Aphex Twin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aphex Twin
James performing in March 2007
Background information
Birth name	Richard David James
Also known as	AFX Caustic Window Polygon Window The Tuss
Born	(1971-08-18) 18 August 1971 (age 53) Limerick, Ireland
Origin	Cornwall, England
Genres	Electronic techno acid ambient IDM jungle experimental drill 'n' bass
Occupations	Musician record producer composer DJ
Instruments	Synthesiser piano turntables drum machine sequencer sampler laptop
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Warp Rephlex Apollo R&S

Richard David James (born 18 August 1971), known as Aphex Twin, is a British musician, composer, and DJ. He has been making electronic music since 1988. His unique work uses many styles, like techno, ambient, acid, and jungle. He is seen as a leader in the intelligent dance music (IDM) genre. Many music journalists have called James one of the most important artists in electronic music today.

James grew up in Cornwall, England. He started being a DJ at parties and clubs in the late 1980s. His first music release, Analogue Bubblebath (1991), quickly gained fans. He then started performing across the UK and Europe. James also helped start the record label Rephlex Records in the same year.

His first full album, Selected Ambient Works 85–92 (1992), was praised by critics and became popular. James later signed with Warp in 1992. He released successful albums like ...I Care Because You Do (1995) and Richard D. James Album (1996). He also had popular songs like "Come to Daddy" (1997) and "Windowlicker" (1999). These songs had famous music videos directed by Chris Cunningham, which made James known worldwide.

After his album Drukqs in 2001, James released music on his own Rephlex label for several years. In 2014, he released an album from 1994 that had never been heard before, under the name Caustic Window. Later that year, he returned with the Aphex Twin album Syro on Warp. This album won a Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album. Since then, he has released more popular music, including the EPs Cheetah (2016) and Collapse (2018). His song "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f" (2023) was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Growing Up and Early Music

James grew up in Cornwall, a beautiful area in England.

Richard David James was born on 18 August 1971 in Limerick, Ireland. His parents were from Wales. He grew up in Lanner, Cornwall, and went to Redruth School. James liked growing up in Cornwall because it felt separate from big cities.

He became interested in making sounds before writing music. As a child, he played with the strings inside his family's piano. He also took apart tape players to see how they worked. When he was 11, he won money in a competition for making sound on a Sinclair ZX81 computer. This computer did not even have sound parts! He found special codes that made the TV signal create a strange noise. James bought his first synthesiser at age 12. He liked electronics and would change old synthesizers to make new sounds.

James started making music when he was 14. He said it was partly to get away from the music his sister played. Cornwall did not have many record shops, but it had a lively nightlife where acid house music was popular. James said he was making music similar to acid and techno years before he heard those styles. This made him want to buy every record he could find in those genres. In his late teens, James started being a DJ at clubs and parties. He would play his own songs in his DJ sets. He studied engineering at Cornwall College from 1988 to 1990. A teacher said he often wore headphones and had a "mystique" about him.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out: Free Parties and First Releases (1988–1991)

In the late 1980s, James became part of the "free party" scene in Cornwall. These were parties held in secret places like coves and sand dunes. The first party he DJed at was in a barn in 1988. These events mostly attracted local young people. James later said this was the "best scene he's ever been involved in."

In 1989, James started a regular DJ job at the Bowgie nightclub. There, he met Tom Middleton and Grant Wilson-Claridge. Tom Middleton was impressed by James's music and played a tape for a party organizer named Mark Darby. Darby convinced James to release a record on his new label, Mighty Force Records. James was not sure at first. However, Darby and Middleton convinced him to sign a contract while he was backstage at a DJ gig. James later said they made him sign when he was "off my face."

Grant Wilson-Claridge was also impressed by James's music. He suggested they use money he had inherited to start a record label. So, he and James started Rephlex Records in 1991.

James's first release was the Analogue Bubblebath EP in September 1991. This music was played on Kiss FM, a popular radio station in London. This helped his music become widely known in the dance music world. A music leader from R&S Records heard the record and invited James to Belgium. James brought many tapes of his music, and they chose songs for two records, including his first album, Selected Ambient Works 85-92.

In 1992, James started performing at techno events in London. He released several EPs, including Digeridoo and Xylem Tube on the R&S label. He also moved to London to study electronics, but he focused more on his music career.

Early Success with Selected Ambient Works (1992–1994)

The first full Aphex Twin album, Selected Ambient Works 85–92, came out in November 1992. It included music James made when he was a teenager. Many people later called it a very important album for ambient music. Critics said Aphex Twin went beyond traditional ambient music by adding strong beats and bass lines. This showed that techno could be more than just dance music.

In 1992, James also released other music under different names. His song "Digeridoo" reached number 55 on the UK Singles Chart. He also appeared on the Warp Records album Artificial Intelligence as the Dice Man. This album helped create the "intelligent dance music" genre and boosted James's career. In 1993, he released his first records on Warp as Polygon Window. Later that year, his EP "On" entered the top 40 in the UK charts.

James went on several tours in 1993. He played with other famous electronic music groups like the Orb and Orbital. He also toured across the United States.

Warp released the second Aphex Twin album, Selected Ambient Works Volume II, in March 1994. This album had a more ambient sound. It was inspired by lucid dreams and James's experience of synaesthesia (where senses mix, like seeing colors when hearing music). It reached number 11 in the UK charts. Other releases in 1994 included Analogue Bubblebath 4 and Classics, a collection of his earlier songs.

New Sounds and Music Videos (1995–2000)

For his 1995 album ...I Care Because You Do, James used a self-portrait of his face on the cover. This became a common theme for his later music. He even asked a classical music composer, Philip Glass, to create an orchestral version of one of his songs. In the same year, James released the Hangable Auto Bulb EP as AFX. This EP helped start the "drill 'n' bass" style, which used fast, computer-based drum sounds. This fast drumming became a key part of James's music for the rest of the 1990s. In 1996, James worked with Michael Paradinas (μ-Ziq) on the album Expert Knob Twiddlers as Mike & Rich.

Richard D. James Album, James's fourth album as Aphex Twin, came out in 1996. It used software synthesizers and unusual rhythms. Critics noted how James used elements from jungle music, creating his own unique sound with strange and beautiful noises. This album is still considered very important in electronic music.

James became even more famous after his Come to Daddy EP was released. The main song was meant to be a funny take on heavy metal music. It had a very popular music video directed by Chris Cunningham. James later felt that the song's huge success was unexpected. After this, he released "Windowlicker", another popular song with a music video by Cunningham. This video was nominated for a Brit Award in 2000.

New Directions and Return (2001–Present)

James performing in 2008.

In 2001, Aphex Twin released Drukqs, an experimental double album. It featured very detailed computer programming and computer-controlled piano music. The piano song "Avril 14th" is one of James's most well-known works. The album received mixed reviews. James said he released it quickly because he accidentally left an MP3 player with new songs on a plane.

In 2001, James also released a short EP called 2 Remixes By AFX. One track on it had a hidden image that could be seen using special software. In 2002, James was nominated for a Brit Award for Best British Male Artist. In 2003, Warp released 26 Mixes for Cash, a collection of James's remixes for other artists.

In 2005, James released a series of vinyl EPs called Analord under the AFX name. These were made entirely with old-fashioned analogue equipment. A collection of these songs, Chosen Lords, came out in 2006. In 2007, James released two more records on Rephlex as the Tuss. His identity as the Tuss was confirmed in 2014.

In 2009, Rephlex Records released digital versions of the Analord EPs. Many of them had extra songs. James later closed Rephlex Records. Also in 2009, James started working with visual artist Weirdcore for graphics at his live shows. Weirdcore still creates visuals and music videos for James.

In 2010, James said he had finished six new albums. In 2011, he performed a live tribute to Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. He also performed at the Paris Pitchfork Music Festival.

The Return of Aphex Twin (2014–Present)

Street art promoting the Syro album in New York City.

In 2014, a rare 1994 album by James, under his name Caustic Window, appeared for sale online. This album was never officially released. With James's permission, fans raised money to buy the record and share copies.

Syro, the first Aphex Twin album since Drukqs in 2001, was released on 23 September 2014. It was promoted with mysterious clues like graffiti, a blimp over London, and an announcement on the internet's darknet.

In 2015, James anonymously uploaded over 200 demo songs to SoundCloud. He said he released them so his family would not feel pressured to release his old music after he was gone. He still occasionally releases songs on this account.

On 23 January 2015, James released Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2. This music was made using robotic instruments, like a computer-controlled piano. On 8 July 2016, he released the Cheetah EP. It included the first official music video for an Aphex Twin song in 17 years. In December 2016, James performed in Houston, Texas, his first American show in eight years. A special vinyl record was sold only at this festival. In June 2017, James performed at the Field Day festival and released a limited edition EP. He also opened an online store with expanded versions of his albums and new songs.

Aphex Twin released an EP called Collapse on 14 September 2018. It was announced with a strange press release and distorted graphics. A video for the song "T69 Collapse" was released online.

During James's tour in September 2019, two special vinyl records were released at his shows in London and Manchester. Official recordings of these performances were later put on YouTube.

In 2023, fans found a mysterious website with the Aphex Twin logo, hinting at a performance at the Field Day festival in London. His return was confirmed on 24 January 2023. He announced more shows across Europe. At a show in Barcelona in June, a special vinyl record was released. Large QR codes with Aphex Twin branding were seen, leading to an augmented reality app. This app teased James's new EP, Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760, which was released on 28 July 2023.

After the EP's release, the app was updated. Scanning the EP's artwork with the app showed different visuals and allowed playing the songs. On 19 August 2023, James performed at Field Day again and released another exclusive vinyl EP. A video of this performance was released online. On 2 September 2023, a cassette combining the Barcelona and London releases was sold at a show in Bristol.

On 18 June 2024, James announced an expanded edition of Selected Ambient Works Volume II. This re-release included two new bonus tracks and was released on 4 October 2024. On 17 December 2024, a surprise album called Music from the Merch Desk (2016–2023) was released. It featured music from James's live shows.

Music Style and Influences

John Bush from AllMusic describes James as a "pioneer of experimental techno". He says James always pushes the limits of what electronic equipment can do. This results in music that is both thoughtful and exciting, ranging from calm, peaceful sounds to wild acid techno. The Independent called him a "maverick" (someone who does things their own way) of 1990s electronic music. Fact magazine says James has created his own special place in electronic music history. His unique melodies are why he is seen as a defining artist in the field. The Financial Times described James as a "musical maverick" who mixes different elements in surprising ways. He blends strong beats with strange sounds, and complex ideas with popular melodies.

Music writers have even called James the "Mozart of" both techno and ambient music. Paul Lester from The Guardian said James's musical roots come from "electronic greats" like Karlheinz Stockhausen, John Cage, Kraftwerk, and Brian Eno.

James did not have formal music training. He mostly taught himself. Before he became a producer, he spent his teenage years changing analogue synthesisers. He became "addicted to making noises." He said he spent his early years not knowing much about music, except for acid and techno. He claimed he was making music similar to acid and techno before he even heard those styles. He has said that 808 State's 1988 album Newbuild was a big early inspiration. In 1993, James said that not sleeping much influenced his music at the time. He also claimed to have recorded over a thousand songs that were never released. He later said he experiences synaesthesia and uses lucid dreaming to get ideas for his music.

In 1993, James had just started exploring avant-garde classical and unusual rock artists. These included Cage, Stockhausen, Eno, Steve Reich, and Can. He said he spent a couple of years "catching up" on music outside of techno and house. In 1997, James said he liked "old tape and avant-garde music." He also named works by Erik Satie, Drexciya, Ween, and Serge Gainsbourg as some of his favorite albums. When James started making faster, jungle-inspired beats in the mid-1990s, he named his friends Luke Vibert and Tom Jenkinson as influences. In 2014, James said that jungle music was "the ultimate genre" because the people making it were not trained musicians. He said he could take ideas from them, and they did not even know he existed. Along with Vibert and Jenkinson, James helped create the "drill 'n' bass" style. James's Rephlex label also released Music from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, a collection of music by the pioneers of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. In 2019, he said Kraftwerk was a major influence. Even though he said he disliked "rock and roll", he liked Led Zeppelin for their "great breakbeats" and Pink Floyd for their psychedelic music. In 2011, he said he would like to work with Kate Bush.

Rephlex Records, which James co-owned, created the word "braindance" to describe Aphex Twin's music. They said braindance includes the best parts of all music styles. This includes classical, electronic, hip-hop, techno, and drum and bass.

James is seen as a key figure in intelligent dance music (IDM). The term IDM became popular online to describe the music of Aphex Twin and the Artificial Intelligence Series from Warp Records. James commented on the IDM term in a 1997 interview:

I just think it's really funny to have terms like that. It's basically saying, "this is intelligent and everything else is stupid." It's really nasty to everyone else's music. (laughs) It makes me laugh, things like that. I don't use names. I just say that I like something or I don't.

Public Image and Other Names

The logo used on many Aphex Twin records, designed by Paul Nicholson in 1991.

James's face, often smiling or changed, is a common theme on his album covers, music videos, and songs. James said he started doing this because techno artists usually hid their faces. He wanted to do the opposite.

I did it because the thing in techno you weren't supposed to do was to be recognised and stuff. The sort of unwritten rule was that you can't put your face on the sleeve. It has to be like a circuit board or something. Therefore I put my face on the sleeve. That's why I originally did it. But then I got carried away.

The cover of ...I Care Because You Do has a self-portrait painted by James. The Richard D. James Album has a close-up photo of his face. His face is put onto other people's bodies in the music videos for "Come to Daddy" and "Windowlicker". In the "Windowlicker" song, a photo of James's face is hidden in the sound itself. Another image of James is hidden in the third song of 2 Remixes by AFX.

James has released music under many different names, including AFX, Blue Calx, Bradley Strider, Caustic Window, GAK, Polygon Window, Power-Pill, the Tuss, and user18081971. In a 1997 interview, he said there was no big reason for using different names. He just chose them based on how he felt at the time. In 2001, he said that many people thought any electronic music was his. He joked, "I'm practically everyone, I reckon—everyone and nobody."

Influence and Impact

In 2001, journalist Paul Lester called James "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music." Rolling Stone described James as a "hugely influential electronic musician." His music, with its calm sounds and twisted beats, has inspired artists in many different music styles. AllMusic's John Bush wrote that James became a true personality, known for his smile and amazing music videos. This helped him reach a wider audience, including rock fans, with many non-electronic musicians saying he inspired them.

In 2001, Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk said Aphex Twin was an influence on their album Discovery. Other artists who have said Aphex Twin influenced them include Steve Reich, Skrillex, John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, Grimes, and Charli XCX.

James also influenced Radiohead's move to electronic music for their 2000 album Kid A. In 2013, Radiohead singer Thom Yorke said Aphex Twin was his biggest influence. He said Aphex Twin "opened up another world that didn't involve my electric guitar." Yorke added that he "hated the Britpop thing" and found Aphex Twin's music "totally beautiful." In 2002, James said he would not tour with Radiohead because he did not like them. However, in 2011, he said the press had made his dislike seem worse than it was, and he had explained this to Yorke.

In 2005, Alarm Will Sound released an album called Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound Performs Aphex Twin. It featured classical arrangements of James's electronic songs. The London Sinfonietta also performed arrangements of Aphex Twin songs in 2006. The animator David Firth used Aphex Twin's music in his animated series Salad Fingers. In 2012, Fact named Selected Ambient Works 85–92 the best album of the 1990s.

Personal Life

James has sometimes made surprising claims about his personal life in interviews. He once said he lived in an abandoned bank vault with other musicians. He has described himself as "just some irritating, lying, ginger kid from Cornwall." In a 1993 interview, he claimed to sleep only two to three hours a night. In the 1990s, James bought an old armored car with a working machine gun. He claimed to drive it around Cornwall instead of a regular car.

In a 2010 interview, James said he was living in Scotland after moving from London. As of 2014, he lives in a village near Glasgow, Scotland. He lives with his two sons from his first marriage and his second wife, Anastasia, who is an art student from Russia. His sister Julie James is a politician in Wales. She was appointed the Welsh Minister for Climate Change in 2021.

In a 2014 interview, James mentioned that living in a small village can be difficult. He said, "You have to speak to everybody, and everybody knows your business." He added that for someone like him, who is "a little bit autistic or something," it can be "quite intense." He also mentioned that he does not own a smartphone.

Awards and Recognition

Discography

Studio albums as Aphex Twin

• Selected Ambient Works 85–92 (1992)
• Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994)
• ...I Care Because You Do (1995)
• Richard D. James Album (1996)
• Drukqs (2001)
• Syro (2014)

Images for kids

• 

  James performing in 2008

See also

In Spanish: Aphex Twin para niños