By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Mexico City, In an era where electronic music often feels tethered to the relentless pace of social media snippets and fleeting viral moments, Fred again.. continues to push against the grain by prioritizing long-form, immersive storytelling. His latest venture, a collaborative film titled under the fabric, serves as both a document of a specific moment in time and an exploration of the creative chemistry between the British producer and the rising Mexican powerhouse trio, LATIN MAFIA. Spanning 35 minutes, the film offers a rare, intimate glimpse into an impromptu live session recorded in the heart of Mexico City, showcasing unreleased material that highlights the evolving sonic palettes of all artists involved.
The project was captured in December during the Mexico City leg of Fred again..’s widely celebrated USB002 tour. This tour, which has become legendary for its spontaneity and high-profile surprise guests, found a unique home in the Mexican capital. LATIN MAFIA—comprised of brothers Milton, Yannick, and Mike De la Rosa—hail from the city and have quickly become one of the most influential acts in the Latin alternative scene. Their appearance alongside Fred again.. on stage during his December 11th performance was a highlight of the tour, but under the fabric proves that their connection went far deeper than a mere guest spot.
The film’s title and its striking visual identity are derived from a massive fabric installation created by Dutch visual artist Boris Acket. Acket, known for his work with light, space, and kinetic structures, designed a canopy that became a central motif of the USB002 tour. The installation was more than just a stage prop; it was a living, breathing element of the performance that reacted to the environment and the music. In the film, this fabric serves as a literal and metaphorical roof for the artists, creating a cocoon-like atmosphere where they could experiment without the pressures of a stadium audience.
Writing on social media about the experience, Fred again.. expressed a profound sense of creative satisfaction regarding the session. He noted that the film captures a single-take recording of songs they had been developing together, emphasizing the natural, unforced nature of their collaboration. According to the producer, the way the music interacted with Acket’s fabric installation in Mexico City was perhaps his favorite iteration of the concept, suggesting that the physical environment played a crucial role in the tonal quality of the recordings.
The music featured in under the fabric remains largely unreleased, adding a layer of mystique to the film. For fans, it provides a preview of a potentially significant cross-cultural collaboration that blends Fred again..’s signature "Actual Life" style—characterized by found sounds, emotive vocal chops, and propulsive house beats—with LATIN MAFIA’s eclectic approach to R&B, reggaeton, and pop. The session feels less like a polished studio product and more like a captured conversation, where the artists are seen reacting to one another in real-time, testing melodies, and finding a shared rhythm beneath the billowing sheets of Acket’s installation.
The release of this film is the latest chapter in the extensive rollout of material from the USB002 tour. Unlike traditional concert tours that follow a rigid setlist and structure, USB002 was defined by its fluidity. Throughout the run, Fred again.. was joined by a revolving door of electronic music royalty and emerging innovators. The guest list reads like a "who’s who" of contemporary and classic dance music, including the likes of Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter—making a rare appearance—The Streets, rave veterans Underworld, and jungle revivalist Nia Archives. By integrating such diverse voices into his tour, Fred again.. has positioned himself as a curator as much as a performer, bridging the gap between different generations and genres of electronic music.
Earlier this summer, Fred again.. took the unprecedented step of sharing every single set from the USB002 tour in a staggering 108-hour YouTube mix. This massive digital archive allowed fans to relive the tour in its entirety, documenting the subtle shifts in energy from city to city and the various improvisational moments that occurred during the sets. The inclusion of under the fabric in this broader narrative adds a cinematic dimension to the USB002 era, moving beyond the high-energy chaos of the DJ booth and into a more contemplative, artistic space.
The visual language of the tour has also been given its own platform. In January, Fred again.. hosted a scenography exhibition in New York City, where fans could experience the Boris Acket installations up close in a gallery setting. By bringing the fabric canopy to a static environment, the exhibition highlighted the craftsmanship behind the tour’s visual identity and allowed for a deeper appreciation of the intersection between music and contemporary art. under the fabric brings this journey full circle, returning the installation to a musical context but within the quietude of a private session.
For LATIN MAFIA, this collaboration represents another significant milestone in their rapid ascent. The trio has been at the forefront of a new wave of Mexican artists who are blurring the lines between underground credibility and mainstream appeal. Their ability to hold their own alongside a global superstar like Fred again.. speaks to the universal language of their sound and the growing influence of the Mexico City creative scene on the global stage. The film captures them in their element, grounded in their home city but reaching toward a global audience through their partnership with one of the most talked-about producers in the world.
As Fred again.. looks toward the future, his schedule remains as ambitious as ever. Following the conclusion of the USB002 cycle, he is set to make his highly anticipated live debut in India. The upcoming four-date run across the country signifies his continued expansion into new territories and his commitment to bringing his unique live experience to a global fan base. Given his track record, it is likely that the India tour will yield its own set of unique collaborations and spontaneous moments, further enriching the tapestry of his career.
The film under the fabric is currently available for viewing on YouTube, offering fans a 35-minute window into a creative brotherhood that transcends borders. It is a testament to the power of the "one-take" philosophy—a reminder that in a world of digital perfection, there is still immense value in the raw, the unpolished, and the immediate. As the fabric ripples and the unreleased beats fill the air in Mexico City, the film captures a rare moment of artistic purity that will likely resonate with listeners long after the USB002 tour has faded into history.
In the broader context of Fred again..’s discography, this collaboration with LATIN MAFIA may serve as a bridge to his next major project. While his "Actual Life" series focused on the personal and the intimate, the USB era has been about the collective and the collaborative. under the fabric sits at the intersection of these two worlds—it is a personal, intimate recording made within the collective energy of a world tour. It serves as a reminder that even in the midst of global fame, the most profound musical moments often happen in the quiet spaces, under a piece of fabric, between friends who have found a common language in sound.
