Richard David James, widely recognized by his stage name 'Aphex Twin,' is a notable electronic musician and composer. He is acclaimed for his prowess in electronic composition, with a distinctive feature being that many of his tracks were composed using relatively archaic computer software compared to the advanced synthesizers available today.
Born on August 18, 1971, in Limerick, Ireland, Richard David James spent his early years in Cornwall, England, following a family move. James often shared insights into his childhood, noting that his parents were exceptionally supportive of his curiosity and experimentation, allowing him the freedom to explore his interests. It was during this time that he achieved an extraordinary feat by composing a track on the Sinclair ZX81, a home computer with no sound hardware. James noticed that it produced peculiar sounds when he manipulated its code related to rerouting TV signals. His time at Cornwall College, where he earned an engineering diploma in 1990, equipped him with the knowledge necessary for producing music using electronic equipment. While in college, he frequently worked as a DJ at the Bowgie Pub, forming a partnership with another DJ, Wilson-Claridge. Under the stage name Aphex Twin, James released several albums with Wilson-Claridge, including "Analogue Bubblebath," an album that gained recognition on KISS FM, a national radio station. In his collaborative efforts with Wilson-Claridge, James also used various stage names, such as 'AFX' and 'Bradley Strider.'
One of his most prominent albums was "Selected Ambient Works 85-92," released under the Aphex Twin moniker. This album garnered attention from esteemed music magazines like 'Rolling Stone' and 'Pitchfork Media.' FACT Magazine went so far as to describe it as "the greatest album of the 1990s." James continued to release additional albums and singles, including "Analogue Bubblebath 3" and "I Care Because You Do." In his later works, such as "Come to Daddy" and "Windowlicker," he progressively incorporated the synthesizer into his music. Since 2004, James has been engrossed in his "Analord" series, releasing a total of 11 albums, each containing four tracks.
Richard James is meticulous about how his audience perceives his music, ensuring that his tracks cater to both DJs and electronic music enthusiasts. His record label, Reflex Records, coined the term 'braindance' to describe his music, emphasizing that 'braindance' is a genre that embodies the finest elements of all musical genres. This term attests to James' musical versatility and mastery. His influences span a range of notable figures, including Karlheinz Stockhausen, John Cage, Brian Eno, and Delia Derbyshire. Some critics assert that he was a trailblazer in the 1970s, producing music that was considered 'ahead of his time.'
