View source for Rob Dougan

{{short description|Australian composer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}
{{BLP primary sources|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name             = Rob Dougan
| image            = 
| caption          = 
| image_size       = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels -->
| background       = solo_singer
| birth_name       = Robert Don Hunter Dougan
| alias            = Rob D<br>The OT Quartet<br>Dignity<br>Rollo & Rob D
| birth_date       = {{Birth year and age|1969}}
| birth_place      = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia
| death_date       = 
| origin           = [[London]], England
| instrument       = 
| genre            = [[Trip hop]], [[electronica]], [[Neoclassical dark wave|neoclassical]]
| occupation       = Songwriter, composer, producer, mixer, remixer
| years_active     = 1991–present
| label            = [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]], [[BMG Rights Management|BMG]], [[Reprise Records|Reprise]], [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| associated_acts  = [[Rollo Armstrong]]<br>[[Don Davis (composer)|Don Davis]]
| website          = http://www.robdougan.com/ https://subscribe.robdougan.com/
}}
'''Robert Don Hunter Dougan''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|uː|g|ə|n}}) is an Australian [[composer]], known for his genre-blending music.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/aug/29/1|title=Sick of dance music|author=Will Hodgkinson|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=29 August 2003|access-date=23 February 2010}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Margaret DOUGAN Death Notice - Sydney, New South Wales {{!}} Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/72150/margaret-dougan/ |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=tributes.smh.com.au}}</ref> Mixing elements of [[orchestra|orchestral music]], [[trip hop]], and [[blues]]y vocals, his work is tangentially relatable to [[electronic music]]. He is known primarily for his breakthrough 1995 single "[[Clubbed to Death (instrumental)|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 variations of the song, most notably the Kurayamino variation; he has also provided a variation of the [[Moby]] song "[[Porcelain (song)|Porcelain]]". In 1995, he teamed up with [[Rollo Armstrong]] to remix the [[U2]] song "[[Numb (U2 song)|Numb]]"; the remix was titled "Numb (Gimme Some More Dignity Mix)".

==Early life, family and education==
Dougan was born in [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]] in 1969<ref>{{cite web|title=Rob Dougan Profile|url=https://lapeira.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/andrew-jefford-profile-rob-dougan-la-peira-gtw-issue-oct-20131.pdf}}</ref> to Don and Margaret,<ref name=":1" /> one of six children. Raised in [[Sydney]], he attended [[Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview]] then the [[National Institute of Dramatic Art]], where he studied acting. In an interview, he recalled the only albums in the family home were of [[Beethoven]], [[Louis Armstrong]], [[Cleo Laine]] and [[Ennio Morricone]].<ref name="guardian" />

==Career==
From 1991 to 1995, Dougan was a [[record producer|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 [[Nightclub|dance club]] scene. He produced half a dozen remixes of it, including the "Kurayamino Variation". His label [[Mo' Wax|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''. During this time, he's said to have contributed music to ''[[Impossible Princess]]'', the studio album of fellow Australian, [[Kylie Minogue]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=Kylie Minogue's 'Impossible Princess' offered new insights into a then-unheard range of influences |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/doublej/music-reads/features/kylie-minogue-impossible-princess-classic-album/101570110 |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=Double J |language=en-AU}}</ref>

"Furious Angels" was not released on [[Mo' Wax]], but Dougan eventually released it as a single in 1998 on [[Rollo Armstrong|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.{{Verify source|date=August 2010}} "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 [[The Matrix: Music from the Motion Picture|soundtrack of ''The Matrix'']]. He contributed two more tracks to the soundtrack of 2003's ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'', "Château" and "Kung Fu" (a shortened version of "Furious Angels" made for ''The Matrix Reloaded''). Some of the orchestral material for these tracks was recorded at 20th Century Fox Newman Scoring Stage where ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' had been scored.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=D |first=Spence |date=2003-05-23 |title=Rob Dougan Interview |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/23/rob-dougan-interview |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>  "I'm Not Driving Anymore (instrumental)" was also used for the trailer of the film and as background music for the DVD menu. The song was also featured in the 2001 racing movie ''[[Driven (2001 film)|Driven]]'' with vocals. He credits this career breakthrough to support of American DJ [[Jason Bentley]].<ref name=":0" />

In 2002 in the UK, and 2003 in the rest of the world, Dougan released his debut album ''[[Furious Angels]]'', which was met with "Generally favorable" reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/douganrob/furiousangels |title=Metacritic.com |publisher=Metacritic|date=3 June 2003 |access-date=2011-12-05}}</ref> Later in 2003, a two-disc re-release of ''Furious Angels'' featured all-instrumental versions on the second disc. {{Citation needed|date=May 2018}}

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&nbsp;— one original, one classical.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robdougan.org/rob/news.php |title=Robdougan.org |publisher=Robdougan.org |date=13 July 2006 |access-date=2011-12-05 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205130640/http://www.robdougan.org/rob/news.php |archive-date=5 December 2011}}</ref>

A short film made for jewelry designer [[Solange Azagury-Partridge]], ''The Letter'', directed by [[Laurence Dunmore]] and starring [[Thandiwe Newton]] and [[Jason Isaacs]] features new music by Rob Dougan; the short film, however, does not mention the title of the song.<ref>{{cite web|author=solangeazaguryp |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxBamOvADlY |title=The Letter, by Solange Azagury-Partridge |publisher=YouTube |date=7 December 2009 |access-date=2011-12-05}}</ref>

In May 2015, Dougan released ''[[The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Sessions]]'' on his official site.<ref name="ordinarytime">{{cite web|url=http://robdougan.com|title=robdougan.com|access-date=12 May 2015}}</ref> The EP, recorded at London's Air Lyndhurst Studios with a 84-piece orchestra and 50-voice choir, consists of five instrumental songs and a 20-minute film of the sessions.<ref name=":0" />

In October 2016, Dougan released ''[[Misc. Sessions]]'' EP on his official site.<ref name="ordinarytime"/> The EP, recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios]] with a 10-piece and 50-piece string section, consists of five tracks, with orchestra and instrumental mixes and an 18-minute film.

In 2018 Dougan compiled and released ''[[Films: Past and Future]]'' his first solely instrumental release, comprising 21 tracks available for the first time on vinyl, CD and digital download. The album was released via direct-to-fan company [[PledgeMusic]] just at the time that the organisation announced it was experiencing issues and had failed to pay many artistes the monies that had been pledged to them.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} In a personal project update posted on 18 February, Rob confirmed that he had been affected by the issues but, having already released the album digitally, had met the costs of physical releases himself, with the CD, vinyl and accompanying book due for release on 4 March 2019.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

In February 2019, Dougan released ''[[The Life of the World to Come (Rob Dougan album)|The Life of the World to Come]]'', a brand new four track EP which includes "The Life of the World to Come", "Beautiful Things", "Quasimodo's Dream" and "And Then I Think of You". Each song was released with an accompanying instrumental version and two of the tracks were [[cover versions]] - "[[Doctor Dolittle (1967 film)|Beautiful Things]]" written by [[Leslie Bricusse]] and "[[Quasimodo's Dream]]" by [[The Reels]]. The EP is published by Engard Ltd and was released by Dougan himself via [[Gumroad]].{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

==Style==
Dougan's vocal style has been compared to [[Tom Waits]] and [[Leonard Cohen]], his composition approach to that of film score composers [[John Barry (composer)|John Barry]] and [[Barry Adamson]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aizlewood |first=John |date=2002-06-28 |title=Rob Dougan: Furious Angels |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/jun/28/popandrock.artsfeatures2 |access-date=2023-10-21 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> He frequently uses orchestral elements in his music, notably [[Elgar|Elgar's]] ''[[Enigma Variations]]'' in "Clubbed to Death (The First Mix)."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clements |first=Andrew |date=2020-10-28 |title=Elgar: where to start with his music |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/oct/28/elgar-where-to-start-with-his-music |access-date=2023-10-21 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Though placed in the camp of dance and techno, in an interview with ''the Guardian'' early in his career, Dougan distanced himself from the genre, identifying more strongly with [[Classical music]]:<blockquote>"I'm associated with dance music, with electronica, which makes me feel ill. I only learnt all the boring computer crap as a means to an end. Virtually all musicians these days use computers, but if you write a book on a computer, nobody calls it electronic writing... I know it's not a fashionable attitude, but there is a musical hierarchy, and writing a song is not the same as writing a symphony. Classical music is a lot harder to do: it's richer, and it will leave you with more."<ref name="guardian" /> </blockquote> 

{{Listen
|filename=Rob Dougan Will You Follow Me (Instrumental).ogg
|title=Rob Dougan "Will You Follow Me" (2002)
|description=23 second clip of Will You Follow Me. This song was used on (jewellery and car) commercials in the USA. Dougan's [[20th-century classical music|Modern Classical]] style is prominently featured.}}

== Non-musical activities ==
In 2004, Dougan founded a vineyard called [[La Pèira]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.la-peira.com/team/|title=La Pèira Team|date=27 February 2017 |access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> in the [[Terrasses du Larzac]] region of [[France]].

== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart<br />positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:85%" |[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br><ref name="ARIA Chart">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/n5eKMdT |title=Rob Dougan ARIA Chart history to June 2025 |publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date= 6 July 2025}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Furious Angels]]''
|
* Released: July 2002{{Ref label|note_a1|A|}}
*{{nowrap|Label: [[Cheeky Records]], [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]]}}
* Formats: [[Compact disc|CD]], [[Music download|digital download]], [[LP record|LP]]
| 174
|-
|}

=== Compilation albums ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected details
! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Release details
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Films: Past and Future - An Instrumental Anthology]]''<ref name="anthology">{{cite web|title=Rob Dougan - Films: Past and Future|url=https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/robdougan|publisher=[[PledgeMusic]]}}</ref>
|
* Released: 9 December 2018
* Formats: CD, digital download, LP
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[The Opening Trilogy]]''<ref name="trilogy">{{cite web|title=All 3LP Vinyl and Duel Deluxe CD Deluxe Edition: The Opening Trilogy|date=17 April 2019 |url=https://subscribe.robdougan.com/product/3lp-vinyl-and-duel-deluxe-cd-deluxe-edition-the-opening-trilogy/|publisher=Rob Dougan Subscribe}}</ref>
|
* Released: 2019
* Formats: CD, digital download, LP
|}

=== Extended plays ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected details
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Release details
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Sessions]]''
|
* Released: 9 May 2015<ref name="ordinarytime" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Rob Dougan&nbsp;– The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Sessions|url=http://www.discogs.com/Rob-Dougan-The-22nd-Sunday-In-Ordinary-Time-Sessions/release/6998468|publisher=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>
* Formats: Digital download
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Misc. Sessions]]''
|
* Released: 23 October 2016<ref name="miscsessions">{{cite web|title=Rob Dougan - Misc. Sessions|url=https://gumroad.com/l/izwfk|publisher=[[Gumroad]]}}</ref>
* Formats: Digital download
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[The Life of the World to Come (Rob Dougan album)|The Life of the World to Come]]''
|
* Released: 21 February 2019<ref name="lifeofworld">{{cite web|title=Rob Dougan - The Life of the World to Come|url=https://gum.co/NJzN|publisher=[[Gumroad]]}}</ref>
* Formats: Digital download
|}

=== Singles ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" colspan="3" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album
|-
!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br /><ref name="ARIA">{{cite Ryan|page=86}}</ref><ref name="ARIA Chart"/>
!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|[[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRE]]<br /><ref name="IRE">{{cite web|title=Discography Rob Dougan|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Rob+Dougan|work=irish-charts.com|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=25 November 2011}}</ref>
!style="width:3em; font-size:90%"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK">{{cite web|title=Rob Dougan|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/rob%20dougan/|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=25 November 2011|format=select "Singles" tab}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|"Hard Times"
|rowspan="2"|1995
| —
| —
| —
|Non-album single
|-
!scope="row"|"[[Clubbed to Death (instrumental)|Clubbed to Death]]"{{Ref label|note_b1|B|}}
| 92
| 27
| 24
|''[[The Matrix: Music from the Motion Picture|The Matrix: Music from the<br />Motion Picture]]'' and ''Furious Angels''
|-
!scope="row"|"Furious Angels"
| 1998
| 125
| 45
| 42
|''[[The Matrix Reloaded: The Album]]'' and ''Furious Angels''
|-
|colspan="6" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.
|}

=== Miscellaneous ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of miscellaneous, with selected details
! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Release details
|-
! scope="row" | ''Clubbed to Death 2''<ref name="two">{{cite web|title=Rob Dougan – Clubbed To Death 2|url= https://www.discogs.com/release/1637327-Rob-Dougan-Clubbed-To-Death-2|publisher=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>
|
* Released: 1999
* Formats: [[Twelve-inch single|12″]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''Rehearsals (Dec 2018)''<ref name="rehearsals">{{cite web|title=Rob Dougan – Rehearsals (Dec 2018)|url=  https://www.discogs.com/master/1475266-Rob-Dougan-Rehearsals-Dec-2018|publisher=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>
|
* Released: 2018
* Formats: [[CD-R]], digital download
|}

=== Notes ===
{{refbegin}}
*'''A''' {{Note|note_a1}} ''Furious Angels'' was not released in the United States until May 2003, where it was released on the record labels [[Warner Bros. Records]] and [[Reprise Records]].<ref name="overview">{{cite web|title=Rob Dougan > Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/rob-dougan-p363757|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=25 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="notes">{{cite AV media notes|year=2003|title=Furious Angels|title-link=Furious Angels|others=Rob Dougan|type=Liner notes|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Records]]|id=196363}}</ref><!--

-->
*'''B''' {{Note|note_b1}} "Clubbed to Death" only charted in the UK and Ireland after being re-released in 2002.<ref name="overview"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Clubbed to Death|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r600246|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=25 November 2011}}</ref>
{{refend}}

==See also==
* [[The Matrix (franchise)|''The Matrix'' (franchise)]]
* ''[[The Matrix]]''
* ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]''
* ''[[The Matrix Revolutions]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060520034614/http://www.robdougan.org/ www.robdougan.org]&nbsp;— Rob Dougan fan site
* [http://uk.ign.com/articles/2003/05/23/rob-dougan-interview?page=1 IGN's 2003 interview]&nbsp;— All about his involvement with ''[[The Matrix (franchise)|The Matrix]]'' franchise's soundtracks.
* {{IMDb name|1354874}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dougan, Rob}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Australian electronic musicians]]
[[Category:Australian expatriates in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Australian male composers]]
[[Category:Australian male singers]]
[[Category:Australian male songwriters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Melbourne]]
[[Category:People educated at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview]]
[[Category:Reprise Records artists]]
[[Category:Trip hop musicians]]
[[Category:Warner Records artists]]