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Concrete Husband Explores Heartbreak and Liberation on Debut Album ‘Piel’

  • November 19, 2024
  • 3 min read
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Concrete Husband Explores Heartbreak and Liberation on Debut Album ‘Piel’
concrete husband, piel, ven aqui, indie rock, electronic music,

Concrete Husband, the multifaceted Brooklyn-based producer, DJ, and composer Carlos Aguilar, sets the stage for his debut album Piel with two striking new singles: “Piel” and “Ven Aqui.” Scheduled for release on December 6 via White Owl Records, Piel unfolds in two contrasting acts, mirroring the duality of Aguilar’s artistic persona. The title track, “Piel,” is a mesmerizing display of ethereal electronic craftsmanship, interwoven with Aguilar’s conservatory-trained flute mastery—a skill that’s earned him coveted opening slots for avant-garde luminaries like Bendik Giske and Eartheater. Meanwhile, “Ven Aqui” pulsates with raw, groove-heavy techno energy, showcasing the propulsive, multi-deck DJing that has solidified Aguilar’s status in NYC’s underground club scene.

Concrete Husband’s debut album brims with emotional resonance, diving into deep introspection and explosive release. The album’s first half finds Aguilar grappling with the aftermath of a tumultuous relationship, its emotional weight evident in tracks like “Piel” and “Esperanza.” These pieces juxtapose surface-level beauty with a core of dissonance, unraveling the fragility of his former self. “Despedida” and “La Primera Vez,” on the other hand, steep listeners in sheer darkness, delivering a hazy meditation on heartbreak and self-reclamation. Aguilar reflects, “Everyone else thought my relationship was perfect, and in my own fantasy, so did I—but it was violent. He was lost, and I was lost too. Piel is me coming back to myself.”

The second half of the album shifts gears, embodying a fiery extroversion and visceral liberation. Here, Concrete Husband dives headfirst into primal, body-driven techno. Tracks are built for tension and release, pairing industrial soundscapes with hard-hitting rhythms. Aguilar’s masterful four-deck mixing drives the intensity, layering alarming percussion and hypnotic grooves that evoke sweat-soaked catharsis. This is music made for the late-night dancefloor—a celebration of freedom and transformation. By bridging experimental sound design with raw techno grit, Piel charts the volatile, exhilarating terrain between emotional lows and physical highs.

Concrete Husband’s debut is as bold as it is vulnerable, capturing Aguilar’s personal rebirth in sonic form. Listen to “Piel” and “Ven Aqui” now, and preorder/save Piel ahead of its December 6 release on White Owl Records. To mark the occasion, Concrete Husband will take over Brooklyn Monarch’s The Wood Shop on December 12 for a special All Night Long set presented by The Ornate Project.

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Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan is an accomplished promoter, event planner, producer, activist, counselor, poet and blogger. Within the course of two and a half years Chris Ryan has worked with some of NYC's most established promoters/event planners, been named 2007′s GaySocialite of the year, granted a promoter of the year award from NYC's most famous gay establishment, Splash. He's worked in some of NYC's top venues including; Avalon, Capitale, Cipriani, Cielo, Pacha, Element, Le Poisson Rouge, XL, G Lounge, Plumm, Hilton Hotel, Indigo Hotel, Spirit, Myst/Quo, Splash, The Ritz, Vlada, Roseland Ballroom, Heaven, etc. In 2008, Chris Ryan has begun to unveil some of the most innovative & unique parties New York City has ever seen. The Fusion events "fuse" together all disciplines of art into an event that remains diverse yet cohesive at the same time. ChrisRyanNYC.com won best gay promotions website from NYC Event Patrons in 2008 & he was granted an award from the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Gov. Patterson & Michelle Clunie (QAF) saluting him for his hard work in nightlife. Chris Ryan has also begun working with many renown companies, including; doctors, lawyers, physicians, modeling agencies & more. Chris Ryan has been responsible for wide-scale promotions for all these companies & generating tremendous business. Chris Ryan has even started to become National with events taking place in LA & Miami this year. In May of 2009 Chris Ryan received the very prestigious honor of being named a "40 Under 40″ Gays in America by the Advocate Magazine. He also created three successful parties that generated over 1,500 patrons each. In January of 2010 Chris Ryan was featured as one of the top promoters to look out for in Noize Magazine Chris Ryan joined forces with legendary promoter/event producer, Lee Chappell and created one of the most talked about events of all 2010, Desire @ Capitale. Chris Ryan and Lee featured one of the most outstanding artists NYC has ever seen, "Oh Land." Her performance coupled with an exquisite and unforgettable set design added to this extravagant event that held over 1,000 patrons in one of NYC's most successful PRIDE events! Chris Ryan then joined forces with legendary Pacha promoter, Rob Fernandez in addition to Jake Resnicow and Tommy Marinelli to bring one of the largest and most successful parties worldwide to NYC, MATINEE. The event on Governor's Island saw over 2,000+ attendees and one of the most ambitious productions ever. In 2011 Chris Ryan started Emerge Music Promotions with business partner Darren Melchiorre. Emerge Music promotions began signing artists with plans to develop and market the artists to the community at large. Emerge Music promotions has big events planned for 2012 and 2013. Chris Ryan debuted the IMAGE events which took place on top of two of NYC's most beautiful rooftop venues, Rare View and Indigo Hotel. The events were blogged everywhere and featured the fashion designs of several clothing designers, artists and photographers. Chris Ryan felt that fashion and art should be displayed at every event and attracted the likes of Malan Breton, Calvin Klein and even Katy Perry. Chris Ryan began an extremely successful event which incorporated the concept of a house party into a nightclub atmosphere. The event Twist'D at G Lounge has been one of the most talked about events in NYC and allows it's audience to play nearly-naked Twister, beer pong, flip cup & more with other attendees. Chris Ryan was granted an excellence in volunteering award from AVP (Anti-Violence Project) for all his efforts in supporting the organization. 2013 has a very promising landscape on the horizon and Chris Ryan is complacent in saying "you haven't seen anything yet!"

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