Matte Blvck

Matte Blvck is a darkwave and industrial electronic trio based in San Diego, California, composed of childhood friends Alex Gonzales, Daniel Corrales, and Bidi Cobra. Formed in 2019, the group emerged from the underground scene with a cinematic, mechanical-tinged sound that blends gritty industrial anthems, dark synthwave and underground techno. While drawing from the lineage of acts such as Depeche Mode and The Cure, Matte Blvck have carved out a distinctly modern identity built around atmospheric depth, emotional intensity and a strong visual aesthetic. Their debut album, I’m Waving, Not Drowning, was largely written during the global pandemic and explored themes of pain, panic and suffering while ultimately searching for a sense of hope — a light at the end of the tunnel. The band pushed their sound further into darker territory with Vows, where frenzied beats thrust the listener into a pulsating sea of monochromatic textures, putting a contemporary spin on their love of ’90s electronic music. For the album, Matte Blvck recruited acclaimed mixer Aaron Short, whose work includes The Naked and Famous and So Below, allowing the trio to expand and refine their sonic foundations. Following a string of sold-out shows across the U.S. on their 2025 HOLYWARS Tour, Matte Blvck returned with the haunting single “Soulless,” released via Breathing Records as part of the Inhale Vol. 1 compilation in October 2025. Described by Alex Gonzales as “faith freed from illusion, light reborn in darkness, a soul remembering its source,” the track stands as a hymn for those still fighting to remember the light they were made from. Blending analog and digital instrumentation with immersive live performances and a meticulously crafted visual world, Matte Blvck continue to expand the boundaries of their dark electronic sound.