Richard D. James, better known by his stage name Aphex Twin, is an influential British electronic musician and composer, born on August 18, 1971, in Limerick, Ireland, and raised in Cornwall, England. Emerging in the early 1990s, Aphex Twin became an iconic figure in the electronic and ambient music scenes with his innovative use of synthesized sounds, complex rhythms, and haunting melodies.

His early releases, notably the "Selected Ambient Works 85–92" (1992) and its 1994 follow-up, garnered widespread acclaim for their unique approach to atmosphere and abstraction. Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, James expanded his sonic territory with albums such as "…I Care Because You Do" (1995), "Richard D. James Album" (1996), and "Drukqs" (2001), displaying a penchant for experimental breakbeats, glitchy textures, and playful yet often unsettling soundscapes.

Aphex Twin is known for his many aliases, including AFX, Polygon Window, and Caustic Window, each representing different styles and phases of his creative output. A notoriously private and enigmatic figure, he is recognized for both his musical innovation and his elusive public persona. His influence on electronic music is profound, inspiring countless artists across genres.

After a lengthy recording hiatus, James returned to acclaim with the album "Syro" (2014), which won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album, and subsequently released a flurry of EPs and singles showcasing his enduring creativity. Celebrated for his pioneering contributions to IDM (Intelligent Dance Music), ambient, and acid techno, Aphex Twin remains a defining and boundary-pushing presence in electronic music, consistently challenging conventions and redefining the genre’s possibilities.