Aruba Red

Aruba Red (born in Stuttgart as Natascha Eleonoré Bruce) is a British, London-based alt-soul and trip hop musician, named after a female pirate legend.[1] Aruba Red's music has been said to cross traditional boundaries,[2] she has described her sound as "Alternative Soul music centred around themes of transformation and healing, influenced by trip hop, minimalist electronica, glitch, soul, acoustic folk and dub".[3] She is also the daughter of Cream bassist, vocalist and songwriter Jack Bruce[4] and recorded backing vocals for his last album Silver Rails which was released on 24 March 2014 on Esoteric Records.[5] Her lyrics have been said to be passionate and intelligent, dealing with emotive subject matter.[6] and "providing a campfire for anyone who needs to feel the warmth".[7]

Aruba Red
Aruba Red performing live at the Royal Festival Hall.
Background information
Birth nameNatascha Eleonoré Bruce
BornStuttgart
GenresTrip hop, dub, acoustic, experimental, electronica, downtempo, glitch
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, lyricist, public speaker, writer, women's wellness circle facilitator
InstrumentsVocals, cello, percussion, electronics
Years active2008 – present
LabelsIndependent Artist
Associated actsRiz MC, Jah Cure, Natty, Maverick Sabre, Plan B, Jack Bruce
Websitewww.arubaredmusic.com

Biography

Aruba Red first appeared as a featured artist on Nitin Sawhney's album London Undersound released on Cooking Vinyl in 2008, on the track Last Train to Midnight which she co-wrote. This collaboration was born out of Aruba Red being selected to work on Sawhney's project Aftershock London which led to an 18-month residency at London's Southbank Centre with artists including Camilo Tirado, Riz MC, Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Sam Carter.[8]

Other collaborations and features include Riz MC's All of You which also features Plan B. Aruba Red is rumoured to be appearing on some of Riz MC's forthcoming material due for release on Brighton based independent record label Tru Thoughts[9] She also collaborated with Jamaican Reggae Artist Jah Cure on her track Light Up Light Up released on the Jamaican record label TAD's which was play listed on Irie FM[10] alongside her collaboration Struggling with Reggae artist Jah Mason.[10] A video was shot for Light Up Light Up in Montego Bay.[11] The video was directed by Aruba Red's sister Kyla Simone Bruce who also directed the video for "Never Die" which was shot at Boardmasters Festival in 2012.

Artists Aruba Red has toured with include Maverick Sabre, Natty, Fat Freddy's Drop and Ms. Dynamite.[12][2] Aruba Red has performed at festivals including Glastonbury Festival, Boardmasters Festival, Big Chill Festival, Freeze Festival, One Love Festival, Rise Festival, and Thailand's International Hot Air Balloon Festival.[13]

In 2012, Aruba Red released an EP entitled "Demos In Disguise" independently via Ditto Music. Initially the release was only available in digital format, a physical edition was later made available in 2013 featuring several bonus tracks.[14] The digital version of the release features 5 original songs whereas the limited Red String physical edition features 8 original tracks and an acoustic mashup cover version of Nirvana's song Something in the Way and Ladysmith Black Mambazo's Homeless. There is also a live performance version of this cover featuring guitarist Charlie Laffer and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson: Aruba Red - Something In The Way (Nirvana) vs Homeless (Ladysmith Black Mambazo).

In March 2014, Aruba Red released a free download on her SoundCloud page, a cover of John Legend's "Set Me Free".

In March 2015, Aruba Red was featured on 'Rip Me', a song released by 'Halflife', the collaborative project between Riz MC and dubstep producer DJ Distance.[15] In the same month, Aruba also wrote and recorded an exclusive song with Nitin Sawhney for Sawhney's BBC Radio 2 show 'Spins The Globe'. The track 'Fractured Heart' was written about the last few days Aruba spent with her late father Jack Bruce before his death on 25 October 2014.[16]

On 24 October 2015, Aruba Red performed at her father's tribute concert 'Sunshine Of Your Love - A Concert Celebrating the Life and Music of Jack Bruce' which she co-produced with Nitin Sawhney. The event featured artists including Joss Stone, Ginger Baker, Ian Anderson, Mark King, Liam Bailey and others. Aruba Red sang "We're Going Wrong" and "Folksong". Over £30,000 was raised for Bruce's local children's hospice EACH.[17]

After taking a hiatus from making music professionally, losing her father and becoming a mother, on 31 August 2018, Aruba Red made her comeback releasing an EP entitled "Holy Waters" independently via Ditto Music. The EP reached number 7 in the Top 10 iTunes Soul / RnB chart on its release date [18] The comeback was received positively with Aruba Red being said to have "Redefined tragedy and trauma with beautifully evocative creations becoming her mantra, with the artist taking the firestorm and creating a spellbinding, sensual rebirth." - Darryl Sterdan [19] and The Filtered Excellence wrote "As she ascended in during the early part of her career, the talent and the promise was always apparent. Now we are seeing it in full bloom. A much welcomed return."[20] MixMag awarded the EP 9/10 and named it Tune Of The Month for November 2018 "A Soulful Awakening, worth the wait" – Chantelle Fiddy,[21] and music blog Mystic Sons described the project as "a bold and atmospheric RnB delight."[22]

The EP features guest production from Nitin Sawhney and guitar by Phil Manzanera[19]

On 19 September online music magazine Tinnitist premiered the first music video from Holy Waters entitled "Goddess Vibes". The video became the website's most viewed song of 2018.[23]

Aruba Red signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music on 8 November 2018 [24]

In June 2019, Aruba Red was awarded the 'Transmission Fund Grant' by Help Musicians UK to support the writing of her new album [25]

On 2 November 2019, Aruba Red spoke at BBC Introducing Live on a panel discussing mental health in the music industry and in December 2019 she featured on the Elevate Music Podcast, discussing inter-generational patterns around addiction and co-dependency.[26]

On New Year's Day 2020, Aruba Red released a visual for her song "Violet Electric feat.Phil Manzanera [27]

In February 2020 Aruba Red released her live video Blue filmed at The Vortex Jazz Club on Blue Monday [28] and was interview on BBC Radio Sussex about her own experiences battling depression and escaping an abusive relationship and using art to heal.[29]

On 6 March 2020, Aruba Red released her critically acclaimed EP Shadow Work, "Aruba Red has created a great selection of songs on Shadow Work that can comfort, console, and give hope to anyone. Licks of Erykah Badu, Prince, Nitin Sawhney (a mentor to Aruba Red) and Portishead all coalesce to make a delightful mix.[30] "All of these emotions are skilfully reflected in the musical composition and arrangement, fitting together in perfect harmony. It’s a remarkable project from this remarkable talent. Red has indeed used her blue for painting. And it’s a masterpiece" [31] "Aruba Red has crafted a sensual late night alt-soul soundtrack of reflection" [32] This release was followed with Aruba Red's debut headline concert at St Pancras Old Church on 11 March. "In this intimate, part-candlelit venue, there’s a subtle smell of incense, flickering shadows and the sense of a new spiritual awakening. There’s a new spirit of hope and redemption."[33]

On 27 April 2020, Aruba Red launched her 'Meditation Mondays' series on instagram [34] after hosting a guided meditation for the shesaid.so collective.[35]

References
  1. Dennis, Amy (19 August 2010). "Interview With Dub Reggae Star Aruba Red", CornwallsCoolest.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2016. "... the fresh, soulful and rebellious songstress Aruba Red (who is touring in the right part of the world considering she is aptly named after a female pirate legend) has just finished touring Cornwall including a performance at the SAS Ball."
  3. "Interview With Dub Reggae Star Aruba Red | Cornwalls Coolest". Web.archive.org. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  4. "Epiphone-Supports-The-Big-O-Birthday-Bash". Epiphone.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Niji Magazine | Aruba Red releases nostalgic visuals for 'Forever Summer'". Nijimagazine.com. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  9. "Lisa Jenkins, Author at God Is In The TV | Page 2 of 29".
  10. "Digitalgig.co.uk - Aruba Red - Issue 3 - Page 1". Web.archive.org. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  11. "Aruba Red - 'Light Up Light Up' feat. Jah Cure". Youtube.com.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Aruba Red Shows". ReverbNation.
  14. Red, Aruba. "Limited Edition 'Red String' Demos In Disguise CD". Arubared.bigcartel.com.
  15. "Halflife – "Rip Me"". Stereogum.com. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  16. "BBC Radio 2 - Nitin Sawhney Spins the Globe, Nitin Sawhney & Aruba Red - Fractured Heart". BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  17. "StackPath". Each.org.uk.
  18. "Niji Magazine | 'Holy Waters' is the new EP from Aruba Red". Nijimagazine.com. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  19. Sterdan, Darryl (19 September 2018). "Aruba Red | Goddess Vibes: Exclusive Video Premiere!". Tinnitist.
  20. Douglas, Earl (30 August 2018). "The Filtered Excellence: August 30, 2018". Theinterrobang.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  21. "chantelle fiddy on Instagram: "New @mixmag out now 🌈💥"". Instagram.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  22. "NEW MUSIC DISCOVERY - 23.11.18 | Mystic Sons". Mysticsons.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  23. Sterdan, Darryl (23 December 2018). "2018 in Review | Tinnitist's Top Videos". Tinnitist.com.
  24. "Aruba Red on Instagram: "Holy Waters did it! Turned dark energy into light... yesterday I signed my global publishing deal with @warner_chappelluk 🎉😅 sharing this…"". Instagram.
  25. "Help Musicians | Latest Transmission Fund awardees go overseas for professional development opportunities". Helpmusicians.org.uk.
  26. "Aruba Red - Profile". Pennyblackmusic.co.uk.
  29. "Aruba Red". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  30. Walsh, Dominic (1 March 2020). "Aruba Red - Shadow Work: EP Review". At The Barrier.
  31. "Aruba Red - Shadow Work EP - Review". Pauzeradio.com. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  32. "Shadow Work - Aruba Red". Spiral Earth. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  33. "Aruba Red, St Pancras Old Church London". Morning Star. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  34. "Aruba Red on Instagram: "A couple of weeks ago I was asked to host a guided meditation for @shesaid.so. It really helped me push through my resistance of connecting…"". Instagram.com. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
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