After a few years of absence, West Midlands producer and DJ Tromino has re-emerged with a dynamic new release, Silver Lines / Protect [2024]. This double-sided powerhouse follows the success of his August EP Titled / Larry and the Drum Machine, and it’s clear that Tromino hasn’t lost his touch. With his signature ‘Power of 3’ style—fusing Detroit, Chicago, and Acid House—he’s crafted two tracks that are as fresh as they are nostalgic.
Silver Lines opens with a thick drumline and a minimal yet punchy kick bass, immediately grabbing your attention. The track’s steady growth, layer upon layer, creates a hypnotic effect to keep dancers moving. “The drums and toms give it such a nice groove. The pads have that nice ’90s vibe,” Tromino explains. His attention to the subtle elements of rhythm and bass shines through, with every four-bar cycle intensifying the track’s energy. The track’s live impact is undeniable. Tromino sums it up: “You don’t just hear the music, you feel it too.”
Protect [2024], on the other hand, is an adrenaline-fueled banger built for the dancefloor. Its military precision beat and revamped vocal samples give it an edge that cuts through any club sound system. The 2024 edit of Protect has been streamlined, allowing it to focus on lead synths that pulsate through your veins. Tromino reflects on the original version: “The original mix had more of a 303 acid bassline... I decided to strip it back and focus more on the lead sounds.” The result? A track reworked for maximum club impact, as evidenced by early support from heavyweights like John Digweed and Anthony Pappa.
The Comeback
When we caught up with Tromino, he reflected on his journey back to the scene, a path marred by the challenges of lockdown and personal struggles. “I was just launching the Tromino project when we went into lockdown. It really affected me physically, mentally, and financially,” he shared. Like many artists during the pandemic, Tromino had to recalibrate. “I was immune-suppressed, so I was isolating at home, but the positive side was I had time in the studio.” During this period, the foundations for Silver Lines and Protect were laid.
Despite the personal challenges, Tromino’s creativity didn’t wane. Instead, he threw himself into his craft, building a new setup with classic ’90s synth racks and keyboards, which gave rise to his latest material. The result is music that carries both the weight of personal reflection and the excitement of the dancefloor.
The Inspirations Behind the Music
For Tromino, influences from house music pioneers like Larry Heard are key to his sound. In fact, Larry & the Drum Machine was directly inspired by a TV documentary Tromino watched on the origins of house music. “They were interviewing Larry Heard, and he talked about trading in his drum kit for a synthesizer and drum machine. The light bulb in my head came on. That was the start of Larry & the Drum Machine,” Tromino recalled.
When it comes to Silver Lines, the track’s origins are a little different, stemming from a remix competition hosted by Mella Dee. Tromino loved the drum samples so much that he asked for permission to use them in his own track. “I had to do a little re-arrangement of the drums to fit what I wanted and just pushed a bit more bass out of the toms. It’s just lush,” he says.
As for Protect, the vocal sample at its core—“I will protect”—served as a mantra during a period of isolation. The original version had a more prominent acid bassline, but Tromino decided to take a different direction for the 2024 edit, refining it for the club environment.
A Long Road Back
Despite his deep roots in house music, Tromino admits it wasn’t easy to get back into the groove of producing after such a long break. “My ears are a little shot, and I have my mixdown issues,” he laughs. He regularly travels from his Midlands base to London to work with studio engineer Jay Gilbert at 9M Studios, ensuring his tracks are perfectly polished.
DJing, however, has been like second nature to him. “It’s about playing the right tracks at the right time and in the right order,” Tromino says. Whether it’s a warm-up set, a peak-time slot, or a 6 a.m. closing, Tromino’s music fits seamlessly into any moment on the dancefloor.
Tromino: What’s Next?
With Silver Lines / Protect marking his comeback, Tromino has no plans to slow down. “Next EP, You Move Me, will be going out to promo shortly, and I’ve got an EP coming out every month until February/March 2025,” he reveals. There are also collaborations in the pipeline, though he’s keeping the details under wraps for now.
Tromino’s new material is a must-listen for fans of forward-thinking house music. His unique fusion of Detroit, Chicago, and Acid House continues to evolve, and with support from the scene’s top names, his future is looking as bright as ever.
Tromino
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