The collaboration between in fl uential DJ/producer Eli Escobar and acclaimed vocalist/songwriter Nomi Ruiz has been a long time in the making. The two Puerto Rican New York native’s fi rst collaboration, the electrifying track ‘Desire’ in 2011, set the stage for a series of projects, including their recent joint e ff ort ‘Dance 4 Love ’99’. Now, they are set to release their debut LP, ‘Love Louder’.
‘Love Louder’ captures Eli and Nomi’s experiences of love and loss, re fl ecting their enduring connection to New York City and its vibrant, yet fading, nightlife culture. The album, while featuring dance fl oor gems like ‘Heathens’ and ‘Full Fantasy’, takes an emotional turn, focusing on the themes of loss and presence in a rapidly changing world. The title track opens with lyrics invoking the late Donny Hathaway, re fl ecting a more profound introspection from the duo. They share their pain over loss, particularly the passing of mutual friend James Dewitt (DJ BluJemz), whose absence profoundly a ff ected their creative process.
Escobar recently opened a club in Brooklyn named Gabriela, honoring a friend who passed away during the pandemic, emphasizing their commitment to preserving New York's cultural landscape. ‘Love Louder’ serves as a love letter to their hometown, intertwining celebration with mourning. In the poignant track ‘Go Be Gone’, Ruiz expresses the di ffi culty of embracing change and saying goodbye.
As they honor the past, they also aim for a brighter future through their music.
The collaboration between in fl uential DJ/producer Eli Escobar and acclaimed vocalist/songwriter Nomi Ruiz has been a long time in the making. The two Puerto Rican New York native’s fi rst collaboration, the electrifying track ‘Desire’ in 2011, set the stage for a series of projects, including their recent joint e ff ort ‘Dance 4 Love ’99’. Now, they are set to release their debut LP, ‘Love Louder’.
‘Love Louder’ captures Eli and Nomi’s experiences of love and loss, re fl ecting their enduring connection to New York City and its vibrant, yet fading, nightlife culture. The album, while featuring dance fl oor gems like ‘Heathens’ and ‘Full Fantasy’, takes an emotional turn, focusing on the themes of loss and presence in a rapidly changing world. The title track opens with lyrics invoking the late Donny Hathaway, re fl ecting a more profound introspection from the duo. They share their pain over loss, particularly the passing of mutual friend James Dewitt (DJ BluJemz), whose absence profoundly a ff ected their creative process.
Escobar recently opened a club in Brooklyn named Gabriela, honoring a friend who passed away during the pandemic, emphasizing their commitment to preserving New York's cultural landscape. ‘Love Louder’ serves as a love letter to their hometown, intertwining celebration with mourning. In the poignant track ‘Go Be Gone’, Ruiz expresses the di ffi culty of embracing change and saying goodbye.
As they honor the past, they also aim for a brighter future through their music.
