BJARKI/ KRAVIZ, NINA/ APHEX TWIN/ BIOGEN - WHEN I WAS 14

Bjarki (Bjarki Rúnar Sigurðarson, born September 9, 1990) is a techno producer of Icelandic origin. He is signed to Nina Kraviz's record label Tрᴎπ (TRIP Records) and frequently appears on compilations with other label mates. His experimental production style is derived from abrasive minimal techno, IDM, and trance music, influenced by artists such as Autechre. Bjarki grew up in northern Iceland and began making music when he moved in with his dad at age 12. He learned how to operate a software sequencer with help from a friend's older brother, who demonstrated how to make basic beats — hard trance, reminiscent of The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy — on a home computer. He continued experimenting with music and met fellow producer Exos upon moving back to Reykjavik, aged 15. Up until recently he was producing under the Kid Mistik alias. After relocating to Copenhagen, a chance encounter resulted in his signing to Tрᴎπ when label head Nina Kraviz was playing at the city’s Culture Box club. His debut 12" Arthur and Intergalactic Whales featured the single "I Wanna Go Bang", which was positively received, in 2015. A trilogy of albums was released in 2016 drawing from his extensive archive of unreleased material, starting with Б in June, followed by Lefhanded Fuqs and Æ shortly afterwards. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Producer, occasional vocalist, and DJ Nina Kraviz hails from Irkutsk, Siberia -- not exactly a dance music hot spot. Kraviz fell under the spell of house music during the mid-'90s through radio. A few years later, she moved to Moscow for the sake of studying dentistry and was, briefly part of a trio called MySpaceRocket. The group released one 12", 2007's "Amok," a lean house track with a deep bassline and Kraviz's breathy vocals; the B-side featured a version from U.K. DJ legend Greg Wilson. Kraviz subsequently went solo and made a splash in 2009, when she issued productions on Efdemin's Naïf, Jus-Ed's Underground Quality, and Matt Edwards' REKIDS. The following year, Kraviz issued another handful of singles, including a sound clash with Sascha Funke that appeared on BPitch Control. "Ghetto Kraviz" was her lone 2011 single and set up the release of her first album, a self-titled set for REKIDS. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Richard David James (born 18 August 1971), best known as Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born British musician, composer, and DJ. He is renowned for his distinctive contributions to electronic genres such as techno, ambient, and jungle. A true musical genius of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Aphex Twin has been a pioneer in the electronic music landscape throughout his prolific, multifaceted career. Under various aliases, James has laid the foundation for ambient techno, drill 'n' bass, and dark ambient across six remarkable studio albums and numerous EPs and side projects. He has also crafted a unique visual identity, expressed through his iconic logo and collaborations with video director Chris Cunningham. Moreover, he has become an influential figure for artists as diverse as Thom Yorke and Pharrell Williams. Year by year, the mythos surrounding him continues to grow, ensuring he remains as culturally relevant as ever. Journalists from publications including Mixmag, The New York Times, NME, Fact, Clash, and The Guardian have called James one of the most influential or important artists in contemporary electronic music. Raised in Cornwall, James began DJing at free parties and clubs in the area in the late 1980s. His debut EP, Analogue Bubblebath, released in 1991 on Mighty Force Records, garnered an early following; he began performing across the UK and continental Europe. That same year, James co-founded the independent label Rephlex Records. His 1992 debut album, Selected Ambient Works 85-92, released by Belgian label Apollo, received wider critical and popular acclaim. James signed to Warp in 1993 and subsequently released charting albums such as ...I Care Because You Do (1995) and Richard D. James Album (1996), as well as Top 40 singles like "Come to Daddy" (1997) and "Windowlicker" (1999); the latter two were accompanied by music videos directed by Chris Cunningham, bringing James significantly wider international attention. After releasing Drukqs in 2001 and completing his contract with Warp, James spent several years releasing music on his own Rephlex label, including the 2005 Analord EP series under his AFX alias and a pair of 2007 releases as The Tuss. In 2014, he made available a previously unreleased 1994 LP as Caustic Window. He returned later that year with the Aphex Twin album Syro on Warp, which won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album. He has since released charting EPs including Cheetah (2016) and Collapse (2018). In July 2023, Aphex Twin released the EP Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760, marking his first new music in five years. In October 2024, to commemorate its 30th anniversary, James reissued an expanded edition of Selected Ambient Works Volume II. This edition features remastered tracks and additional material, providing both longtime fans and new listeners with an enhanced experience of this seminal work. On 17 December 2024, he surprised fans with the compilation album Music From The Merch Desk (2016–2023). This 38-track collection features limited-edition singles that were originally sold during his tours from 2016 to 2023, providing a comprehensive overview of his live merchandise offerings during that period. The compilation includes tracks from the previously mysterious record Houston, TX 12.17.16, released eight years prior, as well as newer tracks sold at the 2023 All Points East festival. Critics have noted that this release encapsulates the chaotic genius of Aphex Twin, offering both bangers and beauty in a single package. Throughout his career, Aphex Twin has maintained a reputation for unpredictability and innovation, continually pushing the boundaries of electronic music and influencing countless artists across various genres. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

A defining influence on the Icelandic electronic music scene since the early 90's. First as a member of hardcore breakbeat outfit Ajax and later as Biogen and Babel. Biogen was a founding Member of the Thule record label and a remixer of fellow countrymen múm and Sigur Rós. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.