Hit or Miss (feat. Arnaé Batson)

Ruckus Roboticus arrives on Bombstrikes with a rework of a stone-cold classic in the form of 'Hit or Miss'. Born out of an obsession with the song's original writer and performer; Odetta, his cover is a funky beats rework delivered in some style with an emotive, soul-laden and goose-bump-inducing vocal from Arnaé Batson. Also available is the 'Stripped Back' mix which takes the song back to its beautiful basics with guitars, horns, claps and that vocal.

RR: "I'm really drawn to the song's message: be yourself, no matter what other people think! Only later, did I learn of Odetta's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and hearing the song through that lens, it grew in importance to me. I now see the song's message as: embracing your inherent beauty & uniqueness, even in the face of discrimination and violence."

"Inspired by 90's breakbeat tracks I had recorded the music, laying down rude synth bass, funky electric piano and worked with a few session players (including saxman Sam Silva); but we needed a vocalist. After being moved to tears by an earth-shattering performance by a gospel singer I had never heard of before, Arnaé Batson, who I knew would be perfect for the vocals. It turns out that Odetta has a special place in Arnae's heart, both as a singer and as an activist. The two even met in New York City in the early 2000s. Arnaé agreed to be a part of the project, and she delivered an absolute EPIC performance."

Ruckus Roboticus is no stranger to the scene, having held a residency on Solid Steel radio and already having two albums to his name featuring the likes of Spanky Wilson and Princess Superstar. Originally from Dayton Ohio and now based in LA, he also has an impressive catalogue of remixes for legends including Muddy Waters, The O'Jays, Elvis Presley and has shared stages with Bootsy Collins, Grandmaster Flash, RJD2, and Peanut Butter Wolf, to name a few.