Russell E.L. Butler

Russell Butler is a non-binary experimental artist and DJ based in Oakland, California. Originally from Bermuda, Russell has developed a process of improvisation that draws from a rich cultural history rooted in their island home and the black, queer diaspora.For Russell music isn’t just a platform for the political. It’s a world-building project in itself, a way of manifesting the utopia you believe in-or at least it can be, when done right. More than just a vehicle for a message, music can actually carve out an ideal space for community. It’s an ethos that they’ve carried out throughout their carrier and one that can be traced to theirlove of the history of dance music, coupled with their dedication to supporting local scenes. It has cultivated a style of mixing that is rooted in the past and highlights the present.

Russell’s unique performative approach to modular synthesizers can be heard over several albums and eps, most recently, The Home I’dBuild For Myself and All My Friends released on San Francisco label Left Hand Path in 2018 and Petty released on Spectral Sounds in 2019. With recent mixes behind their name for Resident Advisor, Beats in Space and Boiler Room, they’vegained a spot on the list of fast-paced and quickly rising artists.

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