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Spencer Brown (musician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spencer Brown
Birth nameOnofrio Spencer Jeffrey Bruno
Born (1994-01-01) January 1, 1994 (age 30)
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
  • Piano
  • keyboard
  • guitar
  • drums
  • percussion
Labels
  • Anjunadeep
  • Factory 93
  • Last Night on Earth
  • Anjunabeats
  • Mau5trap
  • LE7ELS
Websitewww.spencerbrown.live

Onofrio Spencer Jeffrey Bruno,[1] professionally known as Spencer Brown, is an American electronic dance music artist, producer, and DJ.[2][3][4] He is best known for his albums, 'Illusion of Perfection' (2018)[5] and 'Stream of Consciousness' (2020),[6][7][8][9] and for his collaborations with deadmau5 and Above & Beyond.[4][10][11]

While Brown’s music can mainly be classified as progressive house, his sound spans a wide range of electronic music, including techno, trance, and deep house.[12]

Early life and education

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Brown was born in Los Gatos, CA.[13] At the age of 2, he started drumming. Around age 12, he started DJing and producing his own music, motivated by his dislike of the music selection at school parties. His first gigs included teenage birthday parties, Bar/Bat Mizvahs, and middle school parties. He moved to Dallas, TX when he was 13, where his DJ business grew. When Brown was 14, he discovered progressive house music through Axwell, Eric Prydz, and later Avicii. He graduated with distinction in 2016 in Electrical & Computer Engineering with a minor in Computer Science from Duke University⁣ – ⁣Pratt School of Engineering, where he wrote his thesis on omnidirectional speakers.[14]

Career

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Brown got his first break when Avicii signed him to his label for his "Chalice EP" on LE7ELS in 2014.[15][2] He made his live debut opening for Avicii at the Hollywood Bowl in 2013. Thereafter, he toured North America, opening for Avicii’s True Tour.[16][17] After graduating from Duke University, his career picked up pace, when he continued touring and releasing music with world-known DJs like Above & Beyond and deadmau5.[18][19][20] In a few years, Brown saw support from some of dance music's biggest international acts, including Calvin Harris, Armin van Buuren, Avicii, Sasha, FISHER, and Pete Tong.[21]

Brown released his debut studio album, presented in mixed format, titled 'Illusion of Perfection’ on May 11, 2018. His dislike of radio edits inspired his decision to create a mixalbum. He released his second album, also presented in mixed format, called 'Stream of Consciousness' on January 31, 2020.[22] Collaborators included label mates Ben Böhmer, Marsh, and Qrion. Both albums became number one on the iTunes Dance charts and presented Brown with international headline tours. In 2021, Spencer was signed by Sasha to his Last Night on Earth imprint and to Insomniac's newly established Factory 93 label imprint, further establishing his reputation in the global house and techno scene.[23][24]

Personal life

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Brown is openly gay; he came out publicly in June 2020, although he had confided in friends six years earlier.[25] Being in the closet had led to depression and illness which he credits the dance music community for helping him recover, “I’ve transformed from a self-hating, anxiety-ridden boy to a self-loving, grateful man. I’m learning to transform my OCD into something more productive—like perfecting my mixdowns and sound design. I’m discovering ways to pass on the support I found in the dance music community, and I’m finding so much to be thankful for.”[25]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Details
Notes
Illusion of Perfection
  • Release: May 11, 2018
  • Label: Anjunabeats
  • Format: Digital download
 #1 on iTunes Dance
Stream of Consciousness[26]
  • Release: January 31, 2020
  • Label: Anjunabeats
  • Format: Digital download
 #1 on iTunes Dance[27]
Equanimity
  • Release: September 29, 2023
  • Label: diviine
  • Format: Digital download

Singles / EPs

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  • Chalice / Double Down EP – 2014
  • Jaboom / Mirek EP – 2014
  • Taking My Time – 2016
  • Wannamaker - 2016
  • Vernal EP – 2017
  • Embarcadero EP – 2017
  • Embarcadero EP (The Remixes) – 2017
  • Downpour EP – 2017
  • No Going Back (with ALPHA 9 aka ARTY) – 2018
  • Illusion of Perfection EP pt. 1 – 2018
  • Illusion of Perfection EP pt. 2 – 2018
  • Illusion of Perfection EP pt. 3 – 2018
  • Windows 95 on Acid EP – 2018
  • Long Way From Home (with Above & Beyond) – 2018
  • Star Allies (with Raito) – 2019
  • Sapporo EP (with Qrion) – 2019
  • Gatekeeper EP (with ilan Bluestone) – 2019
  • Womaa (with Wilt Claybourne) - 2020
  • Stream of Consciousness EP pt. 1 - 2020
  • Stream of Consciousness EP pt. 2 - 2020
  • Phases (with Ben Böhmer) - 2020
  • Ariel / Afterlife EP (with ALPHA 9) - 2020
  • Spiderman on Ambien / Stairs - 2020
  • Santorini (with Tony McGuinness from Above & Beyond - single from Anjunadeep Explorations 17) - 2021
  • Thanks, Guy - 2021
  • I Was Too Young For 90s Raves EP - 2021
  • Forbidden Flow / 18 Minute Loop - 2022

Remixes

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  • Henrik B, Niklas Gustavsson, Peter Johansson - Echoes (Spencer Brown Remix) - 2013
  • Boom Jinx & Meredith Call - The Dark (Spencer Brown Remix) - 2014
  • Lazy Rich & Special Features - Beginning Of The World (Spencer Brown Remix) - 2014
  • Oliver Smith - On The Moon (Spencer Brown Remix) - 2017
  • ilan Bluestone ft. Giuseppe De Luca - Frozen Ground (Spencer Brown Remix) - 2017
  • Andrew Rayel - Moments (Spencer Brown's Hypnotic Mix) - 2017
  • Seven Lions, Jason Ross, Paul Meany - Higher Love (Spencer Brown Remix) - 2017
  • Spencer Brown - 5th & Concord (Spencer Brown Club Mix) - 2017
  • Above & Beyond ft. Richard Bedford - Northern Soul (Spencer Brown Remix) - 2017
  • ilan Bluestone - Will We Remain (Spencer Brown Remix) - 2018
  • Gryffin ft. Elley Duhé - Tie Me Down (Spencer Brown's Ibiza Mix) - 2018
  • Qrion - 23 (Spencer Brown Remix) - 2019
  • deadmau5 - fn pig (ov) [Spencer Brown Remix] - 2019
  • Above & Beyond - Sun In Your Eyes (Spencer Brown Remix) - 2021
  • Jody Wisternoff, Mimi Page - For Those We Knew (Spencer Brown & Wilt Claybourne Mix) - 2020
  • Above & Beyond - Sun In Your Eyes (Spencer Brown Mix) - 2021
  • dubspeeka - Geb (Spencer Brown Rework) - 2021

References

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  1. ^ "Onofrio Spencer Jeffrey Bruno". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Spencer Brown Interview: Producer Talks Relationship With Avicii". Billboard. 2018-05-14. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  3. ^ "Let's Talk About: Spencer Brown | Interview". The Groove Cartel. 2018-05-16. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  4. ^ a b Kocay, Lisa. "Spencer Brown On Working With Avicii And His Debut Album 'Illusion Of Perfection'". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  5. ^ Gilmore, Grant (2018-08-06). "Spencer Brown Talks 'Illusion of Perfection', ABGT300, & More!". EDM Identity. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  6. ^ Middleton, Ryan (3 February 2020). "Album Review: Spencer Brown - Stream Of Consciousness [Anjunabeats]". Magnetic Magazine. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  7. ^ "Spencer Brown Takes Us Into A 'Stream of Consciousness' With New Mix Album". CULTR. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  8. ^ "Spencer Brown manifests complexity into flow state with, 'Stream of Consciousness' [Review/Q&A]". Dancing Astronaut. 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  9. ^ Rivas, Aimee (2020-02-03). "Spencer Brown Takes us on an Extraordinary Musical Journey with 'Stream of Consciousness'". Fresh Music Freaks. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  10. ^ "Spencer Brown Discusses The Inspiration Behind His "Stream Of Consciousness" Mix-Album". T.H.E - Music Essentials. 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  11. ^ "A 'Stream of Consciousness' Conversation with Spencer Brown". EDM Identity. 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  12. ^ "Spencer Brown Takes Us On a Progressive Journey Through New Releases, Tour Life, & Phoenix Lights Festival [Exclusive Interview] | RaverRafting". RaverRafting | We Are The Scene. 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  13. ^ "Spencer Brown Comes Out Gay; Says He No Longer Wants To 'Live In Fear'". On Top Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  14. ^ Lake, Erik (2018-06-20). "Spencer Brown's Forward Thinking Is Learning From The Past". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  15. ^ "Meet Spencer Bruno: Duke's superstar DJ signed with Avicii". Duke University. 2015-09-28. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  16. ^ Alzgheibi, Husam (2019-05-29). "[Interview] A Chat With Spencer Brown". EDMTunes. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  17. ^ Sierra, Matt (2019-06-03). "Spencer Brown Opens Up On Dealing With Stress, Music, And More". EDMTunes. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  18. ^ "Artist Biography by Marcy Donelson". allmusic.com/.
  19. ^ Ghanem, Louis (2018-11-23). "Above & Beyond's First Collab in 8 Years Coming November 30th". EDMTunes. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  20. ^ Lake, Erik (20 June 2018). "Spencer Brown's Forward Thinking Is Learning From The Past". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  21. ^ Kupka, Heather. "RB Exclusive Interview: Spencer Brown". Relentless Beats. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  22. ^ "Spencer Brown: Dance Producer Comes Out as Gay". Billboard. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  23. ^ "Spencer Brown toggles between the vintage and the modern on thematic 'I Was Too Young for 90s Raves' EP". Dancing Astronaut. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Stream it: Spencer Brown's rework of dubspeeka's 'Geb'". Dancing Astronaut. 2021-03-02. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  25. ^ a b Hudson, David (2020-06-30). "Dance music artist Spencer Brown comes out as gay". Queerty. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  26. ^ Hunt, Ryan (2020-02-06). "Celebrating Spencer Brown's second album years after rise to fame at the Gorge". Dance Music NW. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  27. ^ Lake, Erik (2020-01-31). "Anjunabeats Artist Spencer Brown's Album "Stream Of Consciousness" Debuts At #1". Trance Farm. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
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