Biography
Rustie stands out as a UK producer tied to Warp Records and additional imprints, with a sound that fuses hip-hop, electro, and elements from '90s video games. Russell Whyte, raised in Glasgow, Scotland, first drew notice in 2007 via the five-track limited-edition EP Jagz the Smack on Stuff Records. The single "Zig-Zag" arrived in 2008 and landed on DJ Mary Anne Hobbs' Wild Angels compilation the next year, not long after he issued the Bad Science EP through Wireblock. Beyond his original material, he delivered prominent remixes for BPitch Control on Modeselektor's "Happy Birthday!", for Warp on Pivot's "In the Blood", and for Hyperdub on Zomby's "Spliff Dub"; he also partnered with Joker on "Play Doe" while establishing himself as a DJ.
Late in 2009, Rustie signed with Warp and appeared on its 2010 compilation highlighting new artists. The Sunburst EP followed in 2010, setting the stage for his first album, Glass Swords, in 2011. Critics responded positively, and the record landed on year-end lists from Fact and The Wire. Rustie later issued versions of the album tracks with added vocals, including Nightwave on "Surph" and AlunaGeorge on "After Light". He supplied production for three cuts on Danny Brown's 2013 album Old—"Side B (Dope Song)", "Break It (Go)", and "Way Up Here"—before Brown guested on the advance single "Attak" from Rustie's next Warp album, Green Language, which surfaced in August 2014 and also featured Redinho and D Double E. Reception proved more divided than for Glass Swords; Rustie later commented that he felt like he was being pulled in two different directions with the creation of the album, with managers pressuring him to make more experimental music and others urging him to make more poppy, anthemic material.
Warp surprise-released Rustie's third album, Evenifudon'tbelieve, in November 2015 after announcing it only days earlier. Conceived initially as an EP, the project grew once Rustie realized he had sufficient tracks. Though Green Language's guests were absent, several songs carried "featuring Rustie" credits because the producer contributed guitar and other instruments. A limited vinyl edition appeared in 2016.
Late in 2009, Rustie signed with Warp and appeared on its 2010 compilation highlighting new artists. The Sunburst EP followed in 2010, setting the stage for his first album, Glass Swords, in 2011. Critics responded positively, and the record landed on year-end lists from Fact and The Wire. Rustie later issued versions of the album tracks with added vocals, including Nightwave on "Surph" and AlunaGeorge on "After Light". He supplied production for three cuts on Danny Brown's 2013 album Old—"Side B (Dope Song)", "Break It (Go)", and "Way Up Here"—before Brown guested on the advance single "Attak" from Rustie's next Warp album, Green Language, which surfaced in August 2014 and also featured Redinho and D Double E. Reception proved more divided than for Glass Swords; Rustie later commented that he felt like he was being pulled in two different directions with the creation of the album, with managers pressuring him to make more experimental music and others urging him to make more poppy, anthemic material.
Warp surprise-released Rustie's third album, Evenifudon'tbelieve, in November 2015 after announcing it only days earlier. Conceived initially as an EP, the project grew once Rustie realized he had sufficient tracks. Though Green Language's guests were absent, several songs carried "featuring Rustie" credits because the producer contributed guitar and other instruments. A limited vinyl edition appeared in 2016.
Albums
Singles
