Contact Sports Lives in the Gap Between in New Single “Me & My Machine”
The hyper-pop world is rapidly expanding and solidifying itself as a staple genre of modern music. It’s the perfect space for multi-faceted artists to express feelings that don’t require words to describe, especially artists who work across physical and visual mediums in addition to music. This is why Contact Sports is a bright new beacon for the genre, one we’re welcoming with open arms.
Contact Sports is the musical project of 25 year old director, model, and visual artist Tati Bruening, who you might know as the equally clever moniker Illumitati. The young creative has quite the resume, working with artists and brands such as FKA Twigs, A24 and more. Since 2024 she’s released a handful of singles, each playing with electronic music in their own unique ways. Today, she’s releasing her first single of the year and its impact is undeniable.
“Me & My Machine” is a complex track that speaks boldly with few words, making it an impressive introduction for those just now entering the world of Contact Sports, the musician. There’s a minute-long instrumental before a word is even spoken, honing in on the artificial – not to be confused with fake. The sonic world tells a story without words, as the track title is repeated in a pleasing rhythm that speaks further than the phrase itself. “Me & My Machine” is as relevant as ever, only more so as time passes, as it speaks to the contrast between the natural world and manmade precious metals.
In line with Bruening’s expansive skillset, the music video is key to understanding and experiencing the song in full. Co-directed by Bruening and Kurt Johnson, the video makes a point to prioritize practical sets and world-building, rejecting the usage of AI to successfully, and humanistically, tell a story about the relationship between humanism and technology.
It’d be wrong to not mention the impact SOPHIE has left in the experimental music world and it’s a joy to see her legacy being woven into exciting, budding artists like Contact Sports. “Me & My Machine” is a bold first single of 2026 and we can’t wait to see what else is in store for an artist as multi-talented as Bruening.
Listen to "Me & My Machine" below:
