Hailing from Panama City, Panama, Bruce Zalcer is one of the most exciting, rising artists on the melodic/techno circuit. From being involved in music at a very early age, playing violin and piano by age 6, at age 12 he would play in his very first rock band. His ability to play a multitude of instruments is clear in his productions, and his use of a lot of hardware creates a unique analogue sound.
Since the age of 17, Zalcer has been DJing, where it had remained a hobby until 2018 when he made the decision to re-enter the industry. Since then, he has played in South America and Europe, racking up releases on respected imprints like Tronic, Suara, Kneaded Pains, and VOLTA.
On 28th October, Bruce Zalcer made his highly anticipated debut on Victor Ruiz’s well-respected VOLTA label with a stunning 2-track EP ‘Catharsis’. The EP is a two-sided ode to Bruce’s dynamic production style, exploring the vast expanse of dark, melodic techno, with a sprinkling of trance influence in there.
The A-Side, Catharsis, is an ethereal, atmospheric record. Sitting somewhere between progressive, melodic, and techno, the thumping kicks and echoing vocal chops create a real sense of drama. The breakdown lifts you up, creating real anticipation for the drop, as a gritty synth roars above the pumping kicks and rolling bassline.
The B-side, Truly Yours, is a haunting techno stomper, with punchy drums and a celestial feel. Bruce has brilliant placement in regards to his vocal work, with small teasers at the beginning and building throughout. The track locks you fully into its groove, while the main melody is unexpected on the drop – taking you in to overdrive!
Speaking on the EP, Bruce said:
Catharsis is a peak time banger perfect for any part of a set. It’s a track that takes me back to when I started producing in the way it’s conceptualized. It begins with a passive, emotive and pensive aspect. Then evolves with the break until an aggressive, strong payback is introduced with the drop. I feel as if it’s a portrayal of a person who’s contemplating or introspecting on a conflicting issue until it makes the decision to take decisive action. Many of my earlier tracks had this similar concept, so I feel it’s like returning to those times. I’ve been playing this track for a couple of months and the reception on the dance floor has been great every time.
Bruce Zalcer
Truly Yours is a track I’ve been playing for longer. I try to use it to close my sets. It’s the more melodic, bucolic of the two, but still has a very strong transition from the break to the drop. It gives the impression of being a slower track but it really works wonders on the dance floor. I really like the vocals in this track, which are more like a hum or non lexical vocals which can be very hypnotic. When I play it, I see the the crowd expecting a slow outro, or end of the set, and then the drop just hits everyone by surprise, creating that much loved contrast and making everyone dance again.
Bruce Zalcer
Catharsis EP is out now on VOLTA. To listen, stream, or purchase – head here!
To follow Bruce Zalcer, head here!
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