Interview: break_fold

Ambient electronic producer and multi‑instrumentalist break_fold returns with Planner_Tracker, a deeply personal new album that stitches together highlights from his Planner and Tracker EPs with five new compositions exploring family, identity and memory. Released via analog horizons in partnership with Launchpad+ and EMI North, the record arrives alongside the striking new single Hellish — a minimal, arpeggiated slow‑burn enriched by Croatian multi‑instrumentalist Martin Kutnar’s string work.

We caught up with break_fold to find out more…

Planner_Tracker pulls together older work and new compositions into one story. What made this the right moment to bring it all together?
It was always the plan to do a couple of EPs and then follow it up with an album. I had about 30 songs to choose from and not all of them belonged on an album, so releasing them in curated batches was what I went for. The EPs are supposed to be their own ‘thing’ and the album is the culmination of all the tracks that best fit together into a coherent piece. I grew up listening to albums, before streaming was a thing, and wanted to create a record you could sit down and listen to for 40 minutes.

Your work often sits between minimalism and textural overload. Where does Planner_Tracker land for you on that spectrum?
The album through the choice of songs has some of the harder edges knocked off that were found on the EPs. It’s more considered, possibly less experimental, but is more lush in places.

The album leans into family lore, childhood memories and North East dialect. How did revisiting those parts of your life shape the music?
It was a mixed bag on that front. Some titles were there from the start and the songs evolved with a feeling or a memory all the way through. Some didn’t get a title until nearly finished. For these ones I had to really dig all the way back to childhood to find something that fitted the music. Workie Ticket off the 2nd EP is a good example, it feels cheeky and a rough which fitted really well, for me anyway!

The project is rooted in 1990s Hartlepool and the small details of growing up. How important is place when you’re building these sound worlds?
I think place is really important when it comes to music and it’s something I’ve seen other artists cite again and again. Where something was recorded or a vibe that was captured on an album goes back to the beginning of music for me. In Hartlepool the co-habitation of some stunning nature getting by next to a nuclear power plant, gas works and chemical factories has been a fascination that has stuck with me. Ridley Scott used the same industrial works at Seal Sands as the inspiration for the city scapes in Bladerunner. It really is something, especially at night.

You brought in Martin Kutnar for additional strings on new single Hellish. What did he bring to the track?
I had mixed a track for a friend of mine which Martin had recorded a load of strings for. He did a lovely arrangement and I think it turned out really well. I got in touch with Martin when I felt like some real strings were needed for a couple of tracks and since he did such a good job I was pretty confident it’d work out! We talked over a few emails about what the parts should be and he recorded the string parts in his studio and sent them over to me. I think it added to Hellish and Washers having some real strings – it just takes them to a different place.

How does Planner_Tracker differ from past projects and how do you think it will shape future work?
I think my sound is always evolving. My earlier stuff sounds very different to what I’m doing now, if you have the time to go and have a listen to the back catalogue. Each release is a snapshot of the best I’ve got at that time whether it’s skills or gear. I’ve had a few more years practice so I’d hope the music would be getting better! I’ve got 20 new songs mixed so the next album is done but it is probably a way off yet in terms of releasing. The tracks are an evolution from Planner_Tracker – it’s harder, more direct and the songs are generally shorter. I’ve worked with a few more people this time too. I’m quite excited about this next one.