Tripswitch

Tripswitch is the project of Nick Brennan, a psychedelic downtempo artist whose work spans ambient, chillout and electronic music. His early musical training begins with piano at the age of five, a short period on trumpet, and then guitar from the age of 12, which he studies through his teens across classical playing and rock, blues and jazz improvisation.

Early musical background

Before moving into electronic music, Brennan spends the second half of the 1980s playing in punk, rock, blues and jazz bands. He discovers acid house in 1989 through the DiY raves around Nottingham, then shifts away from guitar and onto decks in 1992. During the early 1990s, dub reggae, the music of Ozric Tentacles, progressive house and the emerging Frankfurt trance scene all shape his taste, alongside artists such as Jam & Spoon, Sven Väth and A.C. Boutsen.

As his interest in production grows, Brennan moves towards the progressive end of trance, favouring deeper, more expansive and melodic sounds. He buys his first Juno 106 synthesiser in 1996 and continues building his studio and production skills over the following years.

Vivid Audio and early releases

In 1998, Brennan and close friend Dave Eserin set up Vivid Audio in Kennington, South London, as a recording studio and rehearsal space. There they teach themselves recording and production techniques, make demos for live bands and stage a series of Club Tiny parties that feature a cross-section of London DJs. Around this period Brennan also writes trance with several collaborators.

In 2000, a CD of his early chillout experiments reaches Humphrey Bacchus at Liquid Sound Design, leading to a track appearing on the compilation Mana Medicine. Interest in his music increases through the next Liquid Sound Design compilation, Butterfly Dawn, which includes two Tripswitch tracks. The track “Silver” receives notable attention, and a 2004 remix by Ott appears in the top 30 of a Russian music magazine reader poll.

Albums, remixes and collaborations

Brennan’s debut album, Circuit Breaker, appears in 2005 and attracts broad critical praise. Tracks from it are picked up for later compilations by José Padilla and DJ Ravin. His other releases include a remix of Ott’s “Escape from Tulse Hell” for Liquid Sound Design’s Wider Horizons, an inclusion on the debut compilation from Italian label Neurobiotic’s chill-out imprint Indica, a remix of a Suns of Arqa track for the Liquid Sound Design release Hallucinasia, and two co-written tracks with Gaudi for forthcoming Interchill and Liquid Records compilations.

He also works on progressive breaks material, collaborates with Seb Taylor through DSL, and develops a fuller-length album project with Gaudi. An exclusive video production of a new track is planned with Inside Us All and Chris Cunningham.

Live activity and performance

Tripswitch receives repeated requests for remix work, club dates and festival appearances. Brennan also tours North America with Bluetech and performs in Europe. His broader live profile includes appearances in support of acts such as Lostprophets, Skindred, Breed 77, Ghost of a Thousand, Earthtone 9 and Raging Speedhorn, as well as a slot at Download Festival. The reception to these shows helps the project move into larger venues.

Later EPs

Tripswitch’s EP Until is distributed by Code 7 through Plastic Head and gains strong reviews. It also appears on cover-mounted CDs with Zero Tolerance and Terrorizer, and is said to attract a first celebrity fan in porn star Belladonna. The follow-up EP Wormhole continues in a heavier direction, with down-tuned riffs, changing rhythms and sing-along choruses, while still including more atmospheric passages.

Style

Tripswitch’s music is rooted in chilled, ambient and electronic forms, with a psychedelic edge and a strong downtempo sensibility.