The New Division

The New Division is the electronic synth-pop project of John Kunkel, a California-based musician, producer, and sound designer with Brazilian American heritage. With millions of plays across several streaming platforms, the LA-based producer began his passion-project at the age of 18 when he moved to Riverside, CA at a time when synth-driven sounds were starting to gain traction but yet were very not appreciated the mainstream, "I remember going to shows back then (2005) and thinking, 'why aren't there more synth bands?' Everyone was doing music I wasn't interested in, whether it was folk, emo, or just generic rock music and I felt a drive to start my own synth-pop band."

In a matter of a few months he started writing songs inspired by some of his favorite acts, New Order and Depeche Mode. "The New Division" began in his college dorm, the name deriving from a play of words that were originally taken from a book he was assigned to read in an economics class titled "The New Division of Labor." Kunkel explains, "A lot fans think the name came from putting together "Joy Division" and "New Order," but at the time of seeing that book cover, I didn't even think about it until a few months later when someone pointed it out. I ended up 'Myspacing' Peter Hook (New Order) a message to see if he approved of the name, and to my surprise, he responded and said, "Well I don't mind it actually. Your musics good as well!"

Upon his first release in 2009, "The Rookie EP" was featured on Pitchfork, and a number of other publications. Being compared to other bands at the time of the growing Chillwave scene, Kunkel decided he needed to take his music in a darker direction, producing 2011's "Shadows LP" which remains a fan favorite to this day. "I didn't really want to be associated with overtly chill and happy music at the time," Kunkel explains.

"Shadows" became a subconscious effort by that point, with many songs touching on themes inspired by film noir, murder mysteries, and drug-abuse. "While the album does contain a few 'love' songs, I wanted the record explore themes that don't often get written about in modern music. It probably didn't help that I was also working graveyard shifts 4 nights a week and writing the album during odd hours of the night."

Soon after the arrival of "Shadows," The New Division embarked on playing shows around the globe, opening for Peter Hook & The LIght, Peter Murphy, and playing alongside several acts of the mid-2010s including Elefant, Shout Out Louds, Minus the Bear, and more.

In 2023, after releasing 4 full length albums, half a dozen EPs, and a variety of singles, Kunkel finds himself living a drastically different life than when he embarked on this journey at 18, "Times have changed, I'm married, have two kids, work a long nine to five, but the drive to make the music I love is still there," he explains.

On the heels of their forthcoming 5th album, "Modern Life," explores themes of chaos, isolation, and finding escape in music during the pandemic. With a darker edge than its predecessor, "Hidden Memories," the album delves into the effects of technology addiction and navigating a constantly changing world. "A lot of this album was written when we were all stuck at home, unable to hang out with friends, be with our families. While I don't think the pandemic changed me drastically as a person, I do notice something different about myself when I play these songs back. There's definitely something I'm uncomfortable with the way the world is and I'm still exploring that through the music I write."

"Modern Life" comes out March 22nd on Kunkel's own label, Division 87 Records.

The New Division will be embarking on a US Tour later this summer, fall, and winter.