Brazilian-born, Lisbon-based artist Victor Ruiz has released his debut album, VICTOR, on his own VOLTA label, a project that sees him move beyond the techno foundations that established his reputation.
Following on from the release of four singles – Silence, Alone, Sundance, featuring Perry Farrell, and Technicolor – the 14-track album incorporates elements of melodic electronica, house, breakbeat, ambient music and cinematic composition, and has been positioned as a continuous listening experience, rather than a series of individual tracks.
‘At the heart of VICTOR lies a simple yet confronting idea: you are either shaped by the world around you, or you choose to shape yourself within it,’ as a press release put it. ‘Ruiz traces that movement from unconscious reaction to conscious direction. Pressure gives way to isolation, isolation to awakening, awakening to confrontation, until eventually every contradiction settles into something more complete.
‘This is not an album about perfection or resolution, but about authorship – the point where identity is no longer inherited, questioned or negotiated, but wholly owned.’
The album also features a number of collaborations – as well as Sundance, with Perry Farrell, the track Nature Rewards Courage sees Ruiz team up with Echo Romeo, while the piano-led Better Days features Luke Cusato. Also featuring are Skyfall, created alongside Enrico Minelli, and the album’s closer, The Great Mystery, which features spoken-word contributions from spiritual teacher Ram Dass.
VICTOR is available now on streaming platforms via VOLTA Records – check it out here.
Tracklisting
1 – Victor Ruiz – 110889
2 – Victor Ruiz – Silence
3 – Victor Ruiz – Alone
4 – Victor Ruiz – Sundance (with Perry Farrell)
5 – Victor Ruiz – Nature Rewards Courage (feat. Echo Romeo)
6 – Victor Ruiz – The Secret
7 – Victor Ruiz – Better Days (with Luke Cusato)
8 – Victor Ruiz – When Words Fail…
9 – Victor Ruiz – Skyfall (with Enrico Minelli)
10 – Victor Ruiz – Running
11 – Victor Ruiz – You Deserve It All (with Tao Andra)
12 – Victor Ruiz – Technicolor
13 – Victor Ruiz – Life Is But A Dream
14 – Victor Ruiz – The Great Mystery (with Ram Dass)
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