Brooklyn’s fashn exists in the spaces between genres, drifting through nebulous melodies and restless rhythms with a self-aware shrug and a knowing smirk. Formed by longtime friends Thomas Peters and Julius Dolls amidst the isolation of the Covid lockdown, the duo initially had no grand ambitions; just an impulse to experiment and a shared itch for musical exploration. It took time, transience, and relocation across state lines before fashn crystallized their identity, absorbing the cultural mosaic offered by Brooklyn and Ridgewood, Queens, neighborhoods brimming with sonic diversity and boundless artistic possibility.
The city’s iconic clubs became their proving grounds, from the dark intimacy of Mercury Lounge to the indie pedigree of the Knitting Factory. Translating lush studio compositions into visceral live experiences quickly became central to fashn’s ethos. “We’ll never take any opportunity to play at these historic venues for granted,” they affirm, expressing genuine awe for sharing stages with peers and local innovators they’ve befriended.
When pressed to define their influences, fashn shyly admits their eclectic tastes: a swirling blend that nods reverently to The Cure’s romantic despair, Echo & the Bunnymen’s layered pop mysticism, Deerhunter’s hypnotic ambiguity, Asylum Party’s coldwave elegance, HTRK’s moody minimalism, and the charismatic intensity of Elias Rønnenfelt. Add a persistent backdrop of ambient textures and Brooklyn’s dynamic underground pulse, and the result is a band unafraid of contradiction, thriving in the tension between intimacy and expansiveness.
Now fashn unleashes a swirl of kaleidoscopic melodies on their sophomore effort, Sequel, seamlessly blending post-punk minimalism with psychedelic introspection to explore stark themes: envy, greed, exhaustion, and existential dread.
Twins grapples with the tension of unmet expectations, distilling emotional fatigue into a gentle plea for acceptance. Ethereal chorals glide alongside understated guitar work, cultivating an atmosphere of quiet surrender. In Harm’s Way, fashn conjure a biting critique of false idols and superficial pride, delivered through eerie breathwork and frenetic percussion; a sly homage to the nervous funk of early Talking Heads and the angular rhythmic experiments of Simple Minds. 13 channels the persistent anxieties of everyday life, diving headfirst into cycles of self-doubt and regret. The track drifts along Cure-like melancholy, interlaced with the shadowy allure and rhythmic drive reminiscent of Skelesys.
On 22, the band offers a visceral glimpse into internal conflict and youthful disillusionment. Angular guitar riffs blend seamlessly with funky synth flourishes, providing a rhythmic counterpoint to stark lyrical self-examination. Do It for Less manifests as fractured self-dialogue, layering ethereal vocals atop lush, Deerhunter-inspired atmospherics. Emotional detachment and performative identity intermingle, giving form to spiritual transformation masked by subdued cynicism.
pseudo radiates an aching uncertainty beneath luminous, 80s-inspired synth pads, gracefully transitioning into an expansive outro that nods appreciatively toward Bradford Cox’s hazy dreamworld. The instrumental Replenish barrels forward as a relentless sonic ride, a technicolor cascade of Y2K-era beats, distorted loops, and cosmic flourishes. Echoes of Chemical Brothers and Stereolab infuse the composition, crafting an entrancing, spaced-out groove.
goodandbad drifts languidly between illusions and genuine vulnerability. Echoing guitar textures and smooth vocals conjure the laid-back charm of Mac DeMarco, underscoring emotional turbulence simmering beneath superficial comfort. Closing track angeleatr plunges into fragmented introspection, blurring reality and chaos through dreamlike psychedelia. With nods to The Dandy Warhols, Ride, and The Veldt, fashn round out Sequel with hypnotic unease and lingering uncertainty, carving their place among contemporary purveyors of artful psych-rock and shadow-laden pop.
Listen to Sequel below and order the album here.
Post-Punk.com caught up with fashn for an enigmatic insight into their themes, inspirations, and those who spark their creative vision:
Could you share a bit about the themes and inspiration behind your first album, Darkside?
Darkside, name speaks for itself! …Julius and I had first moved to New York when we were writing this and it as much of us finding our sound as it was adapting to a new environment. The album went through so many iterations and styles, just kind of rediscovering ourselves through our new project.
What distinguishes your second album, Sequel, from your earlier work?
Sequel, in many ways, was always the light and the end of the tunnel. After being able to play shows with the Darkside material, we then took any demos for Sequel and started to tease them live to be able to understand what we were going. Simple things, like how our friends and crowd members responded to newer material. It felt like we really did our homework and practiced hard. Darkside is more of a mixtape, whereas Sequel feels like our first real shot at an album.
You collaborated with John Zott for mixing and mastering. How did working with him affect the final sound of your releases?
JZ is the GOAT. He knows exactly what we’re aiming for and he’s consistently elevated anything we’ve sent him.
Are there specific films, directors, or cinematic styles that inspire or influence the sound and mood of fashn’s music?
Anything 80s horror is always a go-to, love Donnie Darko and all that vibe. Any surreal or ethereal too, RIP David Lynch.
What books or authors have had a meaningful impact on your songwriting or the lyrical themes you explore in your releases?
Generally, we’re both more so nonfiction readers. Feel like any of our lyricism comes straight from the dome.
Outside of music, what other types of media or artistic disciplines (visual art, theatre, photography, etc.) have influenced your creative vision as a band?
Resident Evil, Silent Hill.
How does Sequel build upon or contrast the themes introduced in your first album, Darkside?
Darkside was about the rest of the world, Sequel is about us.
Follow fashn:
Or via: