Born in 1979, Travis Johnson began experimenting with radios, tapes, and open circuits as a child, inspired by 80s hip hop, the work of The BBC Radiophonic Workshop for 'Doctor Who', and by the rural isolation of his Suwannee County, Florida home. He has curated several labels, including Ilse and Poverty Electronics. In 2014, Johnson began releasing music as datewithdeath, a project firmly rooted in his love of hip hop, dub, techno, and horror films.