London-based Irish producer Bruk Rogers has released a new double single, Love / Lua, bringing together artists from the UK, US and Brazil. The two vocal-led tracks follow his album Loopholes and continue his blend of broken beat, hip-hop, soul and jazz influences.
The first track, Love, features US rapper JSWISS, who is known for his work across a range of hip-hop styles. Built around Bruk Rogers’ broken beat sound, the song combines JSWISS’s lyrics with rhythmic grooves that reflect the producer’s long-standing interest in connecting hip-hop and bruk music. JSWISS has previously worked with Tru Thoughts artist Sly5thAve, making the collaboration a familiar creative partnership.
The second track, Lua, features Brazilian singer Roberta Silva and keyboard player Onj, a regular collaborator of Bruk Rogers. Drawing on bossa nova influences alongside broken beat rhythms, the song offers a more reflective sound. Silva wrote the lyrics while pregnant with her daughter and recorded the vocal shortly before giving birth.
Speaking about the release, Bruk Rogers, whose real name is Cian McCann, said: “The two most popular vocal tracks on my first album Loopholes were the ones featuring JSWISS and Roberta Silva and had Onj on keys, so it was a no-brainer to reassemble. I’ve always thought that US rappers sound great over broken beat and I hope ‘Love’ feat. JSWISS showcases that.
‘Lua’ is a love song written by Roberta to her then-soon-to-be-born daughter. She recorded it not long before giving birth and I think it’s such a beautiful sentiment. I love Bossa Nova and merging it with bruk is a match made in heaven.”
McCann has been active in UK underground music for more than 20 years. He first gained attention under the name Zero Tolerance on Reinforced Records and became involved in the jungle and broken beat scenes through influential London club nights including CoOp at Plastic People and Jazz at MauMau Bar.
Since appearing at We Out Here Festival in 2021, he has focused further on bruk and bass music through releases on CoOperation and his album Loopholes, released via Tru Thoughts.
Alongside his solo work, McCann is also one half of jazz-soul duo Searchlight with Beta 2, also known as Dominic Purcell. The pair’s debut album on Goldie’s Fallen Tree 1Hundred label received support from broadcasters including Mary Anne Hobbs, Gilles Peterson, Benji B and Huey Morgan.
The release of Love / Lua marks the latest chapter in Bruk Rogers’ ongoing exploration of collaborative and cross-genre music.