Russell “Rusty” Cleave is a light and sound practitioner, having been a collaborative writer and cinematographer on award winning short film Je ne suis pas Charlie, screened by the BFI as the winner of the Audience Special Award for Filmmaking at NAHEMI Eat Our Shorts, and was also screened at the 'Conflict and Culture' conference in Luton. He has also directed numerous music videos premiered in mainstream and independent music publications, Kerrang, Metal Hammer, The Independent, The Guardian and Vevo.

Rusty is a published academic researcher with the paper A Spirit in Place (2018) in collaboration with Tilly Craig. Watch the film here.

Rusty is a multi instrumentalist who has written and recorded music with bands such as Brotherhood of the Lake, Helpless and Death Parish, releasing music on various record labels both digitally and physically (Thirty Days of Night Records/ Atticus Black, Holy Roar, Virgin Records). As a part of touring bands he has gained a wealth of experience in live performance across the UK and Europe, performing at a number of mainstream music festivals from Download in the UK to various European and UK punk and noise fests.

In addition to working as a recording artist, Rusty is currently involved in composing music commercially for film and television.

Throughout his career in music and film he has developed a depth of knowledge as a recording engineer, recording and producing personal and client work from his home studio.