Native to New Zealand, electro/hip-hop/pop outfit Rapture Ruckus is set to release their full-length debut with BEC Recordings on September 27, Open Your Eyes. A Dove-nominated and ensuring self-titled EP helped introduced the veteran producer/songwriter Brad Dring and his cohorts to American audiences, and now its first Stateside LP serves as the official culmination of the past ten years spent overseas. The debut single, “This Little Light,” can be heard here as well as the story behind the song here.
“We’ve been going for a long time and built up our audience back home. Now that we’re spending so much more time in America, it’s like starting from scratch meeting new people,” shares Dring. “We’ve got a very simple strategy and that’s to build it up organically the same way we did back home. We did 100 shows in America last year, are up to 130 this year and are always committed to taking a massive show with us wherever we go. Our goal in Rapture Ruckus is to lift people up from their burdens and leave our show feeling like a million bucks. We want people to hear our music and go away feeling better than when they came in.”
Though Rapture Ruckus’ live experience is nothing short of jaw dropping, the most important element is the music itself, which as Open Your Eyes so aptly relates, is a beat-driven blur between four on the floor dance grooves, explosive hip-hop and electronic pop, all wrapped around alternative rock attitude.
“If you listen to our older material, we started out as a straight up hip-hop group, but slowly evolved into more of the rock and pop side with a real British, electro glam aspect to what we do,” continues Dring. “It’s not rap and it’s not rock; it’s definitely it’s own thing. This is a full band with big ‘80s synths backed by big production both on the stage and in the recording studio.”
Though Rapture Ruckus self-produced much of Open Your Eyes, a scan through the new album’s credits also includes assistance from Family Force 5’s Solomon Olds and the Atlanta collective ZK Productions (Outkast, Cartel, Mayday Parade). Even Stu G, legendary guitarist for Delirious, pops up to lend his six string skills on several tracks.
“The album is about seeing the world through God’s eyes and realizing that there’s so much out there, whether it be beautiful or painful, that we can’t see with our own eyes,” confides Dring.
BEC Recordings’ Rapture Ruckus calls New Zealand home, and amongst the most devastating national disaster, Rapture Ruckus is asking fans to help give back. Rapture Ruckus, Brad Dring, talks about the decision to make the song “Hold On” available to share with friends and family.
“In our country's darkest hour we pray God’s light will shine brighter than ever before,” shared Brad Dring, Rapture Ruckus. “Over the last few days we've seen many people quoting lyrics from our song 'Hold On' on Facebook and other social networks. We are giving this free download of the song so you can share it with your friends or anyone you think it may help or encourage. We also hope that those of you unaffected by the earthquake would take this opportunity by donating to help rebuild the lives of those affected by this horrible tragedy.”
Fans can get the song “Hold On" on their Facebook here as well as donate to the New Zealand Salvation Army here.
The news of the earthquake came just after Rapture Ruckus returned from their stellar NZ tour with Newworldson and labelmate Manafest. The “Welcome To My Space Station” tour sold out in Wellington, Auckland, Palmerston North, Whangarei, and Cambridge. The tour also played at the historic venue in Christchurch, Majestic Theatre, where the Beatles once played. Tour production included 12 LED screens to make a 120 ft wide wall immersing the audience in a world of video and light - mimicking the control room of a space station. Rapture Ruckus has returned to the states and is currently touring with The Museum on the Not For Sale Freedom Tour.
In addition to the touring news, Rapture Ruckus was honored with their first GMA Dove Award nomination. The BEC Recordings’ self-titled debut was nominated for “Rap / Hip-Hop Album of the Year.” The awards will take place on Wednesday, April 20th in Atlanta, GA and will air on Easter Sunday on GMCtv on April 24th.
