Aphex Twin

Pioneering British electronic musician known for ambient, techno, and IDM.

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:
Aphex Twin
Role / Field:
Pioneering British electronic musician known for ambient, techno, and IDM.
Born:
1971-08-18
Century / Era:
1971s Historical Era
Database Source:
2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

Richard David James (born 18 August 1971), known professionally as Aphex Twin, is a British musician, composer and DJ active in electronic music since 1988. His idiosyncratic work has drawn on many styles, including techno, ambient, acid, and jungle, and he is closely associated with the intelligent dance music genre. Journalists from publications including Mixmag, The New York Times, NME, Fact, Clash and The Guardian have called James one of the most influential and important artists in contemporary electronic music. James was raised in Cornwall and began DJing at free parties and clubs around the South West in the late 1980s.

Key Developments & Impact

His debut EP Analogue Bubblebath, released in 1991 on Mighty Force Records, brought James an early following; he began to perform across the UK and continental Europe. James co-founded the independent label Rephlex Records the same year. His 1992 debut album Selected Ambient Works 85–92, released by Belgian label Apollo, garnered wider critical and popular acclaim. James signed to Warp in late 1992 and subsequently released a sequel, Selected Ambient Works Volume II, the Richard D. James Album (1996), and Top 40 singles such as "Come to Daddy" (1997) and "Windowlicker...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

  1. 1971 (1971-08-18): Birth of Aphex Twin — Pioneering British electronic musician known for ambient, techno, and IDM.
  2. 1991: 1991 Milestone — His debut EP Analogue Bubblebath, released in 1991 on Mighty Force Records, brought James an early following; he began to perform across the UK and continental Europe.
  3. 1992: 1992 Milestone — His 1992 debut album Selected Ambient Works 85–92, released by Belgian label Apollo, garnered wider critical and popular acclaim.
  4. 1996: 1996 Milestone — James Album (1996), and Top 40 singles such as "Come to Daddy" (1997) and "Windowlicker...

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Aphex Twin

True or False: “Aphex Twin's early career was primarily focused on releasing complex, highly technical ambient pieces.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While known for ambient works, his early career also heavily involved DJing at free parties and releasing foundational techno and acid sounds.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

  • Abd El-Razzak El-Sanhuri — Contemporary (Died in 1971) (1971): Pioneering Egyptian jurist, celebrated for authoring the revised Civil Code of 1948.
  • Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — Contemporary (Born in 1971) (1971): Iraqi militant leader and founder of the Islamic State (IS)
  • Aditya Chopra — Contemporary (Born in 1971) (1971): Pioneering figure in Hindi Cinema, known for producing blockbuster films and leading Yash Raj Films.
  • Alain Delon — Shared historical date (08-18 · Died) (2024): Iconic French actor, producer, and cinematic leading man of the 20th century.
  • Alain Robbe-Grillet — Shared historical date (08-18 · Born) (1922): Pioneering French writer and filmmaker associated with the Nouveau Roman movement.
  • Adriano Giannini — Historical peer (Born in 1971) (1971): Italian actor known for dubbing and roles in film and television.
  • Alison Krauss — Historical peer (Born in 1971) (1971): Esteemed American bluegrass singer and musician known for her vibrant career.
  • Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad — Historical peer (Died in 1988) (1988): Renowned Egyptian Quran reciter, celebrated for his melodious and emotionally engaging style.
  • Abdul Ghaffar Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1988) (1988): Pioneering nonviolent activist and founder of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement.
  • Abby Stein — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
  • 1971 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1971
  • August 18 (08-18) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on August 18

Frequently Asked Questions about Aphex Twin

Who was Aphex Twin and what are their primary contributions?

Pioneering British electronic musician known for ambient, techno, and IDM. Origins & Foundations: Richard David James (born 18 August 1971), known professionally as Aphex Twin, is a British musician, composer and DJ active in electronic music since 1988. His idiosyncratic work has drawn on many styles, including techno, ambient, acid, and jungle, and he is closely associated with the intelligent dance music genre. Journalists from publications including Mixmag, The New York Times, NME, Fact, Clash and The Guardian have called James one of the most influential and important artists in contemporary electronic music. James was raised in Cornwall and began DJing at free parties and clubs around the South West in the late 1980s.

When was Aphex Twin born and during which historical era did they live?

Aphex Twin was born on 1971-08-18. For complete historical world events during this era, explore the 1971 Chrono-Archive.

Where can I read more verified chronological archives on Aphex Twin?

Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.

Source: Wikipedia