ANiML is not just a music project but a living, breathing art organism that challenges perceptions of sound, identity, and collective experience. This is demonstrated by the latest release the producer, who works anonymously, is presenting today: Breather and Bruv. Delivered by the percolating Los Angeles-based independent record label StrataSonic, the two-track body of the equally enigmatic artist illustrates time-lost transmissions of sophisticated yet hallucinogenic instrumentation and percussion that could belong in upscale jazz clubs or woozy after-hours sessions.
ANiML's return to StrataSonic, which was created to empower artists and explore the depths of their musical expression free from the confines of genre, marks their second-ever release. Invoking shades of prime 90s trip-hop like DJ Shadow and Portishead, Breather and Bruv are the building blocks for a larger, upcoming body of work by ANiML, set for release in early 2025 alongside a vinyl release, video, and extras. Breather comes along with a hypnotic video by acclaimed director Ruffmercy that melds raw human performance with his signature hand-drawn animation to mirror the track's emotional depths.
“Working on the video was a rewarding experience all around as the whole team killed it, particularly with StrataSonic's Creative Director Jesse Rogg, whose strong visual references and shared appreciation for standout music videos made for a seamless collaboration,” RUFFMERCY said when asked about their collaboration with the independent record label recognised by both mainstream and underground tastemakers alike and whose home is the state-of-the-art recording studios helmed by the label's in-house producers and has become the music industry's best-kept secret. “Breather immediately caught my attention with its distinctive beat, and I knew I had to make a video for it. You just know when you are the perfect fit for a track, and this was one of them.
