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TRUTH is the stage name of the Christchurch, New Zealand dubstep duo composed of Andre Fernandez and Tristan Roake.
Truth | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Genres | Dubstep, Drum & Bass, Bass |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels |
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| Spinoffs | Shadow People |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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TRUTH have made significant strides in the dubstep scene since their formation in 2007, gaining recognition and a reputation for their signature deep, dark, and heavy sound characterized by intricate basslines and powerful drops. Their music often blends influences from dub, reggae, drum & bass and hip-hop.
TRUTH are known for their live performances & DJing as well and have toured extensively since the mid-2000s, including numerous North American, UK/EU & NZ/AUS tours, a tour of Latin America, and marquee festivals all around the world including Shambhala, Outlook, Electric Forest, Boomtown, Earth Frequency, Rabbits Eat Lettuce and more.
Now based in Portland, Oregon and Christchurch, NZ, TRUTH remain active in the global dubstep circuit, regularly performing and releasing new music, continuing to evolve their sound while staying true to their deep roots in the genre.
Career
editEstablishment and Early Years (2007-2010)
editInitial Breakthrough: TRUTH emerged onto the international dubstep scene in late 2007, when Mala of Digital Mystikz signed their debut single, The Fatman / Stolen Children, and released it in 2009 on his prestigious label, DEEP MEDi Musik. Described by Boomkat as "dark and immaculately executed”, the single (released as MEDi13x on 12" vinyl format.) established their reputation for producing dark, heavy, and meticulously crafted bass music.[1]
Early Beginning: After their initial success, TRUTH went on to release several EPs and singles that further solidified their standing within the dubstep world. Notable early tracks include The Future, Terror Planet, Amnesia, Wednesday, Stay, International, Revelation, Timeshift, and Hackerz to name a few.
Debut Album: In September 2010, Truth released their debut album, Puppets, through Sydney-based Aquatic Lab Records. The album received widespread critical acclaim, including a nomination for Best Dubstep Album at the 2011 DubstepForum Awards. Puppets was praised for its authentic dubstep sound, with reviews from outlets like Knowledge Magazine, who lauding the album for its representation of "dubstep in its purest form" and characterizing it as "spacious, sub-heavy and forward-thinking". Music Week described it as "an expansive listen that works as well on headphones as in a club".[2], while The New Zealand Herald branded Puppets "sinister yet soulful" praising its "beautifully brutal bass-laden beats".[3]
In April 2011, Truth released a New Zealand-only double-CD version of Puppets. It included a bonus disc of remixes, previously unreleased material and a 35-minute mix of music from the album. The group stated that all proceeds from sales would go directly to charities involved with rebuilding Christchurch following the earthquake of February 2011.
In early 2011, Julian Van Auden left the group and now performs solo under the moniker Gamble[citation needed].
Expanding Influence and Discography (2011-2016)
editThe period between 2011 and 2016 was pivotal for TRUTH, as it marked a time of significant growth, both in terms of their music releases & touring, as the birth of their label. The duo cemented their reputation as key figures in the genre, and their work during these years has had a lasting impact on both their career and the broader bass music landscape.
Sophomore Album: Following debut album Puppets in 2010, TRUTH released their second full-length album Love’s Shadow in 2012.
Singles and EP's: During this period, TRUTH released a series of singles and EPs that maintained their presence & momentum in the scene. Notable releases include:
- The Emperor (2011): Released on N-Type's Wheel & Deal Records.
- Redlight (2012): Released on J:Kenzo's seminal Artikal Music imprint.
- Devil’s Hands EP (2013): Released on iconic dubstep label Tempa, Devil’s Hand was a standout track that emphasized TRUTH’s mastery of dark, brooding dubstep, and quickly became a key release in their catalog. Seeing broader commercial success, Devil's Hands went on to be featured in cable network FX's wildly successful American Horror Story series.[4][5]
- 30,000 Ft EP (2014): Released on Mala's Deep Medi Musik label.
- How Strange EP (2014): Released on Tempa Recordings, the EP presented some of Truth's most haunting offerings, with title track How Strange opening with eerie, ethereal vocals layered over dark, brooding sub-bass. Hypnotic, haunting atmosphere.
- Undeniable EP (2014): Undeniable was the debut EP on Truth's newly formed label, Deep, Dark & Dangerous, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their career as label heads. The EP showcased their signature deep, atmospheric sound, blending minimalistic production with heavy basslines. The immersive, subtle nature of Undeniable helped set the tone for the label, which would go on to become a prominent platform for dark, experimental dubstep.
- The Ark EP (2015): Released in 2015 on Firepower Records, this EP represented a unique blend of Truth's deep dubstep sound with broader musical experimentation. The EP received critical acclaim for its ability to balance dark, atmospheric dubstep with more diverse influences, such as house and beat-driven tracks. VICE's THUMP commented, that “Berlin,” for example, is an Ibiza-ready house tune, whereas “Come to Mind” featuring Lelijveld is a beat scene classic that wouldn’t seem out of sorts at Low End Theory.[6]
- Devils Game EP (2015): Released on their own Deep, Dark & Dangerous label imprint, this EP further explored their signature dark and minimal sound.
Deep, Dark & Dangerous Label
editIn 2012, the two members of Truth established the record label Deep, Dark & Dangerous. The label primarily includes dubstep artists and releases.
Discography
edit| Release date | Label | Cat# | Artist(s) | Release name | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Deep Medi Musik | MEDI-013 | TRUTH | The Fatman / Stolen Children | 12" / WEB |
| 2009 | Optimus Gryme Recordings | OG12002 | Optimus Gryme & Truth | The Immortal Truth | 12" / WEB |
| 2009 | Aquatic Lab | LAB006 | TRUTH | Terror Planet | 12" |
| 2009 | Aquatic Lab | LAB007 | TRUTH | Revelations | 12" |
| 2010 | Aquatic Lab | LABCD002 | TRUTH | Puppets | CD / WEB |
| 2010 | Deep Medi Musik | MEDI-32 | TRUTH | Amnesia / International | 12" / WEB |
| 2010 | Disfigured Dubz | DISF010 | TRUTH | Stranger Than Fiction | 12" / WEB |
| 2010 | Argon | ARG031 | TRUTH & Dutty Ranks | Bombay Sapphire / Worlds Apart | 12" / WEB |
| 2010 | Boka Records | BOKA027 | TRUTH | Timeshift / Hackerz | 12" |
| 2010 | Aquatic Lab | LAB010 | TRUTH | Burglar / Dead Silence | 12" |
| 2010 | Aquatic Lab | LAB011 | TRUTH | Juno / Under Current | 12" |
| 2011 | Wheel & Deal | WHEELYDEALY022 | TRUTH | The Emperor | 12" / WEB |
| 2011 | Deep Medi Musik | MEDI-39 | TRUTH | Fatman VIP | 12" |
| 2011 | GetDarker | GDKR003 | TRUTH | Direct Blow / Snake | 12" |
| 2011 | Black Box | BLACKBOX019 | TRUTH | Full Baked / Birds | 12" |
| 2012 | Boka Records | BOKA039 | TRUTH | Insanity / Skitzo | 12" |
| 2012 | Tempa | TEMPA065 | TRUTH | Dreams / Last Time | 12" / WEB |
| 2012 | Artikal Music UK | ARTKL003 | TRUTH | Babylon London | 12" / WEB |
| 2012 | Love Sick Recordings | LUVSIC002 | TRUTH / Riskotheque & Marchmellow | Don't Explain / 1-800-Love | 12" |
| 2012 | Moonshine Recordings | MS009 | Babylon System vs. TRUTH | Babylon War | 12" / WEB |
| 2012 | Tuba Records | TUBA003 | TRUTH | All Alone / Good & Evil | 12" |
| 2013 | Tempa | TEMPA076 | TRUTH | Devil's Hands | 12" / WEB |
| 2013 | Tempa | TEMPA082 | TRUTH | Chicks & Drugs / Empire | 12" / WEB |
| 2013 | New Moon Recordings | NMN007 | TRUTH | Iron Lung / Medusa | 12" |
| 2014 | Tempa | TEMPA095 | TRUTH | TRUTH / J:Kenzo | 12" / WEB |
| 2014 | Deep Medi Musik | MEDI-81 | TRUTH | 30,000ft | 12" / WEB |
| 2014 | Tempa | TEMPA085 | TRUTH | How Strange | 12" / WEB |
| 2014 | Deep, Dark and Dangerous | DDD01 | TRUTH | Undeniable | 12" / WEB |
| 2015 | Firepower Records | POW096 | TRUTH | The Ark | 12" / WEB |
| 2016 | Deep, Dark and Dangerous | DDD003 | TRUTH | Devils Game | 12" / WEB |
| 2016 | Deep Medi Musik | MEDI-92 | TRUTH | War Of The Minds | 12" / WEB |
| 2017 | Deep Medi Musik | MEDI-98 | TRUTH | Lion | 12" / WEB |
| 2017 | Uprise Audio | UALPS007 | Seven / TRUTH / Juss B | Bangbadem / Sour Power | 12" |
| 2017 | Deep, Dark and Dangerous | DDD018 | Sectra, TRUTH | Lucid Dreams | WEB |
| 2018 | Deep, Dark and Dangerous | DDD036 | TRUTH | Mushrooms | 12" / WEB |
| 2018 | Deep, Dark and Dangerous | DDD044 | TRUTH | Lurker | 12" / WEB |
| 2018 | Deep, Dark and Dangerous | DDD034 | Truth, Stylust Beats, Youngsta | Freakshow | WEB |
| 2018 | Disciple | DISC095 | The Upbeats, TRUTH | The Pack | WEB |
| 2019 | Wakaan | DDDWAKAAN | TRUTH | The Unexpected | 12" / WEB |
| 2019 | UKF Music | UKFTEN008 | TRUTH | Pixelated Pixie | WEB |
| 2019 | Deep, Dark and Dangerous | DDD046 | TRUTH, Lelijveld | Tears | WEB |
References
edit- ^ "Truth - The Fatman". Boomkat. 21 January 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ Music Week, The Panel September 2010
- ^ Scott Kara, The New Zealand Herald, "Truth, Puppets review" September 2010
- ^ "Listen to Music from FX's American Horror Story: Coven". FX Networks.
- ^ ""American Horror Story" Boy Parts (TV Episode 2013) - Soundtracks". IMDB.
- ^ Khawaja, Jemayel (16 March 2015). "Deep Dubstep Stalwarts Truth Expand Their Sound into House and Beat Scene on 'The Ark' EP". VICE.
External links
edit- Official website
- Truth discography at Discogs