Biography

Bearing no relation or resemblance to Bruce Hornsby's similarly titled backing band, the Range is the recording alias of James Hinton, an electronic music producer from Providence, Rhode Island. Hinton's music typically utilizes manipulated vocal samples found on YouTube as well as from hip-hop, R&B, or dancehall reggae. He combines these samples with bright, sentimental melodies and simmering beats that reference jungle and footwork, playing with a slow/fast dynamic. His tracks have enough bass to work in a club, but they seem far more geared toward lonely late-night introspection. First gaining attention with his 2013 full-length debut Nonfiction, he signed to Domino and released Potential in 2016, and returned with the vivid Mercury in 2022. Inspired by electronic artists such as Squarepusher and Four Tet as well as the Baltimore club and U.K. grime scenes, Hinton originally began making music under the name Stegosaurus, self-releasing an album called Cower in 2010. He adopted his new moniker soon after, and the Range's first EP, The Big Dip, appeared on Brooklyn label Astro Nautico in late 2011. Hinton also remixed tracks by labelmates Kuhn, Howse, and Time Wharp, as well as downtempo/hip-hop producer Supreme Cuts. In 2012, the Range signed to Brighton, U.K. label Donky Pitch, who issued his disk EP in July, followed by Seneca in April of 2013. The Range's full-length debut, Nonfiction, was co-released by Donky Pitch and Project: Mooncircle in October, and immediately received critical acclaim, appearing on Pitchfork's year-end Top 50 Albums list. A new EP titled Panasonic quickly followed in March of 2014, and the Range remixed songs by Mansionair and How to Dress Well. By the end of the year, the Range collaborated with vocalist Niia for an EP titled Breaking. Following a move to Brooklyn, Hinton signed to Domino and released his sophomore album, Potential, in March of 2016. The following year, Hinton issued the singles "New Lots" and "With You," which both found their way onto his Remixes EP, which featured interpretations by Yaeji, D.K., and Kenton Slash Demon. Providence, an EP of previously unreleased tracks recorded around the time of the Range's first album, appeared in 2019. Hinton collaborated with Tourist on the 2020 single "Last." The producer drew from IDM, rave, and grime influences on third album Mercury, which arrived in 2022. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi