Tom and Ed Russell are two brothers who grew up in rural South Wales, a cultural nowhere where you had to make your own fun. Through putting on parties in the back rooms of pubs and throwing free parties, the duo enjoyed their formative years away from the noise of the big cities, a freedom that shaped the sound of Overmono. By the time Ed was 16, the brothers were best friends and although they initially forged separate solo careers, they became frustrated with the limitations. They packed a car full of gear and hired a cottage in Wales, with no intention or agenda. The result of that trip was the birth of Overmono, a dance act with a debut record that has positioned them in the history of British electronic music alongside acts such as The Chemical Brothers and Burial.
The duo started dropping music through their own label Poly Kicks, and in 2020 they released a run of EPs on XL Recordings over a period of two years. These releases initially cemented Overmono’s position as fiercely innovative underground producers, receiving praise from artists like Thom Yorke, while their 2021 single “So U Kno” – awarded Track Of The Year by Resident Advisor – established them as the UK’s most exciting electronic artists. The singles released with their friend and British dance music pioneer Joy Orbison brought out the best sides of both acts, tunes that feel equally at home in a 200-capacity club or a main stage at Glastonbury.
In 2023, Overmono released their long-awaited debut album, Good Lies to critical acclaim (“UK rave history is distilled to perfection” – The Guardian); it landed at #11 in the UK Charts and is widely regarded as one of the greatest electronic records produced in recent years. This was followed by two standalone singles – “Blow Out” and “Freedoom 2” (with Kwengface and Joy Orbison) – which have become celebrated club anthems on both sides of the Atlantic. The duo have had support from brands such as Burberry, Prada, Stone Island and they soundtracked Givenchy’s AW23 Womenswear Paris Fashion Week Show at the request of Creative Director, Matthew Williams. All the while, Overmono have evolved their audio-visual live show. Created with long-time collaborators William Aspden and Rollo Jackson, which has been awarded “Best Live Act” at the DJ Mag Best of British Awards and racked up millions of views via a unique Boiler Room from their takeover of Manchester’s Warehouse Project. Overmono continue to dominate the live circuit, performing rapturously received shows to sold-out crowds at the best venues and festivals across the globe including Fuji Rock, Coachella, Portola, Primavera, Ancienne Belgique, The Roundhouse, Brooklyn Steel, and Santa Barbara Bowl where they performed as the special guest for The Chemical Brothers.