San Francisco based DJ/producer, Spencer Brown has been on the rise since first getting discovered by the late Avicii‘s manager in 2014. His sound and artistry has evolved over the years, always progressing, but never catering to “one genre,” hence his ever-growing discography across many notable labels, including LE7ELS, Anjunabeats, and mau5trap.
2018 was a major breakout year for the talented artist. Besides joining the legendary Above & Beyond on their worldwide Common Ground tour, he released what we believe was his best work to date, his debut, full-length album, Illusion of Perfection. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, 2018 was the year of Spencer Brown. Now, after getting the opportunity to chat with him at Phoenix Lights festival, we believe he’s taking that title into 2019. Keep on reading and you’ll understand why.
Welcome back to Phoenix! How was your set at Phoenix Lights today?
Spencer Brown: Awesome. I love Phoenix crowds because they’re always so open-minded. You can play techno, you can play trance, you can play progressive house, you can touch on a little of everything and everyone is really dancing and vibing out on the dance floor. Last time I was here was at Shady Park, it’s a beautiful outdoor venue here, similar thing. Amazing crowd. They always bring really good energy and it’s a blast to be back!
We saw you open for Above & Beyond on their Common Ground tour, (The Phoenix show was incredible btw.) Can you tell us what it was like touring with the legendary producers?
Spencer Brown: It was such a dream come true because I was a fan of Above & Beyond for many years. And then getting to go on tour with them, living on a bus with them for like five or six months across North America, across Europe, across Australia. It is a dream come true. I think they’re great mentors. They taught me a lot about the industry, how to play shows, and how to be healthy on the rode. I’ve taken a lot of lessons, not only just in music, but how to be healthy when you tour and how to stay sane in this crazy, crazy world. You know, they’ve been at it for over 20 years and they’re all doing so well. I was trying to watch them and see how they do it. They’re not only great musicians and not only a blast from the music side. It was a blast, also, because they’re great life coaches and mentors.
Was Common Ground your first big tour or have you been a part of other major tours?
Spencer Brown: My first tour was actually a tour with Avicii in 2014, his True tour. I met his manager on Facebook. I sent some demos and the next thing I knew, I was flying out to Stockholm. He was like, “Tim really likes your music and he wants to put it out. Do you want to go on tour with him kinda thing?” So we toured across North America together. That was a pretty fun time. I didn’t quite know who I was as an artist back then, but it was a great experience. I think once I started to get more of a vision of what I wanted to do and what I wanted to accomplish as an artist, the Above & Beyond tour really helped solidify that exposure to the right crowd. From the Avicii tour, I definitely got some fans, some that are still sticking around right now, but a lot of the people I was playing to, really wanted pop music, but I thought it was really important to stay true to who I am. I was playing progressive and techno, you know, before Avicii, at an Avicii show. It was pretty bold (laughs.) Not everyone loved it, but some people did and I feel like I converted some people, so that’s pretty cool.
You really made your mark last year with the release of your first full-length album, Illusion of Perfection. Do you have another album currently in the works?
Spencer Brown: I have a single coming out on mau5trap very soon (take a listen down below.) It’s a techno song with a very talented French producer I met. His name is Raito. I also have some tracks on Anjunadeep coming out in a couple of months, which will be really exciting because I like to kinda diversify. In a longer set, 3 hour set or something, I’ll be playing some deep house, I’ll be playing some progressive, I’ll be playing some house, I’ll be playing some techno, I’ll be playing some trance. When you have a long set, you have room to experiment a little bit. And since I like to play my own music in my sets, I kinda have to write all these different tracks, this repertoire of weapons for the dance floor. That’s why we’re doing a techno release, a deep house release.
I’m working on my second album right now. I’m very very excited. Can’t say too much more than that, but it will be a mix album, like my first album. I’ve been putting a lot of work and effort and think it’s even better than my first album.
That’s amazing, we can’t wait to hear the new album! So you’ve mentioned all of these various genres that you like to experiment with, is there one that you seem to gravitate more towards in your sets?
Spencer Brown: At the end of the day, it’s all progressive. There’s progressive house, progressive trance, progressive techno, it all builds on themes, where track to track, the groove builds on to the next track. It’s all about progression of the set. I would say it’s mostly a house beat, but it’s really melodic. It’s not purely house music. It’s trance-influenced house with a techno backbone and deep house influence.
I try to do a little bit of everything. I feel like once you start getting boxed into a certain style or genre, it’s kinda limiting in a way. If you’re always doing a little bit of everything, no one’s gonna be shocked. The fact that I’m putting out an Anjunadeep EP soon, which is really deep house, 120-122 bpm stuff. It’s not festival music, by any means. I know people aren’t going to be like “oh, why aren’t you putting out something trance?” Because from the start, it’s always been, doing a little of everything. I don’t see people saying, “this is not like your old stuff,” but more like, “oh, he’s trying something new here.”
That’s great! That is definitely “goals” as an artist. Do you have any big festivals coming up soon, besides this one?
Spencer Brown: Hmm let me think about what’s been announced. I am playing Creamfields in the UK. I have another major festival in Europe. I don’t think it’s been announced, so I can’t say, but I’m honored to be there because I used to watch the livestream growing up. I just came off a really heavy period of touring, so we’re gonna do a little more international touring for the rest of the year. In three days, I’m off to Australia for my first headline Australia tour, which is gonna be an absolute blast. Tickets are flying off the shelves. I think the shows are gonna be incredible.
It’s really an honor to have fans on the other side of the world who are connected to my music. I’m making this music in my bedroom in San Francisco and these random people in like Sydney, Australia, it’s like their favorite song or favorite album of the year. It’s crazy to me. It’s an honor. This was my goal since I was young kid, resonating my music with people around the world and it’s crazy that my dream is coming true. I feel so grateful for it.
Congratulations on all your success! To close this off, is there anything you’d like to tell your fans?
Spencer Brown: I really appreciate all the support so far and you’re about to hear the best music I’ve put out in my career, so get ready for it.
You heard it here, RaverRafters! Get ready for some amazing new music!
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