The Electro Funk wizard, Russ Liquid, has left me spellbound since the moment I discovered his music. From his solo project as Russ Liquid to his funktastic trio, The Russ Liquid Test, his infectious sounds have been making me dance all over music venues… and my living room for years.
Russel Scott, also known as Russ Liquid, has been producing tasty tunes for over a decade. With a heavy influence of Jazz and Funk, the New Orleans based artist lets his musical roots shine through in his projects. Russ Liquid is not only an accomplished music producer but also an outstanding musician. He incorporates saxophone, trumpet, piano, flute, and percussion into his songs and live shows to create a captivating musical experience.
When I first discover an artist, I quickly find myself going back to the beginning of their career and seeing how their sounds have evolved. Russ Liquid’s ever-changing flow makes it easy to enjoy his discography from start to finish. Let’s start at the beginning, just like I did, and appreciate the wonderfully versatile collection of music that Russ Liquid has produced.
Russ Liquid’s debut album “Purple” was released in 2011 and it begins with “Opus One“. The term “opus” is used to describe a work of musical composition. “Opus One” is the beginning of his first album, and is fittingly titled. The free-flowing trumpet on the song is backed by grumbling bass lines that set the tone for a melodic journey through the rest of the album.
Two years after his debut album, Russ Liquid released “Foreign Frequencies“. The hypnotizing synth and Experimental Bass throughout the album make for a psychedelic adventure. My first Russ Liquid love and one of my favorite songs is “Revenge of the Fingerblaster” off of “Foreign Frequencies”. It’s a sultry masterpiece featuring wompy bass and smooth brass sounds. I’m still chasing this song live but consider this my formal apology for yelling “fingerblaster” with my fingers in the air at Russ Liquid shows in Kansas City and St. Louis.
Following the success of “Foreign Frequencies”, Russ Liquid caught the ear of Gramatik. His third album “In Love” was released on Gramatik’s label Lowtemp. Psychedelic Bass and Disco Funk meet in harmonious joy on his third album and paves the way for the future Funk journey that was to come next.
The Russ Liquid Test came to fruition after Russel Scott and guitarist Andrew Block met while they were on tour with Gramatik. Their background in the New Orleans Jazz scene had them itching to create something new and dynamic together. Once they returned to New Orleans they met drummer Devon Trusclair and the musical magic began. They were signed to Griz’s label All Good Records in 2016 and went on to release two albums together. Their first album, “1984” blends together Future Funk and 80’s synth vibes in a seamless manner.
“We want to make people feel good but also give them something to reflect with. It’s not about just making party music or music that’s more introspective—it’s for the full gamut of human expression, and we want it to be just as dynamic as life itself.”
Russel Scott in regards to The Russ Liquid Test
One of my favorite Russ Liquid albums to date is “World Gone Crazy“. There is never a dull moment on the record as The Russ Liquid Test twists Funk, Hip-Hop, and Drum and Bass together. The single “World Gone Crazy” featuring Prob Cause has even more relevance three years after its release. While the world as we know it gets turned upside down by current affairs, I can’t help but reflect on the words in this song. I could sit here and write out all the lyrics to this eerily accurate song or you can do yourself a favor and go listen to it right now.
After the funky voyage of The Russ Liquid Test, Russel Scott turned his focus back to his solo project, Russ Liquid and got weird with it. His EP “Eclectric” was released in 2018 on Liquid Stranger’s label “WAKAAN“. The EP is dripping with Experimental Bass and glitchy soundscapes. “Eclectric” is a nod back to Russ Liquid’s beginnings in creating sounds and compositions that are anything but ordinary.
While the world goes crazy and live music is on the decline, I’ll let Russ Liquid’s extensive discography keep me company. For now, I’ll reminisce over past shows where he shared his funky beats and weird Bass with me. I’m holding onto hope that The Russ Liquid Test’s most recent release, “Heliotrope” is a sign that more new music is on the horizon.
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*Featured Image Via Yvonne Gougelet*
