Spencer Brown (musician)

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Spencer Brown
Birth nameOnoforio Spencer Jeffrey Bruno
Born (1994-01-01) January 1, 1994 (age 31)
Los Gatos, California, U.S.
Origin San Francisco, California, U.S.
GenresProgressive house, techno, deep house
Occupation(s)DJ, record producer
Years active2014–present
Labels
Website www.spencerbrown.live

Onofrio Spencer Jeffrey Bruno, [1] [2] professionally known as Spencer Brown, is an American electronic dance music artist, producer, and DJ. [3] [4] [5] He has released three continuous mix albums, 'Illusion of Perfection' (2018), [6] 'Stream of Consciousness' (2020), [7] [8] [9] and 'Equanimity" (2023) [10] and has charted at the top of the Beatport charts [11] for progressive house, house, techno, trance, and deep house.

Contents

He is known for his collaborations with John Digweed, deadmau5, and Above & Beyond. [5] [12] [13]

Early life and education

Brown was born in Los Gatos, CA. [14] Around age 12, he started DJing and producing his own music, motivated by his dislike of the music selection at school parties. He then moved to Dallas, TX, where he formed a band with future author Max Marshall. [15] He graduated with distinction in 2016 in Electrical & Computer Engineering with a minor in Computer Science from Duke University⁣ – ⁣Pratt School of Engineering, where he wrote his thesis on omnidirectional speakers. [16]

Career

Brown got his first break when Avicii signed him to his label for his "Chalice EP" on LE7ELS in 2014. [17] [3] He made his live debut opening for Avicii at the Hollywood Bowl in 2013. Thereafter, he toured North America, opening for Avicii's True Tour. [18] [19] After graduating from Duke University, his career picked up pace, when he continued touring and releasing music with world-known DJs like Above & Beyond and deadmau5. [20] [21] [22] In a few years, Brown saw support from some of dance music's biggest international acts, including Calvin Harris, Armin van Buuren, Avicii, Sasha, FISHER, and Pete Tong. [23]

Brown released his debut studio album, presented in mixed format, titled 'Illusion of Perfection' on May 11, 2018. His dislike of radio edits inspired his decision to create a mixalbum. He released his second album, also presented in mixed format, called 'Stream of Consciousness' on January 31, 2020. [24] Collaborators included label mates Ben Böhmer, Marsh, and Qrion. Both albums became number one on the iTunes Dance charts and presented Brown with international headline tours. In 2021, Spencer was signed by Sasha to his Last Night on Earth imprint and to Insomniac's newly established Factory 93 label imprint, further establishing his reputation in the global house and techno scene. [25] [26]

Brown launched his own label, diviine, in 2022, with support from Eric Prydz. [27] John Digweed began playing Brown's releases that year, and the two began to collaborate soon after. [28] In 2023 he released 'Equanimity' and began a 61-show headlining tour across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. [29] In 2024, Brown released music on Bedrock [30] and Global Underground [31] and began a residency of open-to-close shows at Stereo Montreal. In 2025 he released his first Balance mix, [32] in addition the single 'Offsides' with Diplo's Higher Ground. [33]

Personal life

Brown is openly gay; he came out publicly in June 2020, although he had confided in friends six years earlier. [34] Being in the closet had led to depression and illness which he credits the dance music community for helping him recover, "I've transformed from a self-hating, anxiety-ridden boy to a self-loving, grateful man. I'm learning to transform my OCD into something more productive—like perfecting my mixdowns and sound design. I'm discovering ways to pass on the support I found in the dance music community, and I'm finding so much to be thankful for." [34]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetails
Notes
Illusion of Perfection
  • Release: May 11, 2018
  • Label: Anjunabeats
  • Format: Digital download
#1 on iTunes Dance
Stream of Consciousness [35]
  • Release: January 31, 2020
  • Label: Anjunabeats
  • Format: Digital download
#1 on iTunes Dance [36]
Equanimity
  • Release: September 29, 2023
  • Label: diviine
  • Format: Digital download

Singles / EPs

Remixes

References

  1. "Onofrio Spencer Jeffrey Bruno". AllMusic . Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  2. "Onofriospenc Jeffrey Bruno, Born 01/01/1994 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". californiabirthindex.org. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Spencer Brown Interview: Producer Talks Relationship With Avicii". Billboard. May 14, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  4. "Let's Talk About: Spencer Brown | Interview". The Groove Cartel. May 16, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Kocay, Lisa. "Spencer Brown On Working With Avicii And His Debut Album 'Illusion Of Perfection'". Forbes. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  6. Gilmore, Grant (August 6, 2018). "Spencer Brown Talks 'Illusion of Perfection', ABGT300, & More!". EDM Identity. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  7. Middleton, Ryan (February 3, 2020). "Album Review: Spencer Brown - Stream Of Consciousness [Anjunabeats]". Magnetic Magazine. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  8. "Spencer Brown manifests complexity into flow state with, 'Stream of Consciousness' [Review/Q&A]". Dancing Astronaut. February 16, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  9. Rivas, Aimee (February 3, 2020). "Spencer Brown Takes us on an Extraordinary Musical Journey with 'Stream of Consciousness'". Fresh Music Freaks. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  10. Vargas, Ulises (October 2, 2023). "Spencer Brown Gifts Listeners Piece of Mind With Third Studio Album, "Equanimity"". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  11. "BeatStats - ARTISTINFO - Spencer Brown". beatstats.com. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  12. "Spencer Brown Discusses The Inspiration Behind His 'Stream Of Consciousness' Mix-Album". T.H.E - Music Essentials. February 9, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  13. "A 'Stream of Consciousness' Conversation with Spencer Brown". EDM Identity. March 30, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  14. "Spencer Brown Comes Out Gay; Says He No Longer Wants To 'Live In Fear'". On Top Magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  15. Marshall, Max (May 29, 2019). "Globe-Trotting DJ Spencer Brown's Unique Form of Stress Management". Texas Monthly. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  16. Lake, Erik (June 20, 2018). "Spencer Brown's Forward Thinking Is Learning From The Past". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  17. "Meet Spencer Bruno: Duke's superstar DJ signed with Avicii". Duke University. September 28, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  18. Alzgheibi, Husam (May 29, 2019). "[Interview] A Chat With Spencer Brown". EDMTunes. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  19. Sierra, Matt (June 3, 2019). "Spencer Brown Opens Up On Dealing With Stress, Music, And More". EDMTunes. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  20. "Artist Biography by Marcy Donelson". allmusic.com/.
  21. Ghanem, Louis (November 23, 2018). "Above & Beyond's First Collab in 8 Years Coming November 30th". EDMTunes. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  22. Lake, Erik (June 20, 2018). "Spencer Brown's Forward Thinking Is Learning From The Past". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  23. Kupka, Heather. "RB Exclusive Interview: Spencer Brown". Relentless Beats. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  24. "Spencer Brown: Dance Producer Comes Out as Gay". Billboard. June 29, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  25. "Spencer Brown toggles between the vintage and the modern on thematic 'I Was Too Young for 90s Raves' EP". Dancing Astronaut. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  26. "Stream it: Spencer Brown's rework of dubspeeka's 'Geb'". Dancing Astronaut. March 2, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  27. King, Ariel (February 17, 2022). "Spencer Brown kickstarts new label with two-track EP". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  28. Jacquez, Jen (December 9, 2022). "Spencer Brown Gushes Over "Idol" John Digweed amid Collab". Exron Music. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  29. "Spencer Brown Announces New Album 'Equanimity' + World Tour Dates | OZ EDM: Electronic Dance Music News Australia". ozedm.com. July 21, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  30. Carter, Prince (November 29, 2023). "Spencer Brown & Mat Zo – Spun Day (Out Now On Bedrock) - AllAboutEdm". edmtunes.com. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  31. Besnos, Rebecca (July 19, 2024). "When We Dip: Spencer Brown lands on Global Underground". When We Dip. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  32. Balance-Walter (March 14, 2025). "Balance Selections 318: Spencer Brown | BALANCE MUSIC". balancemusic.com.au. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  33. "Spencer Brown - Offsides". traxsource.com. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  34. 1 2 Hudson, David (June 30, 2020). "Dance music artist Spencer Brown comes out as gay". Queerty . Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  35. Hunt, Ryan (February 6, 2020). "Celebrating Spencer Brown's second album years after rise to fame at the Gorge". Dance Music NW. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  36. Lake, Erik (January 31, 2020). "Anjunabeats Artist Spencer Brown's Album "Stream Of Consciousness" Debuts At #1". Trance Farm. Retrieved June 29, 2020.