Dance music enthusiasts, get ready for a momentous occasion as one of the genre’s most prolific acts steps into a new chapter of his career, backed by a legendary brand. Global Underground is reviving its iconic nubreed series, and they have enlisted the exceptional talent of San Francisco’s own Spencer Brown. Mark your calendars for October 16, as this highly anticipated release, nubreed 13, coincides with GU’s significant 30th anniversary celebrations.
The upcoming mix promises an auditory journey, presented as two distinct discs: one encapsulating a lighter, more uplifting vibe, and the other diving into darker, more introspective realms. What’s particularly exciting is that Spencer Brown has woven together tracks that span an impressive three decades of dance music history, alongside his own original productions. As someone who has followed Spencer’s artistic evolution for nearly a decade, I can confidently say that he possesses a unique prowess for storytelling through music. His continuous mixes stand out as his hallmark, and it’s difficult to express just how excited I am for this release.
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For over three decades, Global Underground has played an instrumental role in shaping the landscape of dance music. This year has been particularly vibrant for the label, featuring sold-out tours, the release of GU49: Dublin by Deep Dish, and the forthcoming THIRTY compilation. Their packed release calendar showcases the label’s enduring impact, even three decades into its journey. The nubreed series, known for spotlighting rising talents, continues this legacy with Brown’s carefully curated selection.
Spencer Brown isn’t a stranger to album formats, with all three of his previous LPs being entirely composed of his original productions. However, this mix project presents a refreshing departure, offering him a platform to juxtapose his music with the tracks that have influenced him along the way. In our interview last year, Brown shared insights into his creative process, where he emphasizes the importance of storytelling through a cohesive album experience. These principles are likely to be manifest in the dual albums, highlighting an intriguing blend of his style and the impactful music that has shaped his journey thus far.
Illusion of Perfection, Stream of Consciousness, Equanimity. Those all had a central theme that was getting pushed and pulled through, different vibes through each (…). So when I decide to start piecing [together an album], I realize that track A and track B and track F and track G, for instance, they all have something similar, or that B sounds really good with G, and F sounds really good with H, and I’m like “Okay, well actually this one sounds amazing before those four tracks.” It starts to piece together naturally, rather than forcing things together. That’s it to me, realizing the album has already been made; I just need to put the pieces together. That’s how they all came to be. I never sat down to make one; they just came together really.
– Spencer Brown, in our interview with him.
In addition to the release, a nubreed world tour is on the horizon, scheduled for late 2026 into early 2027. While dates and cities are yet to be confirmed, fans can undoubtedly anticipate a promotional blitz that celebrates both Brown’s new work and the legacy of the nubreed series.
nubreed 13 is available for pre-order now ahead of its October 16 release. The anticipation surrounding this project is palpable, and fans are eagerly counting down the days.
