Hot Picks: Bruise Shares The Tracks Behind His Genre-Bending House Sound

Bruise

Bruise, the alias of UK artist Christian Campbell, has been pushing house music into bold new spaces since his breakout in 2020 with Grand Hi. That piano-driven anthem landed in end-of-year charts, made The Guardian’s Best of 2020 list, and even found its way into GTA 5. Since then, he has released on Faith, Nu Groove, and Ross Allen’s Foundation Music, while winning over tastemakers like The Blessed Madonna, Carl Craig and Gilles Peterson, and securing multiple Essential New Tune awards from Pete Tong.

Now, with the release of his ‘People Dance’ EP on Jagged Angels, Bruise steps up with another forward-thinking collection of tracks that showcase his range, from soulful, jazz-infused grooves to peak-time acid energy. To mark the occasion, he has shared the tracks that are currently shaping his world.

From the hypnotic journey of DJ Koze’s ‘Bushtaxi’ to the thunderous breaks of Weval’s ‘Dopamine’ and the stripped-back class of Raven’s ‘Jupiter’, this playlist is a window into the sounds inspiring one of the UK’s most inventive house producers.

DJ Koze - Bushtaxi

An epic tune from the album’ Music Can Hear Us’. I love the journey and how the vocal elements seem to take inspiration from Cristobal Tapia De Veer and The White Lotus.

Everything is Recorded - Never Felt Better

Sampha is a truly unique vocalist and delivers yet another great collaboration together with Florence Welch and Everything is Recorded. The album highlight for me.

Joy Orbison - Bastard

The production on Bastard is ridiculous; every sound sits perfectly in its own space. No clue what genre this falls into, but I love whatever it is.

Mansur Brown - Faded

I first got into Mansur Brown on hearing “Want You” from the Heiwa album. Rihla is another brilliant album, and Faded is one of my favourite tracks that mixes Mansur’s guitars with D&B beats.

Sammy Virji & Skepta - Cops and Robbers

I love Sammy Virji’s productions and love this joyous collaboration with Skepta, who just kills it.

Obongjayer - Sweet Danger

Sweet Danger is such a hypnotic and catchy tune from an amazing artist.

Juls - Bunda

Bunda is from the EP “Com Amor Brazil (Original Soundtracks from Traveling Man)” and is a moody percussive gem. It was a hard choice between this and “Atabaque Riddim” from the same EP.

Weval - Dopamine

A thunderous beast of a track with twisty breaks and cut-up vocals designed to be heard on a massive system.

Moses Yoofee Trio - Push

Push is from the album MYT, and it’s a really chunky jazz track that draws on electronic influences with a killer bassline and super tight drums.

Raven - Jupiter

I know nothing about this artist, but I just love the vibe of Jupiter. Spacey, soulful, really minimal drums with a hint of old school Detroit. Pure class.

Bruise’s ‘People Dance’ EP is out now on Jagged Angels, serving up four cuts that prove why he is at the heart of the contemporary house scene.

With an ear for both soulful nuance and raw club power, Christian Campbell continues to carve out a space that is entirely his own.

Bruise

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