Rob Dougan

Rob Dougan
Cover of Furious Angels album
Background information
Birth name	Robert Don Hunter Dougan
Also known as	Rob D The OT Quartet Dignity Rollo & Rob D
Born	1969 (age 46–47) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Origin	London, UK
Genres	Trip hop, electronica, neoclassical
Occupation(s)	Composer, Songwriter, Producer, Mixer, Remixer
Years active	1991-present
Labels	Sony, BMG, Reprise, Warner Bros.
Associated acts	Rollo Armstrong Don Davis

Robert Don Hunter "Rob" Dougan (/rɒb ˈduːɡən/; born 1969) is an Australian composer, known for his genre-blending music.^[1] 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)."

Early life and education

Dougan was born in Sydney, Australia in 1969,^[2] 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.

Career

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). The Matrix Reloaded DVD also includes the "I'm Not Driving Anymore" instrumental song on the background movie.

In 2002 in the UK, and 2003 in the rest of the world, Dougan released his debut album Furious Angels to critical acclaim^[3] 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.^[4]

As of April 2008, Dougan is mentioned in a wine blog as an owner of a wine vineyard La Peira en Damaisela, leaving questions about the supposed two albums he had been working on.^[5]

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.^[6]

In May 2015, Dougan released The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Sessions. The album consists of five instrumental songs and it is available to purchase from the official site in MP3 low quality or master quality.^[7]

	Rob Dougan "Will You Follow Me" (2002) 23 second clip of Will You Follow Me. This song was used on (jewellery and car) commercials in the USA. Dougan's Modern Classical style.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

	Rob Dougan "Clubbed To Death (Kurayamino Mix)" (1996) A 35 second clip. This track was used in The Matrix and for the trailer of Ultraviolet. This clip shows Rob Dougan's trip hop style.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Singles

Notes

See also

• The Matrix (franchise)
• The Matrix
• The Matrix Reloaded
• The Matrix Revolutions

References

External links

• robdougan.com — Rob Dougan official site
• www.robdougan.org — Rob Dougan fan site
• IGN's 2003 interview — All about his involvement with the The Matrix franchise's soundtracks.
• Rob Dougan at the Internet Movie Database