Rustie returns with first release in nearly a decade, 'Black Ice Mudra'

Rustie has re;eased a new single called 'Black Ice Mudra' via long-time affiliates Warp Records.

The surprise release surfaced on streaming platforms at midnight today (June 4), marking the Glaswegian artist's first release in nearly nine years, following on from his third studio album 'EVENIFUDONTBELIEVE', released in November 2015.

It showcases the euphoric and maximalist electronic sound which made him a firm favourite of the UK dance scene since his emergence in the late-00s, with many considering his 2011 album 'Glass Swords' among the all-time best electronic albums.

It received widespread acclaim due to the album’s transcendental nature, which encompassed elements of grime and hip hop, while simultaneously channeling experimental sounds such as prog rock as well as UK bass, a sound that he is regarded as one of the pioneers in creating.

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Following Glass Swords, he released two more studio albums, ‘Green Language’ in 2014 and ‘EVENIFUDONTBELIEVE’ in 2015. Following the latter record's release and during the subsequent tour, Rustie (real name Russell Whyte) announced that he’d be taking a break from music, cancelling all concerts due to “addiction and mental health problems.”

Aside from playing one show at a Numbers + Warp party at Glasgow School Of Art in 2017 and another at Glasgow's Sub Club on December, 2022, he was publicly inactive until his return was hinted at via his social media accounts early last year, where he simply posted “soon.”

News of further plans to play shows began to emerge soon after, with dates scheduled at the debut Project 6 festival and a takeover of fabric hosted by the festival that same night on May 26, 2023, though he ultimately cancelled on these shows. Towards the end of year he linked up with Numbers to play a Boxing Day party at Sub Club.

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Although his social media accounts have been re-deleted since those 2023 teases, the release of 'Black Ice Mudra' has had fans on Reddit speculating about what may be coming next.

Listen to 'Black Ice Mudra' below and buy it here.

Jamaal Johnson is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Instagram