Biography

The Sixteenth is the recorded music name of producer, composer, DJ and instrumentalist Richard Walley.

Walley mixes minimalist cinematic sounds and electronic production to make music inspired by physical places and spaces. After releasing a well-received EP in 2020 and debut album "You Could Be Happy" in 2024, The Sixteenth has developed a distinctly modern and unique musical voice.

"The Mountain," coming May 2025, is The Sixteenth's second album, featuring six tracks based on New Zealand's Mount Earnslaw (Pikirakatahi). Each piece represents something different about the mountain—its geological formation, peaks, valleys, and surrounding features. Taking inspiration from composers like Steve Reich and Ralph Vaughan Williams alongside electronic artists such as Murcof and Peter Gabriel, the album turns natural landscapes into musical ideas through a combination of classical orchestration and electronic processing.