Biography
Russ Davies is a British musician, composer and producer having released over 15 artist albums since 2002 under various alias' including Abakus, Cinnamon Chasers & Aiiso. Russ brings together a diverse range of methodologies and genres into his modern compositions, from experimental electronica, songwriting through to modern film composition. His music has been commissioned for numerous tv, film and game placements for clients AMC, BBC, Amazon, Sony Playstation, Calvin Klein, Spotify, Castrol Oil, Vanity Fair, Avon and many more.
Russ grew up in north London, went to school in Hampstead, and is the son of Dave Davies of England rock band The Kinks. He started creating electronic music at 13 years old using an Amiga500 computer and 8-bit tracking software and Akai samplers, and his influences during this period was 90s electronic rave music, indie-rock and horror-action movies of the era.
In 2003 his debut album as Abakus was signed to producer Youth's (Killing Joke, The Verve, The Orb) LSD records, in partnership with Jazz Summers Biglife management. The album That Much Closer To The Sun garnered popularity within the psychedelic electronic music scene, taking him touring over a 5 year period, and remixing acts including The Orb, Perishers and Roxy Music. His music as Abakus has appeared on Virgin Records, Cocoon Records, Ministry Of Sound, Juno Records, and Bhudda Bar.
In 2009 Russ saw an opportunity for a new sound and expression in the melodic genres of nu-disco and nostalgic-electro and created a new alias Cinnamon Chasers as an outlet for his love of melody, classic synthesisers and drum machines. Under this alias Russ released the album A Million Miles From Home which featured the hit Luv Deluxe - which went on to win an award at SXSW for best music video after garnering millions of plays on youtube and vimeo. Both his projects, Abakus & Cinnamon Chasers, kept him busy in the studio and on the road right up till 2016, continuing to release numerous successful albums and EPs.
In 2016 and 2017 Russ co-wrote and produced the critically acclaimed album Open Road, together with his father Dave Davies. In this period Russ also signed his new electronica alter-ego Aiiso to Anjunadeep Records, and as Aiiso subsequently had tracks featured on two iTunes #1 albums and gathered several million plays on Spotify.
In total Russ’ music has been streamed in the hundreds of millions across all his projects, and his catalog has been signed to major publishers Sony ATV, Universal, along with independent publishers Involved Publishing/Kobalt and Biglife.
Russ’ work as a film composer began with the short film Controller, directed by Saman Kesh, which featured a hybrid electronic-orchestral score. From here he went on to score the BBC1 series The War Of The Worlds, which was aired 2019, directed by Craig Viveiros, and in 2020/2021 composed the score for AMC/BBC-America’s The Watch.
Press Quotes
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"Magic carpet ride" – Earmilk.com
"Perfect Dreamy Summer Soundscape" - BBC Radio
"One of my favourites of all time" - Indie Shuffle
"Diversity and passion for electronic music are oozing out of the seems of this immensely prolific and gifted writer." - The Untz
"Possess' that unique quality only a few producers can replicate...for a late night drive when your contemplating what to do with your entire life" - Beatific
"fusion of Aeroplane, Friendly Fires, Kris Menace and Alan Braxe, with a dash of Vangelis and Jean Michel Jarre thrown in" – juno.co.uk
"Themes and sounds so epic that it nearly defies all definition. This is the stuff that dreams are made off" - The 405
"Heart-felt single rose of steadfast beauty" - Penny Black Music
If you’re looking for the sensation of riding your bike through the air in front of the moon with a friendly alien in the handlebar basket, this is for you" – Resident Advisor
UNCUT: “An impressive LP”
MOJO: “Satisfying unpredictable – a fresh non-rock approach to rhythms with unexpected shifts in style”
EXPRESS: Album Of The Week “A sharp and often very beautiful exercise in psychedelic rock and pop balladry with a smart indie sheen
ROLLING STONE:“Melancholy rock songs waxing nostalgia about his growing-up years, winsome emotions and the elusive nature of love
PASTE MAGAZINE: “Musical adventurousness exploring a unique musical space that’s unlike any record he’s made yet”
ROCK NUTS “Russ Davies’ production and arrangements make the crowning touch on this album, he turns what would have been good record into a very good record.
SPILL MAGAZINE “This is an album in every sense of the word…A terrific album"
CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND “Never have they sounded as locked-in as they do on new track Path Is Long. Good, honest, traditional songs that play to each songwriter’s strengths.”
SONG WRITING MAGAZINE “A revealing and rewarding listen – a sentimental and carefully crafted album”
OBSERVER " A blend of power and intimacy that resembles the rawness of John Lennon mixed with the hushed heart-shiver of Nick Drake or Alex Chilton"