- 7inch
- Recommended
- Back In
Lj Simon Feat. Denice Brooks
Givin' Up
Red Motorbike - Cat No: BIKE026
- updated:2026-10-29
LJ SIMON, a Berlin-based artist whose sound is heavily influenced by ’80s boogie and modern funk, from EDDIE C’s *RED MOTORBIKE*. Featuring Denice Brooks, a Texas singer active from the ’80s through the early ’90s who is said to be the only artist officially authorized to cover Prince’s “Purple Rain.”
Track List
Red Motorbike hits the road in '26 with an original production from Berlin's master of boogie funk LJ Simon! Givin' Up is a soulful modern funk 7" steeped in warm '80s analogue production and classic groove. The OG version blends vintage synth textures with a deep, understated rhythm section. Known for his love of fat-sounding vintage gear, LJ Simon begins every song with no blueprint, working purely from sound, instinct, and feel, tuning in to receive what the moment brings. The influences are unmistakable, yet the result feels fresh, intuitive and alive. Vocals are delivered by Denice Brooks, a formidable singer from Austin, Texas, now based in Berlin. Denice built her solo career while performing with an exceptional list of artists including Tina Turner, Roy Ayers, David Bowie, Nancy Wilson, Natalie Cole, and many others. She is notably the only singer to receive Prince's blessing to record an official cover of 'Purple Rain' - a distinction that speaks volumes about her artistry. Her career has taken her across Germany, Europe, the Middle East, and South Africa, where she even once performed for Nelson Mandela. Her continued experience across stage, studio, television, and musical theatre shines through in a vocal performance rich in depth and soul. Label head Eddie C offers up his Disko Mix and reframes the track through a '90s street soul lens; stripped-back, dusty, and perfectly tuned for late-night selectors and heads-down dancefloors.
A die-hard vinyl collector of ’80s boogie and vintage gear enthusiast: LJ SIMON from Berlin. The A-side features a remix by EDDIE C that evokes the spirit of UK street soul. (Saito)
“An original production by Berlin’s boogie-funk master, LJ Simon—Red Bike’s 2026 road hit! ‘Givin’ Up’—is a soulful modern funk 7-inch, colored by ’80s analog production and classic grooves.” The OG version blends the texture of vintage synths with a deep, understated rhythm section. Known for his love of vintage gear that produces a fat sound, LJ Simon begins crafting songs without a blueprint, relying purely on sound, intuition, and feel, and tunes in to receive whatever that moment brings. While he is undoubtedly influenced by other artists, the result is fresh, intuitive, and vibrant. The vocals are provided by Dennis Brooks, a talented singer originally from Austin, Texas, who is now based in Berlin. Dennis Brooks has built her solo career while performing with numerous artists, including Tina Turner, Roy Ayers, David Bowie, Nancy Wilson, and Natalie Cole. The fact that she is the only singer to have recorded an official cover of “Purple Rain” with Prince’s permission speaks to her high artistic caliber. Her career has taken her across Germany, Europe, the Middle East, and South Africa, where she has even performed for Nelson Mandela. Her extensive experience across the stage, studio, television, and musical theater shines through in her vocal performances, rich with depth and soul. Label head Eddie C provides a disco mix that reimagines this track through the lens of ’90s street soul. (From the press release)