Rob Dougan

Robert Don Hunter "Rob" Dougan (/rɒb ˈduːɡən/; born 1969) is an Australian composer, known for his genre-blending music. Mixing elements of orchestral music, trip hop, and bluesy vocals, his work is tangentially relatable to electronic music. He is known primarily for his breakthrough 1995 single "Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation)", further popularised by 1999's The Matrix soundtrack. "Clubbed to Death" was re-released on his debut album Furious Angels in 2002, seven years after its initial release. As well as providing several Clubbed To Death Variations most notably Kuraymino Variation he has also provided a Clubbed To Death Variation of the Moby classic Porcelain. In 1995 he teamed up with Rollo to remix the U2 classic "Numb"; the remix was titled "Numb (Gimme Some More Dignity Mix)."

Dougan was born in Sydney, Australia in 1969, he attended Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, and then the National Institute of Dramatic Art, where he studied acting. In 1990, he traveled to London, and began to work in music with his friend Rollo, both of whom had worked together and released material in Australia.

From 1991 to 1995, Dougan was a producer and remix artist. In 1994, his remixes started charting in the United Kingdom. He also released his first single, "Hard Times".

In 1995, his hit single "Clubbed to Death" gave him a recognised name in the UK dance club scene. He produced half a dozen remixes of it, including the "Kurayamino Variation". His label Mo' Wax Records was pleased and commissioned the follow-up, "Clubbed to Death 2" (later the bonus track on the album). CTD2 was never released as a single, but appeared on the James Lavelle disc of the 1996 DJ mix compilation album, Cream Live 2.

"Furious Angels" was not released on Mo' Wax, but Dougan eventually released it as a single in 1998 on Rollo's label Cheeky Records. Dougan worked for the following six years, doing remixes and licensing his tracks, in order to self-produce the album, which was backed by a full orchestra and a full choir. "Furious Angels" also featured as the musical score accompanying the introduction sequence for the 2000 racing simulation game Grand Prix 3.

In 1999, his exposure increased dramatically when his "Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation)" was featured on the soundtrack of The Matrix. He has contributed two more tracks to the soundtrack of 2003's Matrix sequel The Matrix Reloaded, "Château" and "Kung Fu" (a shortened version of "Furious Angels" made for The Matrix Reloaded). "I'm Not Driving Anymore (instrumental)" was also used for the trailer of the film and as background music for the DVD menu.

In 2002 in the UK, and 2003 in the rest of the world, Dougan released his debut album Furious Angels to critical acclaim and some surprise from the new tone of his work, as well as from his own Leonard Cohen-esque gravel-voiced vocals. Later in 2003, a two-disc re-release of Furious Angels featured all-instrumental versions on the second disc.

In 2006, Dougan was reportedly writing "a couple of songs" for Sugababes (for whom he produced the single "Too Lost in You"), and working on two albums of his own — one original, one classical.

As of April 2008, Dougan is mentioned in a wine blog as an owner of a wine vineyard La Peira.

A short film made for jewellery designer Solange Azagury-Partridge, The Letter, directed by Laurence Dunmore and starring Thandie Newton and Jason Isaacs features new music by Rob Dougan; the short film, however, does not mention the title of the song.

In May 2015, Dougan released The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Sessions. The EP, recorded at London's Air Lyndhurst Studios with a 75-piece orchestral and 40-piece choir, consists of five instrumental songs and a 20-minute film of the sessions, and it is available to purchase from the official site in studio master quality or MP3.

Albums

Studio albums

Singles

Notes