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The Rude Awakening
At its heart a British Electronic music project, THE RUDE AWAKENING (T/R/A) - led by musician , promoter and radio presenter Johnny Normal- expands on the substratum that Synth and Post-punk pioneers Gary Numan, PiL, Soft Cell and OMD began building circa 1981.
THE RUDE AWAKENING is a vehicle for Normal to create songs that explore emotions, relationships, taboos fantasies and fears and to challenge common perceptions and convention, presenting such subjects in an entertaining and enjoyable aural package.
"Let Nothing Take Your Pride" is a searing, anthemic debut track about defiance, resilience, fighting your corner and never backing down. This is an extremely intimate sentiment for Normal, who spent the majority of 2014 in a coma, ferried between four hospitals, battling for his life. But the message is much more than personal: it is a call to arms for anyone, anywhere, who has taken a beating and bounced back up to give fate the middle finger.
Supplying six eclectic versions of the song, the Let Nothing Take Your Pride maxi single includes Normal's Motionsonic Mix as well as remixes by the Isle of Wight's Mr Strange, Nottingham's Blott, Leeds-based Illustrial, Hereford's industrial innovators Nature of Wires and French electro producers X-Mouth Syndrome (XMS). The distinctive female backing vocal on various mixes is provided by Normal's long-time friend and collaborator Brooke Calder (A*O*A, POP INC, Lolly Pop).
"Let Nothing Take Your Pride" EP track listing:
1- The Mister Strange Remix
2- The Motionsonic Radio Mix
3- The Blott (Live Each Day) Remix
4- The XMS Remix
5- The Nature of Wires Remix
6- The Illustrial 'Night Version'
Available from all digital download sites.
'LET NOTHING TAKE YOUR PRIDE'
REVIEWED BY THE ELECTRICITY CLUB
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Pink Dolphin Music Ltd are very proud and excited to bring you the brand new EP release by The Rude Awakening featuring Bridget Gray. It is tantalisingly and naughtily titled 'Your Wetness Is My Weakness' and it is full of SynthPop goodness and Dance vibes. The EP features the original mix along with 6 other remixes from Mr Strange, Parralox and more.
The second release by Johnny Normal’s exciting project The Rude Awakening, following in the footsteps of “Let Nothing Take Your Pride” (which made the list of The Electricity Club’s top music releases of 2017), this is a brave song that openly explores modern multi-faceted relationships, touching on love, trust, sensuality, lust and personal boundaries.
“Your Wetness is My Weakness” is a 21st Century love song about urban lovers re-evaluating their relationship and re-acquainting themselves through roleplay and fantasy. Maybe a lesson to us all not to accept the mundane and to look deeper within to release inner emotions.
For this extended play release package, featuring remixes by Parralox, Illustrial, Mr Strange and X-Mouth Syndrome, Johnny teamed up with friend and fellow musician Bridget Gray (Destination) to provide additional vocals throughout the different versions. Johnny said “The song explores the many contradictions of deeper, darker desire and the pushing of physical and mental boundaries within a loving relationship and for me Bridget’s beautifully pure voice and angelic harmonies reflect the wonderful contradictions involved.”
Johnny is delighted to be working with some fabulous modern remixers and producers for this new E.P. as well as teaming up with Rich James and Pink Dolphin Music for the marketing, release and distribution.
1- Original Mix (prod. by Johnny Normal & Mr Strange)
2- Parralox Roleplay Remix (prog. Jon Von Ahlen, engineer Juan del Toro)
3- XMS Radio Remix (prod. By Dragan Vujcic)
4- Mr Strange Sleaze Remix (prod. By Mr Strange)
5- Illustrial ASMR Remix (prod. By Illustrial)
6- XMS Neon Shepherd Remix (prod. By Dragan Vujcic)
7- XMS Endurance Remix (prod. By Dragan Vujcic
'Your Wetness Is My Weakness' is released on all digital streaming platforms and digital download stores worldwide on 29th June, 2018.
'YOUR WETNESS IS MY WEAKNESS'
REVIEWED BY THE ELECTRICITY CLUB
Listen to Johnny & Bridget chatting about the song HERE
You can listen to and purchase the E.P. HERE
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You can listen to and purchase the EP here
'FUCK PUPPET' REVIEWED BY
THE ELECTRICITY CLUB
Live in France
THE SQUEAL! EP
A satisfyingly saucy slice of synthpop sounds embrace us on
the brand new single from The Rude Awakening.
This is Johnny and Bridget's first full release of 2020 and they
bound back with a sensational pop song.
The single comes complete with the Radio Edit alongside 6
other remixes. Remix production duties come from Mr
Strange, Patrik Kambo, Jan Doyle Band, Eminent, Mechanical
Cabaret and Subject:2. Each treats the song differently to
provide a complete journey through all styles of electro-pop.
The Rude Awakening will make you Squeal!
B-MOVIE 'PROMENADE' SINGLE RELEASE
B-MOVIE have released their new single PROMENADE,
complete with TWO remixes from The Rude Awakening:
PROMENADE - The Rude Awakening Remix
PROMENADE - Bucket and Spade Remix by The Rude Awakening
Two very different stylish electro remixes by Johnny and Bridget, each injected with the style and signature sound of The Rude Awakening.
Reviewed by The Electricity Club here
CLICK TO LISTEN/BUY
CLICK TO LISTEN/BUY
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BIRMINGHAM ELECTRIC TELEVISION HILL
THE RUDE AWAKENING REMIX
THE RUDE AWAKENING REMIX
The Rude Awakening gave the TRA 12" remix treatment to this brilliant synth pop song.
Released December 14, 2020
Written by Andrew Evans, Mark Reeder & Micha Adam
Vocals by Andrew Evans
Remix vocals, synths, and drum programming by Johnny Normal & Bridget Gray. Remixed by The Rude Awakening at AbNormal Studio, Stratford-upon-Avon
"IT'S OK NOT TO BE OK"
“When many of us feel we have hit rock bottom or are struggling to deal with life around us” comments Johnny Normal, “we can sometimes compound our own pain and mental pressure by deliberately hiding the fact we are not coping from people we love. But it’s actually OK to admit that we are not OK.”
The end result of this musing on the human condition is ‘It’s OK Not to Be OK’, a slice of fragile electronic pop that drives its message home with a gentle push, rather than a punch. Squelchy synths and breathy vocals weave together in an airy tune that has an oddly meditative effect. It also comes complete with a charming animated video.
Although the themes of the song deal with stress and anxiety, the lyrics still find time to throw in some witty commentary to take your mind off things (“Sticking your head in a birthday cake/Wobbly crappy poetry took ages to make”).
As the duo’s ethos involves creating songs that “explore emotions, relationships, taboos fantasies and fears”, the themes at work on ‘It’s OK Not to Be OK’ seem to slot in comfortably.
This release is also the first of a two-stage effort which will be followed by an EP of six additional
remixes by People Theatre, Mr Strange, Tin Gun, Parralox, Lord & Master and Keldari Station.
Read the review from
Flavourmag press coverage
Essentially Pop press coverage here
"IT'S OK NOT TO BE OK" - THE REMIXES EP
The innovative UK synthpop act THE RUDE AWAKENING present an E.P. of stunning remixes of their fabulous new song with a pertinent message for these troubled times entitled “It’s OK Not to Be OK”.
This very timely release is the duo’s personal take on the psychological fragility of modern humanity in a world where we feel we have to appear to look ok, even when we’re suffering and need help. Following on from the initial single release, this E.P. has six additional and very different remixes by independent electronic producers (People Theatre,
Mr Strange, Tin Gun, Parralox, Lord and Master and Keldari Station).
"UNDER THE COVERS" EP
The innovative UK synthpop act THE RUDE AWAKENING present a fabulous 4 track
EP presenting their own unique interpretations of some of their favourite songs from iconic synth artists including OMD, Gary Numan, Erasure and Japan.
1- “Joan of Arc” (OMD) sees Bridget take the lead vocal role, her angelic, vulnerable verses gradually joined by Johnny,
as the song builds to a rising anthemic climax.
2- “Bombers” (Tubeway Army/Gary Numan) has Johnny leading the vocal attack aided by a military rhythm and squadron of synths, assisted by Bridget’s calming harmonies and ambience of historic aviation.
3- “Spiralling” (Erasure) is given The Rude Awakening treatment and sees the gentle, vulnerable lyrics interwoven vocally by Bridget and Johnny around a tapestry of beautiful synthetic fibres.
4- “Quiet Life” (Japan) is an insistent, sequence-driven version of a classic synth track with Johnny’s signature vocal leading the charge and Bridget’s lush harmonies and sensual spoken word softening the edge of an otherwise sharply smart rework.
"SEE HER SMILE"
THE RUDE AWAKENING V MECHANICAL CABARET
The Rude Awakening get the opportunity to re-imagine one of their favourite synth songs from Mechanical Cabaret, "See Her Smile".
Working with the original studio stems, Johnny and Bridget recorded new synth and drum tracks, additional vocals, and then created a fresh new version of this classic MC favourite.
"UNDER THE COVERS 2" EP
Our second Under the Covers EP release, this time with our versions of songs by Gary Numan, Sparks, M and also
Duran Duran.
TRA FEATURED IN
BLITZED MAGAZINE
THE RUDE AWAKENING CHOSEN FOR '6122' DEPECHE MODE
TRIBUTE ALBUM
In memory of Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode; '6122' - a double CD compilation with Gareth Jones, Carlos Peron (ex Yello), Polly Scattergood, Bernhard Lloyd (ex Alphaville), Watershed, Bon Harris (Nitzer Ebb), Kirlian Camera, Markus Reinhardt (ex Wolfsheim), Nico Wieditz (And One), NightNight, Jean-Marc Lederman, The Brute:, The Rude Awakening, Tin Gun and many more...
28 acts from UK, the US, Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Australia, South Africa and Switzerland say in such stylish way "See you".
A project from fans for fans that officially partners with the German Children's Cancer Trust. With friendly support by the famous Abbey Road Studios, Blitzed Magazine UK, Orkus!, Big Satsuma Radio, Musikhaus Thomann, ReBach, Northern Art Music, Enrico Janke and depechemode.de.
ORDER THE ALBUM HERE
UPDATE: We are so chuffed that the 6122 album reached number 2 on the Official German album charts, the highest ever position for a compilation album. Well done everyone involved.
'SHE HAS A JUICE BOX'
Single and 12" Remix
She Has a Juice Box (radio edit) and the accompanying 12" TRA Remix were written, recorded and produced by Johnny and Bridget at their Dog House Studio in Worcestershire.
Hot on the heels will be a Remix EP with tracks by Blackcarburning Carlos Peron, Technomancer, Mr Strange and Patrik Kambo, watch out for that.
Released November 24, 2023
Music and lyrics by The Rude Awakening.
'SHE HAS A JUICE BOX'
6 pack REMIX EP
Following the release of the wonderfully playful single 'She Has a Juice Box' on 24th November, the duo are really chuffed to present the REMIXES EP ... including new versions of She Has a Juice Box by Blackcarburing, Technomancer,
The Rude Awakening, Carlos Peron,
Patrik Kambo & Mr Strange
Released December 1, 2023
Music and lyrics by The Rude Awakening.
An AbNormal Production 2023
'Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow'
Christmas Single
Johnny and Bridget (The Rude Awakening) are chuffed to bring you a jolly little Christmas number "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow".
It's our synthy, merry and slightly cheesy take on an absolute Christmas classic, and a version happens to feature at the end of two of Bridget's favourite Christmas movies, namely Die Hard 1 and 2! ...Of course.
The sleeve features Trevor the Gonk which belonged to Bridget's late mother Paddy... she would be proud. So much love and feels wrapped up in this release, perfect for Christmas.
© 2022 AbNormal Productions. All rights reserved
For bookings contact TRA Management: email trafwfa@gmail.com