Neon Brown's latest project with vinyl pre-sales available now (shipping mid August) and digital streaming on July 23, 2024, is shrouded in mystery. The focal point of this album isn't just Brown's signature heady production—it's also the bizarre collaborator, PUTE, whose real identity remains frustratingly just out of reach.
Who, or what, is PUTE? This question haunts the album, surrounding it with an unknown that makes it much more than a collection of tracks. Brown, known for his delightfully off-balance production, sets the stage for listeners as they enter this oddity. "PUTE is unlike anyone I've ever worked with," Brown admits. Honestly, I still don't fully understand who, or what, PUTE is."
It all began in 2019 with a simple Instagram DM. PUTE, unknown to Brown at the time, praised his distinctive style. Soon after, PUTE contributed a solid but oddly styled verse to Brown's project with NYC artist Deca, "The Donner Party." Afterward, sporadic emails and direct messages from PUTE kept the mystery alive. However, any project they may have done together at the time was stalled by PUTE's overzealous and erratic behavior in Brown's DMs.
Then the plot thickened in 2023 when Brown's TikTok account seemed to get hacked—there suddenly were unrelated posts, spammy emails, and generally inappropriate content. Brown suspected PUTE, leading to a renewed—and quite cautious—reconnection. What followed was unexpected: a link to a completed album with manipulated tracks with verses from PUTE and others, and all with a bizarre cover photo. But Brown's initial anger and thoughts of suing slowly led to a reluctant fascination. The album, a blend of his production and PUTE's unconventional contributions began to resonate with him.
The guest artists add essential layers to this cryptic project. Detroit's Guilty Simpson delivers his gravelly, all-swagger-no-filler vocals on "The Nothing” (available now as a single with the album pre-order), while NYC's J Scienide floats over "Blue Raspberry" with a smoke-like grace. Singers Daniel David (formerly Trailer Limon) and Lilli Hokama contribute haunting verses to a boom-bapped "There's No Turning Back," and Detroit's Quelle Chris completes "Rick Moranis" with his irreverently satirical sound. These collaborations enrich the album, with each artist navigating the mysterious terrain Brown originally shaped, but PUTE eventually assembled.
Brown's investigation into PUTE's identity revealed hints of something possibly non-human. Vocal samples in the record—ranging from Hal in "2001: A Space Odyssey" to Mark Zuckerberg's speech slips—suggest PUTE might be a collective or even an advanced piece of software. If that's the case, Brown knew this project could raise profound questions about AI's role in art, challenging traditional notions. Could PUTE be a new frontier in artistic collaboration? Either way, the only choice Brown felt he had was to release the record.
The PUTE album, produced by Neon Brown, is a strange, square-wheeled ride through the fusion of art and technology. It invites listeners to delve into the mystery of PUTE, urging them to piece together clues scattered throughout the album. Is PUTE a person, a collective, or AI? The answer remains evasive, but the trip through it all is compelling.
Presales for the PUTE vinyl LP are up and running on Brown's Bandcamp. The first single on the record, “The Nothing” featuring Guilty Simpson, is available now with any vinyl pre-sale order (shipping mid August). Digital streaming will be available July 23,2024. Take a listen now!
More writing on the album by our friend Prestige at LFEAMARKET FUNK. Take a look.
For more information, interviews, or press inquiries, please contact:
Neon Brown Booking
Chorpenn@gmail.com
PUTE X GUILTY SIMPSON - THE NOTHING - OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO