Bruise are Christian Campbell and Darren House aka Diesel – both have travelled distinguished musical paths before collaborating on this new project – Christian as Sona Vabos, Darren as a member of The Ballistic Brothers and X-press 2. Their debut E.P., Presentation, on R&S off-shoot Meda Fury took all sorts of cues from the classic sounds of Detroit – blending house, jazz and techno. Grand Hi, in my book, was one of the dance tracks of the year, while their remix of Lady Blackbird`s Collage has exploded to top end-of-year charts everywhere.
Here, in a short teaser interview – there`s more to follow – the duo run through a selection of tunes – from the last 12 months – that have turned them on. Coming up with a cracking cross-section of modern house sounds. Demonstrating that within the 4 / 4 nation there`s room for all folks – people of all colours, peccadilloes, and persuasions.
Words and selections by Bruise.
Could you please give me a few pieces of music, released or reissued this year, that have helped you make it through 2020?
In no order…
PEPE BRADOCK – DACTYLONOMY II (ATAVISME)
VARIOUS ARTISTS – SIMPLY THE WEST VOL 1.2 (WEST FRIENDS)
DOCTORS PEPPER – SGT. PEPPER (DOO)
PATRICE SCOTT – RAIN DANCE (VISIONS INC RECORDINGS)
JADEN THOMPSON – CLOSER (CUTTIN’ HEADZ)
SAULT – (UNTITLED (BLACK IS) & UNTITLED (RISE) (FOREVER LIVING ORIGINALS)
JAYDA G – BOTH OF US (NINJA TUNE)
DUKWA – MY JOURNEY INTO ETERNITY (TDSR)
THE VISION – MISSING (DEFECTED RECORDS)
All being well what plans do you have for 2021?
There`ll be a new Bruise E.P. early 2021, more remixes and being very optimistic maybe some live events over the summer.
Is there any way that I, we, others, can help and assist you in achieving these goals? Are you looking for partners / collaborators – folks who have access to resources you currently don’t? – in that sense of “if we stand together then we will survive”?
Bruise is as much a collective as anything else so we’re always on the look out for artists that want to collaborate in some way – be it through music, visuals or anything else.
You can purchase Bruise`s Presentation E.P. direct from Meda Fury, and you can check out that Lady Blackbird remix here.
Ban Ban Ton Ton 