Need-to-know

Everything is Recorded is a project by XL Recordings boss Richard Russell that invites an incredible range of different voices, styles and generations under one roof. The debut album, released in 2018, featured the likes of Sampha, Ibeyi and Obongjayar – and picked up a Mercury Prize nomination along the way. A music industry legend and award-winning producer, Russell creates a space where artists are free to play, express themselves and collaborate.

Where it all began: XL Recordings

From pirate radio to global charts, XL Recordings has never played by the rules. Born in the heat of the UK rave scene, the London-based record label has grown into one of the most quietly powerful forces in British music.

XL kicked off in 1989, right in the middle of the UK’s rave explosion, founded by Tim Palmer and Nick Halkes. Tracks like The Prodigy’s Charly and SL2’s On a Ragga Tip captured the chaos and euphoria of the era, helping to bring underground rave culture crashing into the mainstream. But the label didn’t stop there.

Enter Richard Russell

Richard Russell started out as an A&R scout at XL before releasing some of his own music as a DJ and producer, then stepped up to run the whole thing. He’s helped shape the label into something unique – a home for artists who don’t fit into boxes and don’t want to.

Under his steering they’ve released albums by The xx, FKA twigs, Dizzee Rascal, Tyler, the Creator and Arca – all artists who changed the sound of modern music.  And yes, Adele got her start here too. She even interned at the label before her first release – not a bad work placement, as far as they go.

No stranger to collaboration, as well as heading up the label Russell has produced a number of critically acclaimed albums – he worked closely with the legendary poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron to produce I’m New Here, released on XL in 2010. He also conceived the reworking of the remixed album by Jamie xx We’re New Here, and co-produced Bobby Womack’s The Bravest Man in the Universe with Damon Albarn.

Solstice Equinox

With Everything is Recorded, Russell is both collaborative and prolific. Over four days in 2023 and 2024, Russell gathered collaborators at his West London recording studio, The Copper House. And not just any four days – all the action took place over the Summer and Winter Solstices (the longest day and longest night, respectively) and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes (when there’s an equal amount of day and night).

Released on the 2025 summer solstice, Solstice Equinox gathers these recordings in one place into nearly two hours of new music, reflecting all seasons.

Everything is Recorded at MIF25

For years, Everything is Recorded has been a private, studio-based project – a space where artists can work behind closed doors and in close quarters to make magic, whether it’s the solstice or not. In February 2025 the project took its first steps into the open with two extremely limited capacity London shows. At MIF25, the project enters the main stage for the very first time, following the release of their latest album.

2025’s Richard Russell Is Temporary, released on XL of course, is a meditation on permeance, grief and life itself – featuring Florence Welch, Sampha, Bill Callahan, Alabaster De Plume, Noah Cyrus, Samantha Morton, Roses Gabor, Jah Wobble and Kamasi Washington.

Performing an intimate show in the round, Richard Russell will be joined on stage by an expanded line up of collaborators and special guests for the very first time. With live vocals, varied instrumentation and a few surprises, Everything is Recorded takes on a new dimension. Like XL itself, expect part live show, part collective experience.