Cork City based producer Ruairi Lynch, aka Bantum is thrilled to announce the release of his new self-titled album, ‘Bantum’ set to drop on October 3rd, 2024. His third album after Legion (2012) and Move (2016) marks a return to his electronic roots while incorporating a diverse range of influences across multiple genres. In anticipation of the album, Bantum shares the first single titled ‘Bamboo’ out now (September 5th, 2024).
Official video ‘Bamboo’:
https://youtu.be/w-baVbObvu4?si=2mf4CLDV2yrY9HBt
In collaboration with Bantum, Abe Neihum created a surreal and visually captivating music video, blending organic elements with ethereal visuals. Inspired by his work on Farah Elle’s “Desert” video, Neihum’s signature style of abstract storytelling and symbolism takes center stage. The recurring motif of a flaming rooster emerging from fire rings, a nod to Bantum’s album art, symbolises rebirth and transformation, while the bamboo forest backdrop and cyclical narrative echo themes of identity and change.
ABOUT THE FORTHCOMING ALBUM:
Known for collaborating with and producing artists across the country spanning multiple genres, Bantum has decided to go solo with this 8-track instrumental record.
Blending elements of electronic dance beats, old school funk bass and electric guitars, driving house rhythms and hip-hop samples, each track offers a unique sonic take while blending seamlessly with the other. Known for his innovative approach to electronic music, Bantum continues to push boundaries here, blending genres and styles to create a distinctive and immersive mix.
Speaking about the forthcoming release, Bantum expressed his excitement, stating, “Having consistently released music every year since I began producing, I really was not expecting to have an album’s worth of material for this year. I made a conscious decision to return to where I started in terms of instrumental music, and once I set myself the challenge everything came together naturally.
I gathered a ton of ideas and gradually started to mold them together into a cohesive set of songs, almost like a mixtape. A common thread throughout is guitar, bass and piano effects used on previous releases and funk beats/samples gathered over years of work. Bringing these elements together was probably the most fun I’ve had on a release in years. Each track represents a piece of the musical journey I’ve been on over the past year and I can’t wait for people to hear it. Though this is a solo album I took direct influence and inspiration from working with Daithi (Daithi/Houseplants) and Mark O’Brien (Royal Yellow/Enemies) in West Clare alongside working with my friends Jack O’Rourke, Suil Amhain and Callas in Cork. I’ve never pinned myself down to one genre here, and I think that contributes directly to my own sound in a way. As always, I have collaborated with Shane O’Driscoll for the artwork which references J Dilla’s Donuts album cover alongside a number of French house influences like DJ Mehdi and Cassius in particular. I’m also really excited to work with longtime friend and collaborator Abe Neihum who will be creating visuals for a number of album tracks, starting with Bamboo.”
Bantum. by Bantum is scheduled to be released on October 3rd, 2024, and will be available on all major streaming platforms. The album’s release will be accompanied by artwork by Shane O’Driscoll and visuals created by Abe Neihum.
Bantum website: bantumsound.com
Bantum on Instagram: instagram.com/bantumruairi/
Bantum on Twitter: twitter.com/RuairiLBantum
Bantum on YouTube: youtube.com/user/BantumMusic