Out Now on BELTERS4U – Get it HERE
Full five-track EP (including a Pablo Bozzi remix) out April 23
Previous support from DJ Heartstring, Job Jobse, Peggy Gou, Jen Cardini, Marlon Hoffstadt, Solomun, Pablo Bozzi, Fka.m4a, Maruwa, Belaria, Baron Von Trax, Above & Beyond, Kendal
London-based duo CLOSE PROXIMITY, after a wildly busy, successful first full year since joining forces, announce their forthcoming EP House of Hades via single “Open Up Your Mind,” out now on BELTERS4U. The full five-track EP dropped on April 23, heralded by Pablo Bozzi’s “Open Up Your Mind” remix on April 16.
CLOSE PROXIMITY, aka Frank Brady (founder of c) and Demack (now label co-boss), hit 2026 running with releases on Pablo Bozzi’s Second Sight and Emma B’s Notte Eterna. They closed out 2025 with 15 acclaimed releases, including six EPs, on labels such as Jen Cardini’s Dischi Autunno, BELTERS4U, Barcelona vinyl imprint Italo Moderni (Adrian Marth), Fka.m4a’s CONTR4ST, Parisian label MINITEL, and their own imprint, Volition.
The duo are crystal clear about their sound (in every sense of the word): “We draw a lot of inspiration from ’90s house and progressive sounds, blended with the euphoria of trance and elements of Italo, proto-house, and techno. We aim to create timeless music that resonates with us first, anything beyond that is a bonus. We love discovering the harmonies between different sounds and bringing them together into a single piece. That’s why we enjoy working together so much: we each bring something different, and those contrasts ultimately shape the final result.”
“‘Open Up Your Mind’ is a driving house cut layered with rich percussion, rattling builds, and high-speed arpeggios that quickly give way to a nostalgic ’90s house piano lead. A dreamy female vocal riff carries the title, while euphoric synth chords rise and fall to fully immerse the listener. The result is a mind-expanding trip built for the dance floor.
“It’s a track we feel truly represents our sound. It brings together all the ’90s progressive elements we love to infuse into our music. The vocals capture the essence of what we’re about, losing yourself on the dance floor, chasing that rush and euphoria. The lyric itself is a direct nod to the trance-like state you experience in those moments, something that can connect with anyone.”
Now a highly regarded record label nearing its second anniversary, BELTERS4U initially grew a cult following by unearthing forgotten dance tracks for music fans and DJs alike. “CLOSE PROXIMITY have been crucial to the success of the label, and this EP marks their third release on the imprint,” said B4u founder Alan Gillies.
Second EP single, out 16th April, is Pablo Bozzi’s remix of “Open Up Your Mind.” Berlin’s Bozzi, Italo disco/EBM/synthwave/industrial exponent, adds industrial bongo beats and a dash of acid, replacing the ’90s piano with equally nostalgic organ sounds.
Of their full EP House of Hades, CLOSE PROXIMITY claim it’s their most accomplished EP yet. “It is a tribute to the artists of the 90s electronic scene whose music continues to inspire us today. Jam-packed with the sounds that we love, all things trance, progressive house and euphoria.”
Tracklist:
- Open Up Your Mind
- Open Up Your Mind (Pablo Bozzi Remix)
- House of Hades
- Endless Spirit
- Love Beyond
“Open Up Your Mind” by CLOSE PROXIMITY is out now, followed by Pablo Bozzi’s remix and the full House of Hades EP, both available now. Get it HERE.
For more information about CLOSE PROXIMITY, go to:
Spotify | Instagram | SoundCloud
For more information about BELTERS4U, go to:
Bandcamp | Instagram | SoundCloud
Some releases just hit differently. From the moment CLOSE PROXIMITY dropped “Open Up Your Mind,” I was hooked. Then came the Pablo Bozzi remix, elevating an already addictive track into something even more dynamic and immersive. By the time I worked through the rest of the EP, I realized this wasn’t just a collection of singles. It was a complete story, thoughtfully arranged from start to finish, the kind of project you play straight through and immediately start over again.
Naturally, I wanted to know more.
CLOSE PROXIMITY, a London-based DJ duo, may still be emerging to some listeners, but they are far from unknown in the scene. With support from heavyweights like Solomun, Baron Von Trax, and Above & Beyond, they are clearly on the radar of some of the most respected names in electronic music. As I dug deeper, I also discovered they run their own label, which made me even more curious about their creative vision and long-term ambitions.
The more I listened and learned, the more excited I became. So I reached out, connected with the duo, and scheduled a quick interview to dive into the story behind the EP, their influences, and what is next.
The new EP is out now. Turn it on, let it play through, and settle in.
It is my pleasure to introduce you to CLOSE PROXIMITY.
CLOSE PROXIMITY is a name that feels intentional and a bit mysterious. What’s the story behind it?
The name has multiple facets. In one case, it describes how we work together, which is seamless and incredibly close. It is also inspired a lot by the tradition of bands who often used abstract terms as names. We are huge fans of groups like The Cure, New Order/Joy Division, The Police, and so on.
You’re both based in London. How has the city shaped your sound and identity as a duo? I have a soft spot for London myself. I proposed to my wife on Tower Bridge.
London definitely shaped our sound. It’s a melting pot of art and culture with a rich musical history. We have seen some of our favourite artists here perform live. But not only London; we have roots in Scotland and so many of our favourite artists are Scottish. The music of our project is heavily inspired by amazing Scottish artists like Vince Watson and Chris Cowie.
How does your dynamic in the DJ booth translate into the studio? What does collaboration look like between the two of you?
The studio is our first point of collaboration. Ever since we met six years ago, we have worked on music together in the studio. At the start this was just jamming away and now since forming the project 18 months ago, we work in a much more focused way. Usually this begins with bringing ideas to a session that we have come up with on our own and developing and finishing them together. But we also like to sit down with a blank canvas so to speak and create something totally from scratch. Our workflow really is seamless and we fully trust one another’s taste. It’s the same in the DJ booth; we never plan our sets. Taste and instinct is all that matters.
You’ve mentioned that you each bring something different to the table. How do those differences shape your final sound?
We both bring different skills to the table. For instance, Frank tends to start with creating long, sweeping pad and chord sequences whilst Alex begins with melody before creating counterpoint harmony. It’s always about melody and harmony. Then we develop other elements accordingly.
Frank, you founded Volition as both a label and an event brand. Can you tell us more about that journey and how it connects to CLOSE PROXIMITY?
I started it a few years ago because nothing in London was playing the music I really loved at the time—mainly Italo Disco and Italo House—and many of the DJs I admired weren’t getting booked. On a whim, I decided to do it myself.
Through that, I met a lot of great people and artists, building connections across Europe, many of whom I’m still close with today. That naturally led to wanting to start my own label, and we’re now in a bit of a transitional phase, moving beyond a single-genre focus, which I was probably guilty of before.
It connects to CLOSE PROXIMITY through Alex, who now helps run Volition alongside our good friend Claudia, who’s also a resident. The link between the two is simple: both are spaces where we put out what we truly believe in, without worrying about outside expectations. Volition gives us that freedom.
Your new EP House of Hades feels like a statement release. Why did you land on five tracks for this project?
Five tracks felt right. Four tracks from us felt like the right amount, each different but also complementary in sound. We also wanted a remix by an artist who we felt would bring a fresh perspective to the track. Pablo did a great job remixing it, stripping it back, and giving it a deeper feel.
At what point did you know the EP was finished? Was there a specific moment where it all clicked?
These tracks were made over the period of six months. We tested them in our DJ sets and sent them to other artists to play as well. The feedback we got was amazing, so we felt we had something special. At the same time, the support from Alan at the label has been amazing and he loved the tracks from the minute we sent them to him. The label is a favourite of ours and we are so excited to release again on this imprint which will be on vinyl as well.
The EP draws heavily from ’90s house, progressive, and trance influences. What continues to pull you back to that era?
This era is the golden age of electronic music. It was a time when creative expression was boundless. The music is timeless and sounds as good today as it did back then. Arguably even better! It is full of musicality and emotion. We strive to make music that stands the test of time in the same way.
Is there one track on House of Hades that best represents CLOSE PROXIMITY right now? What’s the story behind it?
That’s a tough question to answer! “Love Beyond” definitely represents our sound: it has an emotional and sentimental value to us and the label owner, Alan. It could be the chords or the whispering angelic vocal, but it definitely makes us feel a nostalgia for a better time.
This release comes out on BELTERS4U. What made that label the right home for House of Hades?
The label has supported us since the very beginning of this project. We are so grateful to Alan for promoting our music and he has become a true friend. The label champions everything we care about: great music and underground rave culture. It is the perfect fit for us.
With the EP dropping, how are you thinking about translating House of Hades into a live setting this summer?
We have some exciting shows coming up this summer! Last year we played Sisyphos, closing the Strand stage on a beautiful sunny afternoon in August in Berlin. Having been deeply inspired by this experience we wrote the title track “Open Up Your Mind.” We hope to be back there this summer to play it. We will also be playing in Paris in June and are very excited to play all four tracks in our set. We write our music with the dance floor in mind and it’s always special playing your music and seeing the reaction to it.
Staying local for a moment, what are your favorite places to play in London and to see a show?
We haven’t played too many shows in London yet, but recently we performed at Electrowerkz for the QTS event, which was great. At the end of the month, we’ll be at The Glove That Fits, which we’re really buzzing about.
In terms of venues to see a show, London has so much to offer. fabric, KOKO, The Cause, and Venue MOT are some of our favourites.
You’ve had a massive year since joining forces. What has surprised you the most about working together as CLOSE PROXIMITY?
For us, working together has always been instinctive and seamless – so there’s not really been any surprises in terms of working together!
Looking ahead, what’s next for you both after House of Hades?
After this EP, we will have a release coming out on a great label run by one of our favourite artists. Right now we cannot say any more than that.
Thanks for doing this, guys. That was a lot of fun! In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
Thank you for the interesting questions, it was our pleasure!
