorporate diverse influences and genres into our compositions. We believe in constant evolution and growth as artists, and this philosophy is reflected in our approach to creating music. The beauty of music lies in its ability to evolve.
Unhuman: Through a multidisciplinary approach, we aim to keep our music fresh and exciting, while also challenging ourselves and our listeners. It’s essential for us to avoid stagnation and continuously explore new musical territories with each release. This way, we aim to offer our audience a unique and ever-changing sonic experience.
Q: What could you tell us about your previous releases such as Disintegration and Cause Of Chaos?
Unhuman: Both “Disintegration” and “Cause Of Chaos” represent different phases of our journey. Each release carries its unique atmosphere and narrative, while staying true to our core.
“Disintegration” is an 10” EP that we released through OSM Tapes. It explores themes of decay, dissolution, and the transient nature of existence. The tracks on this album delve into a darker and introspective sonic landscape, combining elements of post-punk, industrial, and electronic body music. “Disintegration” is an exploration of sonic textures and ghostly melodies, focused on raw emotions and introspectiveness.
On the other hand, “Cause Of Chaos” is an album that we released through She Lost Kontrol Records. This album holds a significant place in our discography as it was released during the challenging year of 2020, amidst a global pandemic. With “Cause Of Chaos,” we took a different approach to our sound, infusing it with inspirations drawn from the current situation. The album blends rhythmic elements with a punk-inspired energy, resulting in a dynamic and danceable collection of tracks. While maintaining a sense of darkness and intensity, “Cause Of Chaos” also aims to be cathartic and rebellious.
Q: I’ve read that Mala Vida was conceived consequently to your performance at Berghain during a BITE Label Night. What could you tell us about that performance and about how that inspired the release?
Unhuman: The performance at Berghain during the BITE Label Night was just incredible experience for us, I love playing in that floor and couldn’t; ask for me from this night. We had always envisioned this project as an ultimate live band endeavor, aiming to create a massive and impactful presence on stage. When we received the call to perform at Berghain with this project for the first time, it presented an amazing challenge and opportunity to bring our vision to life, because we knew it could be and was a momentous gig. It was crucial to capture the essence and energy we wanted to convey during the performance. To ensure a high-quality output, I collaborated closely with engineer Gianmaria Rell, working together to fine-tune and finalize all aspects of the sound production.
Petra Flurr: This performance became a catalyst for the creation of “Mala Vida.” The sheer power and intensity of the live experience inspired us deeply. It pushed us to further explore and expand our sonic palette, motivated by the desire to create music that could match the impact of our live shows. The performance acted as a creative spark, propelling us to channel that energy and inspiration into the development of the album. It motivated us to continually strive for more exceptional and unforgettable live performances in the future.
Artwork by Liam Noonan
Q: Besides your collaborative project, you keep on releasing music with other projects. I think about a release such as Radiation Sickness by Unhuman and Surit which was released last year, as well as the collaborative releases between Petra Flurr and 89st. What are you working on now besides the project Unhuman + Petra Flurr?
Unhuman: In addition to my collaborative project with Petra Flurr, I have been actively involved in various other projects, and I have several exciting releases on the horizon.
One notable recent achievement was the remix I had the great honor to create for the legendary band The Soft Moon. I remixed the track “Face is Gone” from their latest album, “The Exister.” This opportunity allowed me to bring my own unique perspective to their powerful sound, creating a fresh interpretation of their music. Thanks to Sacred Bones and Bite for collaborating for this record. All the remix works are fantastic and I’m honoured to be part of this release.
Furthermore, I have engaged in several collaborations in the past, with one of the latest being the track “Behelit” in collaboration with Blush Response. This track was featured on “Purging Realities Vol. 1” released on Liber Null Records. It was a fantastic experience combining our creative energies.
Additionally, my EBM and synthwave project Aktion Mutante, in collaboration with Violet Poison, has seen releases on esteemed labels such as She Lost Kontrol and Liber Null Records.
While these projects have been incredibly fulfilling, my primary focus now is on my collaboration with Petra Flurr and my upcoming solo releases, which are slated to arrive early next year. These new solo works provide an opportunity for me to further refine and expand my artistic vision, showcasing my individual creative expression.
It’s important for me to maintain a multifaceted approach to music, engaging in various projects to continuously challenge myself artistically. I’m excited about what’s coming next and still feeling very inspired, both within my collaborative project with Petra Flurr and in my individual ventures.
Petra Flurr: Petra is gearing up for an exciting solo project in 2024, promising to be an all-time experiment. In the past, there were some side projects, including two albums released with 89 st. The latest album, “Trübe Stadt,” came out in 2021 under Oraculo Records. The journey has just begun, and there’s much more to come.
Q: I’ve read that Petra Flurr is half Italian, and that in the past he played in Milan. What’s your relationship with Italy? Also, FLUX started in Italy and later started to include people from other countries.
Petra Flurr: Petra Flurr, born of Sicilian immigrant parents, came to Berlin in 1988, just a year before that infamous wall crumbled. My roots run deep in Italy, and my connection to Sicily is very special. I’ve graced many stages in Italy, and in the city of Milan. It was the beginning of my journey, to leave an indelible mark on the world of music.
I would like to thank you for this interview. If you want, invite our readers to preorder your new release!
Thank you for the opportunity! We appreciate your support and interest in our music. To all our readers, we would like to extend our gratitude for being a part of our journey.
If you’ve enjoyed our conversation and are inspired by what you’ve heard, we invite you to preorder our new release, “Mala Vida.” It is an album that encompasses our evolving sound and represents an important step in our artistic collaboration.
We hope it inspires you as much as it has inspired us during its creation. Your support means a lot to us, and we look forward to sharing this musical experience with you.
Furthermore, if you’re in Berlin, we have an exciting event planned for the release party of the album on the 10th of August at the legendary venue So36.With performances by Zanias (singer of Linea Aspera), Martial Canterel from New York, and the label boss and Berghain Resident Phase Fatale and of course our brand new live show.
For our fans in Asia, get ready for our upcoming tour starting at the end of September! This will be the first time we bring the Unhuman + Petra Flurr project to Asia, and we can’t wait to perform with our new live set.
We hope to connect with you all on a stage somewhere soon, and we can’t wait to share our music with you.