Absorbing the Unknown: CJ Stowklyn on Bringing ABSORBED6 to ComplexCon

Photo Credit: SUPERMODELS UNLIMITED

Tucson-born, Los Angeles-based artist and producer CJ Stowklyn refuses to be put in a box. Seamlessly blending music, high-end grunge, and dystopian streetwear, Stowklyn is transforming a dream born in 2019 into a full-scale reality at ComplexCon 2026 in Los Angeles. Rather than setting up a simple rack display, his label, ABSORBED6, is debuting an immersive visual universe designed for visitors to walk through, feel, and experience firsthand. Ahead of the brand’s milestone launch and the release of his early-2000s-inspired single “Back to Me,” Pump It Up Magazine caught up with the multi-hyphenate creative to discuss embracing uncertainty, building independently, and turning vision into execution.

Pump It Up Magazine: For Pump It Up Magazine readers who are discovering you for the first time, who is CJ Stowklyn? Tell us a little about where you come from, who you are as a person and creative, and how your journey in music, fashion, and art first began.

CJ Stowklyn: I’m CJ Stowklyn, an artist, producer, and creative from Tucson, Arizona, now based in Los Angeles. I’ve always been someone who wanted to create across different mediums, and music was the first thing that gave me a way to turn the things I was thinking and feeling into something people could experience.

Pump It Up Magazine: You express yourself through several creative worlds — music, fashion, art, and entrepreneurship. Which one came first for you, and when did you realize you didn’t have to choose just one path?

CJ Stowklyn: Music definitely came first, but I realized pretty early that I wasn’t interested in putting myself into one box. Everything I create comes from the same place creatively, so I stopped looking at them as separate paths and started seeing them as different extensions of me.

Pump It Up Magazine: Let’s talk about ABSORBED6. How did the idea for the brand first come to life, and what inspired the name?

CJ Stowklyn: The name for my brand first came to life as a idea, I thought it sounded cool, The domain and social handle Absorbed was already taken, So I added the 6 at the end because it’s the d reversed, it just Stuck.

CJ wearing a black streetwear outfit while standing beside washing machines in a laundromat — CJ photographed during a SUPERMODELS UNLIMITED shoot, highlighting his distinctive streetwear aesthetic and self-expression.

Photo Credit:
SUPERMODELS UNLIMITED

Pump It Up Magazine: The philosophy behind ABSORBED6 is “Absorb the Unknown.” That’s a powerful statement. What does it mean to you personally, and how does that philosophy influence the way you create?

CJ Stowklyn: To me, “Absorb the Unknown” means being comfortable not knowing exactly where something is going and still having the courage to explore it. I try to let that mindset influence everything I make instead of forcing myself to create what’s expected.

Pump It Up Magazine: ABSORBED6 is preparing for a major moment at ComplexCon 2026 in Los Angeles, where the brand will unveil its debut capsule collection. What does reaching this milestone mean to you after working toward it for so long?

CJ Stowklyn: It honestly feels surreal because this is something I’ve visualized for years. Seeing Absorbed6 physically exist at ComplexCon in Los Angeles makes all the sacrifices and uncertainty feel worth it.

Pump It Up Magazine: Your debut collection features oversized silhouettes, distressed textures, custom graphics, hoodies, tees, and streetwear. When someone sees or wears a piece from this first collection, what do you want them to feel?

CJ Stowklyn: I want them to feel like they found something that represents a part of themselves they couldn’t put into words. like stepping into another version of yourself.

Pump It Up Magazine: The visual universe of ABSORBED6 draws from high-end grunge, underground emo aesthetics, dystopian imagery, and themes such as time, gravity, distortion, and transformation. Where do those influences come from, and what inspires you visually?

CJ Stowklyn: A lot of it comes from music, underground culture, architecture, the internet, I’m really drawn to things that feel dark, distorted, futuristic,

Pump It Up Magazine: Instead of creating a traditional fashion booth at ComplexCon, you’re building an immersive environment that people can walk through, touch, experience, and photograph. Why was it important for you to create an entire world around ABSORBED6 rather than simply put clothing on display?

CJ Stowklyn: I never wanted people to just walk up and see clothes on racks, I wanted them to feel like they they’re actually stepping into a Universe, be fully immersed In the curated space we intended

Pump It Up Magazine: You’re also bringing several collaborations to ComplexCon, including projects with PARAY, DCC, CERVANT and WET AF Water. What makes a collaboration exciting to you, and how did these particular partnerships come together?

CJ Stowklyn: The best collaborations happen when both sides bring something different to the table but still understand the same creative language. These partnerships came together organically through relationships, shared ideas, and wanting to create something that felt bigger than either brand individually.

Pump It Up Magazine: You’ve shared that back in 2019 you were asking yourself, “How do I get my brand into ComplexCon?” Now you’re actually going to be there. Take us through that journey. What happened between that dream in 2019 and this moment in 2026?

CJ Stowklyn: In 2019 It wasn’t just an idea it was a goal, and I had no idea what the path to get there even looked like. A lot of creating, learning, failing, rebuilding, networking, and staying consistent happened between then and now, and eventually the dream became something I could actually build.

Pump It Up Magazine: Was there ever a moment when you seriously questioned whether ABSORBED6 would work? If so, what made you keep going?

CJ Stowklyn: Definitely, there were moments where I questioned everything, especially when I was putting resources into something without knowing exactly what the outcome would be. What kept me going was knowing that I’d rather take the risk and find out than look back years later wishing I had tried.

Pump It Up Magazine: Fashion is only one part of your creative identity. Your new single “Back to Me” featuring Cherrypopsoda is scheduled for release September 22. What inspired this record, and what can listeners expect to hear from you musically?

CJ Stowklyn: “Back to Me” comes from The early pop era, early 2000s, I really wanted to play into that, due to sample clearing, the song is not on DSPs yet. Hopefully that will change soon, You can still stream on SoundCloud for now, Listeners can expect to hear great songs from me going forward. I’m really putting more time into production and engineering to create better sounding music.

Pump It Up Magazine: How do your music and fashion influence one another? When someone listens to a CJ Stowklyn record and then experiences ABSORBED6, what connects those two sides of your creative identity?

CJ Stowklyn: Music and fashion actually go hand and hand for the most part, The sounds, visuals, textures, and emotions I explore in my music naturally carry over into ABSORBED6, so both worlds are connected by the same perspective.

Pump It Up Magazine: You’re building independently in industries that can be extremely competitive. What has been one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned about turning creativity into a real business and long-term career?

One of the biggest lessons has been realizing that talent is only one part of it, you also have to understand the business, relationships, consistency, and execution. You can have the best idea in the world, but if you don’t know how to build around it, it stays an idea.

Pump It Up Magazine: There are young creatives who may look at what you’re doing and wonder how they can turn their own ideas into something real. What advice would you give someone who has the vision but doesn’t yet have the connections, money, or platform?

CJ Stowklyn: Start with what you have and stop waiting for the perfect circumstances. Connections, money, and platforms can come later! the most important thing is proving to yourself first that you’re willing to actually build!

Pump It Up Magazine: When someone hears the name CJ Stowklyn for the very first time, what is the one thing you hope they remember about you?

CJ Stowklyn: I want people to remember that I’m an artist who refuses to stay in one box. Everything I do is about creating my own world and making people want to step into it.

Pump It Up Magazine: Finally, after ComplexCon and the release of “Back to Me,” what’s next? What should Pump It Up Magazine readers be watching for from CJ Stowklyn and ABSORBED6 as you move into 2027?

CJ Stowklyn: ComplexCon and “Back to Me” are really just the beginning. Going into 2027, I’m focused on expanding both the music and ABSORBED6 worlds, with more releases, collaborations, new products, and experiences that push everything further.