Seven years into a career is never a great time to rebrand. The bigger the name, the bigger the brand, the more confusing it is for fans. However, for rising e-music talent Bruno Maciel there was no other choice. Brands may copyright but real names not so much. So when two others came along with the same name, this intelligent cookie rebranded as DJ iBruno.
Bruno Maciel is best known for crafting epic electronic soundscapes with songs such as Unviralize, Life Things, and Cold Beethoven. Each unique tune is designed to be played loud and to inspire the body and mind alike. They’re just begging for a wider audience and to be played in clubs worldwide. It’s safe to say DJ iBruno is ripe for collaboration.
The Tesla-loving DJ grew up on Brazil’s Atlantic coast halfway between Porto Alegre and Sao Paulo. The 32-year-old creative has built a solid niche for himself within the electronic music industry in his seven-year career. This has seen him tour the globe and even play Lollapalooza and release two records. His first was a 4-track EP, and the second was a 6-track album. His top tune, Unviralize, has been played 52,000 times on Spotify alone.
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Named, possibly, after a fish which teem in the local rivers, Balneario Camboriu might not seem, to the uninitiated, the right place for a top DJ to build his career. However, to South Americans, the city of 150,000 is the summer playground of 1 million at a time. Every summer, the beach resort swells to become the Dubai of South America, full of skyscrapers, top beaches, and wealthy tourists.
Still, that might not seem like much. There are beach resorts all over the world, why is this a special place to grow up? DJ iBruno grew up in what Forbes Magazine calls Brazil’s capital of e-music. It’s home to Warung Club, Green Valley Club, and even an affiliate of the famed Space club. Green Valley Club alone can draw $1.6 million a night in income. DJ iBruno has played them all – it’s his home ground.
DJ iBruno exemplifies well-known traits of the top DJs in Brazil. Throughout the country, whether at big clubs in Balneario Camboriu or smaller local clubs, one thing Brazilians agree on is that their DJs know their music and their fans. This knowledge base has allowed them to spill out across the world. This is why Maciel finds himself spoken of in the same breath as Vintage Culture, KVSH, Carola and Alok.
For the first seven years of his career, it was ok to be DJ Bruno Maciel. However, while brand names can be copyrighted, familiar names can’t. Two others arose with the same name, and so came a time to take things to the next level. That rebranding happened on the 1st of November, 2024. He’d be DJ iBruno, a name harking back to the futuristic nature of names like iTunes and iPhones and the future of online music via the Metaverse.
The change was made in typical showmanship style at a live benefit gig but only took effect at the start of 2024. So, in many ways, changing a moniker or brand name is starting afresh. Those who see the announcement understand it, but only a fraction of these fans usually get the memo. Yet, this is also an exciting opportunity to honestly go global.
To date, he has released 10 tracks over two records. First came 2024’s eight track album Chain of Legends. While Brazilian electro is known for its bass, Maciel opts in his debut to mix beats with sometimes discordant electric strings giving an almost off-beat classical vibe to the album. The songs build together while also working on an individual level. This is seen at its apex with album closer Ding Dong which as the title suggests sets opposite tones off against one another with a fat electronic wave in the background.
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This year he released a 4 track EP called Unviralize. The title of which speaks of a kind of rebellion against the desire of so many people these days to go viral online no matter the reason. It’s almost like saying ‘I’ve gone viral, now it’s time to get back to reality.’ Well, he’s on the right track – going viral can be like having a jetpack with no parachute. Much better to lay solid foundations first and grow organically.
Bruno Maciel is an artist, a DJ, on the up. He’s already released his two records – Unviralize and Chain of Legends. But, indeed, there is more to come from this Brazilian ace. With the pandemic waning and the world reopening, the time is coming for top talents like DJ iBruno to take the electronic music scene by storm.
