Gavin russom
Encyclopedia
Gavin Russom is a musician and artist signed to DFA Records
. Over the years, Russom has released music under various guises, including Black Leotard Front, Black Meteoric Star and The Crystal Ark, as well as collaborative work
with Delia Gonzalez. Russom lives in New York City
.
Central to Russom's aesthetic is the search for unity between man, machine, and art, which has translated into Russom designing and building custom analog synthesizers, both for his own music and for others'. Known as "The Wizard" for his technical prowess (as well as for his signature flowing red beard), Russom has built instruments for the likes of James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem
), Tim Goldsworthy
(UNKLE
, The Loving Hand) and Bjorn Copeland (Black Dice
).
in 1974. Expressing a profound interest in music from an early age, Russom spent his teenage years exploring drone and feedback using tape loops and mixers and playing in psychedelic noise bands with Michael Kelley (Kelley Polar
) and with Brian Chippendale
(Lightning Bolt, Mindflayer
). Russom went on to study computer music, theory, composition and improvisation at Bard College
from 1994 to 1996. A growing disillusionment with traditional compositional modes along with a move to New York in 1997 opened Russom's music to more experimental forms of expression. In 1998 his collaboration with Delia Gonzalez
began, a project that would lead to a number of releases on DFA. Russom moved to Berlin
in 2004 where, inspired by that city's flourishing electronic music scene as well as Germany's history of psychedelic music, he produced three singles under the name Black Meteoric Star, which would eventually be collected and released as a self-titled LP in 2009. As of 2010, Russom has relocated to New York where he is producing music as The Crystal Ark. He has also toured playing synths and percussion with LCD Soundsystem
.
DFA Records
DFA Records is an independent record label and production team, launched in September 2001 by Mo' Wax co-founder Tim Goldsworthy, musician James Murphy, and manager Jonathan Galkin. The label has an exclusive distribution deal with major record label EMI....
. Over the years, Russom has released music under various guises, including Black Leotard Front, Black Meteoric Star and The Crystal Ark, as well as collaborative work
Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom
Delia Gonzalez and Gavin Russom are two performance artists, musicians, and sculptors from Miami, Florida and Providence, Rhode Island respectively.The two met at a party in New York City and afterwards began working with each other...
with Delia Gonzalez. Russom lives in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Central to Russom's aesthetic is the search for unity between man, machine, and art, which has translated into Russom designing and building custom analog synthesizers, both for his own music and for others'. Known as "The Wizard" for his technical prowess (as well as for his signature flowing red beard), Russom has built instruments for the likes of James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem was a prominent American dance-punk band from New York City. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records...
), Tim Goldsworthy
Tim Goldsworthy
Tim Goldsworthy is a British record producer, DJ and recording artist, living and working in New York City since 1999.Originally a musician/producer for UNKLE, Goldsworthy co-founded James Lavelle's Mo' Wax label...
(UNKLE
UNKLE
Unkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined...
, The Loving Hand) and Bjorn Copeland (Black Dice
Black Dice
Black Dice is an experimental electronic music group currently based in Brooklyn, New York, USA.-Early years:Black Dice formed in spring 1997 soon after guitarist Bjorn Copeland met drummer Hisham Bharoocha and bassist Sebastian Blanck when they were students at the Rhode Island School of Design...
).
Biography
Russom was born in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
in 1974. Expressing a profound interest in music from an early age, Russom spent his teenage years exploring drone and feedback using tape loops and mixers and playing in psychedelic noise bands with Michael Kelley (Kelley Polar
Kelley Polar
Kelley Polar, born Michael Kelley, is an alternative dance vocalist and producer.Originally a classical violist from Providence, R.I., he studied at the Oberlin Conservatory and then at Juilliard, where he collaborated with Metro Area's Darshan Jesrani and Morgan Geist on tracks like "Miura",...
) and with Brian Chippendale
Brian Chippendale
Brian Chippendale is a musician and artist based in Providence, Rhode Island. Chippendale is best known as the drummer/vocalist for the bands Lightning Bolt and Mindflayer . He also plays saxophone and drums in a solo project called Black Pus...
(Lightning Bolt, Mindflayer
Mindflayer (band)
Mindflayer is a noise rock band from Providence, Rhode Island, made up of Brian Chippendale and Matt Brinkman which was formed out of Fort Thunder....
). Russom went on to study computer music, theory, composition and improvisation at Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
from 1994 to 1996. A growing disillusionment with traditional compositional modes along with a move to New York in 1997 opened Russom's music to more experimental forms of expression. In 1998 his collaboration with Delia Gonzalez
Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom
Delia Gonzalez and Gavin Russom are two performance artists, musicians, and sculptors from Miami, Florida and Providence, Rhode Island respectively.The two met at a party in New York City and afterwards began working with each other...
began, a project that would lead to a number of releases on DFA. Russom moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 2004 where, inspired by that city's flourishing electronic music scene as well as Germany's history of psychedelic music, he produced three singles under the name Black Meteoric Star, which would eventually be collected and released as a self-titled LP in 2009. As of 2010, Russom has relocated to New York where he is producing music as The Crystal Ark. He has also toured playing synths and percussion with LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem was a prominent American dance-punk band from New York City. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records...
.
Albums
- The Days of MarsThe Days of MarsThe Days of Mars is the debut album from artists Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom. It was released on October 10, 2005.All the music was created by layering live takes of custom built synthesizers and other instruments.- Track listing :# "Rise" 12.55...
(with Delia Gonzalez) (DFA, 2005) - Black Meteoric Star (as Black Meteoric Star) (DFA, 2009)
With Delia Gonzalez
- "El Monte" (DFA · 2003)
- "Casual Friday" (as Black Leotard Front) (DFA · 2004)
- "Relevee" (DFA · 2006) (featuring remixes by Carl CraigCarl CraigCarl Craig is a Detroit-based producer of techno music, and is considered to be one of the most important names in the Detroit second generation of techno producers and DJs...
and Baby FordBaby FordPeter Ford, better known as Baby Ford, is a British electronic music record producer, known particularly for his contributions to the birth of acid house...
) - "Track Five" (DFA · 2010)
As Black Meteoric Star
- "Death Tunnel/World Eater" (DFA · 2009)
- "Dominatron/Anthem" (DFA · 2009)
- "Dream Catcher/Dawn" (DFA · 2009)
As The Crystal Ark
- "The City Never Sleeps" (DFA · 2010)
- "The Tangible Presence of the Miraculous" (DFA · 2010)
- "Touch" (DFA · 2011)