Rustie

Rustie
Rustie performing
Background information
Birth nameRussell Whyte
Also known asRustie Russ
Born (1983-01-04) 4 January 1983 (age 41)
OriginPollokshields, Glasgow, Scotland
Genres
Occupation(s)Producer, musician
Instrument(s)Computers, guitar
Years active2007–present
LabelsWarp, Numbers, Wireblock, Stuffrecords

Rustie (born Russell Whyte) is a Scottish musician from Glasgow. He is associated with the Numbers label collective and first received attention for his 2007 EP Jagz the Smack. He signed to Warp Records in 2009. His 2011 debut album Glass Swords won him widespread acclaim. His music blends disparate genres, including hip hop, rave, and electronic trap.

History

[edit]

Rustie's first instrument was guitar and he bought his first decks at age 15. He is associated with the subgenre of aquacrunk, a genre described as an experimental offshoot of hip hop that emphasises slowed down, low-slung beats, with lashings of electronic mutterings and morphing basslines.[4] He believes his work conveys movement and fluidity, and that his creative process is an "immersive world" wrapped up in sound, rhythm, and color. Rustie's long-time interest in video games has influenced his approach to electronic composition.[5]

Rustie's first singles were released in 2007 and 2008.[6] The producer signed with Warp Records in 2010 for the release of Sunburst EP. In 2011, Rustie released his first album Glass Swords on Warp Records. Widely celebrated for its meditation on everything from grime and hip-hop, to sci-fi computer games, and even prog rock,[7][8][9] Brad LaBonte of Dusted Magazine wrote "Glass Swords contains some of the freshest, most exciting electronic dance music I've heard this year. Put simply, nothing sounds like this record."[10] Where as Rolling Stone proclaimed it "one of the most thrilling electronic albums of the decade."

In 2012, "After Light" from Glass Swords was included in an Adidas television advertisement featuring British track and field athlete Jessica Ennis prior to the 2012 Olympic Games.[11] Three tracks from Glass Swords ("After Light", "Ultra Thizz" and "Surph") were used in the soundtrack to the video game Sleeping Dogs.

The same year, Glass Swords won The Guardian's First Album Award.[12][13]

Rustie released his second album, Green Language, on 26 August 2014 on Warp Records. In a review of the album, Pitchfork proclaimed that “Part of Rustie's genius is the way he spun so many sounds and ideas into a bright, high-energy electro-funk whose central contradiction—brittle in sound, pliant in structure—turned out to be visionary." Two tracks from the album, 'Raptor'[14][15] and 'Attak (feat. Danny Brown)',[16] received "best new track" awards by Pitchfork. Following the release, a second single, "Lost" (feat. Redinho), was premiered by Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1.

After a show for XOYO Loves at London's Coronet Theatre on 29 November 2014 featuring special guest, rapper Danny Brown, Rustie announced his upcoming 2015, 'Green Language Live' world tour. The 'Green Language' tour is his largest to date and featured dates across Europe, Australia, the USA and Korea. The events showcased immersive 3D visuals by A-Rock including lost Egyptian artefacts, swarms of birds amongst other extravagant effects.[17][18]

Previously, Whyte has played live with collaborators; Redinho at his album launch party hosted at London's Oval Space on 18 September 2014, production/vocal duo AlunaGeorge,[19] and Koreless.

On 6 April 2015, Rustie announced the next North American leg of his Green Language World Tour. It included stops at a number of festivals with performances at Sasquatch, Bonnaroo, Firefly and Governors Ball.[20]

At the beginning of November 2015, Rustie announced that his third album, Evenifudontbelieve, would be released on 5 November. In his review in The Fader, Selim Bulut wrote; "I want to join the cult of Rustie... On his new album EVENIFUDONTBELIEVE, the electronic producer has created a secular gospel. Is it possible to download someone’s consciousness as an album? I don't know if I believe in that, but I definitely believe in Rustie."[21] Evenifudontbelieve was released via Warp Records,[22] having made two of the singles taken from the album, "First Mythz" and "Peace Upzzz" available for stream only days prior to the release.[23]

Late November 2015, saw Rustie take part in a live Q&A with fans on Reddit, answering questions on a range of subjects including his production techniques, his influences and previous collaborations.[24]

After seven years of silence, Sub Club hosted Rustie and other artists in collaboration with the Glasgow label, Numbers, on 2 December 2022.[25]

On June 4, 2024, he released his first single in nine years, "Black Ice Mudra", on Warp Records.[26]

Production

[edit]

As well as his own material, Whyte has produced three tracks for Danny Brown's 2013 album Old.[27]

Personal life

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At the age of 15, Whyte was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.[28]

In the midst of Evenifudontbelieve's release cycle and tour, Whyte announced that he would be cancelling all concerts "due to addiction and mental health problems".[29]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Album details
Glass Swords
Green Language
  • Release: 26 August 2014
  • Label: Warp
Evenifudontbelieve
  • Release: 5 November 2015
  • Label: Warp

EPs

[edit]
Title Album details
Jagz The Smack
Bad Science
Sunburst

Singles

[edit]
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
UK
[30]
2008 "Zig-Zag" — Bad Science
2011 "All Nite" — Glass Swords
"Ultra Thizz" —
2012 "Surph"
(featuring Nightwave) 		—
"After Light"
(featuring AlunaGeorge) 		173
2013 "Triadzz / Slasherr" —
2014 "Attak"
(featuring Danny Brown) 		— Green Language
2014 "Lost"
(featuring Redinho) 		—
2015 "Big Catzz" — Evenifudontbelieve
2024 "Black Ice Mudra" —
2024 "Thornzz" —
2024 "Draoidh" —

"—" denotes single that did not chart.

Remixes

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  • "Spliff Dub" by Zomby on Mush / Spliff Dub (2008)
  • "Another Day" by Jamie Lidell on Another Day (2008)
  • "Let Me See What U Workin With" by Rod Lee on Let Me See What U Workin With (2008)
  • "Drama" by Fool on Drama (2008)
  • "In This" by Various Production on Versus (2008)
  • "In The Blood" by Pivot on In The Blood (2008)
  • "The Black Block" by Modeselektor on Happy Birthday! Remixed #2 (2008)
  • "No Security" by Crookers feat. Kelis on No Security (2009)
  • "Ariel" by Stateless on Ninja Tune XX: 20 Years Of Beats & Pieces (2010)
  • "Ariel" (Second version credited as 'Rustie's Pentagram Remake') by Stateless on Ninja Tune XX No. 1 (2010)
  • "I'm Gone" by Lazer Sword on Lazer Sword (2010)
  • "G41" by 8Bitch on G41 (2010)
  • "Dominos" by The Big Pink on Chysalis Music 2010 Coachella (2010)
  • "Fancy Forty" by Lunice on Stacker Upper (2010)
  • "On My Mind" by Joker on On My Mind (2011)
  • "Brand New" by Gucci Mane (2011)
  • "Lose Yourself" by Surkin on Lose Yourself (2012)
  • "Love in Motion" by SebastiAn on Love in Motion (2012)
  • "Ratchet" by Bloc Party on Four (Deluxe Edition) (2013)
  • "Trouble on My Mind" by Pusha T feat. Tyler, the Creator via SoundCloud (2013)
  • "Back Seat Ho" by Machinedrum (2014)
  • "Beautiful" by A. G. Cook (2014)
  • "Midnight" by Joker (2014)
  • "Hit Da Blokk" by Big Dope P (2015)
  • "Where Are Ü Now" by Jack Ü with Justin Bieber (2015)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ LaBonte, Brad (11 October 2011). "Dusted Reviews: Rustie - Glass Swords". Dusted Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. ^ Aguiar, Steven. "RUSTIE GOES ACOUSTIC FOR A LIVE SESSION ON BBC RADIO". MTV. Archived from the original on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  3. ^ Harvell, Jess (18 October 2011). "Rustie :Glass Swords". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  4. ^ Bakare, Lanre (20 October 2008). "Scene and heard: Get ready for aquacrunk". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Interview: Rustie used to produce like how gamers game. | Kill Screen | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. 31 May 2012. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  6. ^ LaBonte, Brad (12 October 2010). "Sunburst". Dusted Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  7. ^ Reynaldo, Shawn (10 October 2011). "Glass Swords". XLR8R. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  8. ^ Gibb, Rory (27 September 2011). "Glass Swords". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  9. ^ Macpherson, Alex (6 October 2011). "Glass Swords". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  10. ^ LaBonte, Brad (11 October 2011). "Glass Swords". Dusted Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Rustie features on new Olympic Adidas advert". Factmag.com. 10 July 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  12. ^ Jonze, Tim (9 February 2012). "Guardian first album award: Rustie". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  13. ^ Hann, Michael (6 January 2012). "The Guardian first album award 2012: our shortlist". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  14. ^ Dombal, Ryan. "Rustie – Raptor". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  15. ^ Minsker, Evan (23 June 2014). "Rustie Details New Album Green Language". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 30 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  16. ^ "Rustie - "Attak" [ft. Danny Brown]". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Green Language Live - 2015 World Tour Dates". Warp Records. London. 6 December 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  18. ^ "Rustie takes Green Language on world tour starting January 2015". FACT Magazine. London. 6 December 2014. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  19. ^ "Rustie: London live Show update, AlunaGeorge & Koreless added". Warp Records. London. 13 August 2014. Archived from the original on 16 August 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  20. ^ "RA: Rustie tour dates". Residentadvisor.net. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  21. ^ @RUSTIE (4 November 2015). "EVENIFUDONTBELIEVE on Twitter: "NEW RECORD OUT TMRW FUK KNOWS WHAT TIME #EVENIFUDONTBELIEVE T.co/TkzhpLwlAh"" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Rustie's new album 'Evenifyoudontbelieve' has dropped". Mixmag. Archived from the original on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  23. ^ "Rustie". SoundCloud. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  24. ^ "[AMA] Ayyy this is Rustie from Glasgow. I have just released my 3rd album on Warp Records. Ask me anything. • /r/Music". reddit. 24 November 2015. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  25. ^ Cochrane, Kez (11 November 2022). "Rustie is playing a party in Glasgow next week". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  26. ^ "Black Ice Mudra by Rustie - Releases". 4 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Danny Brown Reveals New Album Title, Collaborations With A$AP Rocky, Purity Ring, Rustie". Pitchfork. London. 17 December 2012. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  28. ^ Rustie (7 July 2015). "Rustie – This track saved me when I was 15 & wanted to die after being diagnosed insulin dependent for the rest of my life". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  29. ^ Rustie (19 December 2015). "Due to addiction & mental health problems, all gigs in the near future are cancelled. Very very sorry & hope to see u all soon". Twitter. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  30. ^ Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
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