Rollo Armstrong
Encyclopedia
Rollo Armstrong is one half of the music producers/remixers team Rollo and Sister Bliss
and is a founding member of the electronic music
group Faithless
.
In 1996 he teamed up with Jamie Catto, Sister Bliss and Maxi Jazz to form the electronic act Faithless. ‘Insomnia’, ‘Salva Mea’, ‘God is a DJ’, ‘We Come One’, ‘Mass Destruction’, ‘Bombs’ and ‘Not Going Home’ followed. Faithless have released 7 albums, the last being The Dance in 2010.
In 2010/ 2011 Faithless sold over 500,000 records but in September 2011 Faithless finally hung up there dancing boots and each member moved on to do other things.
With Faithless, Maxi Jazz wrote all the raps and Rollo wrote the lyrics. Rollo also co-wrote and produced his sister Dido’s first 2 albums, No Angel and Life for Rent, (each of which sold over 10 million copies).
In the (almost) 20 years since Rollo released his first record nearly all his work has been with friends and family. But there have been diversions, he has mixed and/or produced artists such as U2, New Order, Robbie Williams, Roxy Music, Moby, Björk and The Pet Shop Boys. With Faithless he also collaborated with some of his heroes, Boy George, Cat Power, Robert Smith (from The Cure), Rufus Wainwright and The Temper Trap.
Most recently Rollo has produced the One Eskimo album All Balloons. He wrote the lyrics for the songs ‘Amazing’ and ‘Kandi” (which won AAA song of the year 2010 in America) on that album. He was Oscar nominated in 2011 for the co write (lyrics again) of ‘If I Rise’ (from Danny Boyle’s film 127 hours).
He had a children’s book published in 2008 by Macmillan, called Safe From Harm.
He has also just finished producing the first All Thieves album, called, We Are All Thieves and is back working with Dido on what will be her fourth album.
Rollo & Rob D productions
Rollo Goes...
Other aliases
Single production for other artists
Album production for other artists
Sister Bliss
Sister Bliss is a British keyboardist, record producer, DJ, composer and songwriter. In the studio she is best known for her work with Rollo Armstrong, particularly as part of the now disbanded dance group Faithless.She started music at the age of five, when she learned how to play the piano...
and is a founding member of the electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
group Faithless
Faithless
Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide...
.
Early life
Rollo was born in London to an Irish publisher and English poet. He studied Philosophy at York University. In 1992 he made his first record; Felix’s ‘Don’t U Want Me’, in a garden shed in Packington Street, Islington. He charged £300 for his production skills and the use of his studio. The record went on to sell 2½ million copies, allowing him to give up his day job as a gardener and make music.Career
The 1990’s was the decade of dance music and Rollo was involved with the likes of Felix, Usura, Kristine W, Sister Bliss, the Rollo Goes series, Gloworm, O.T. Quartet and Frankë.In 1996 he teamed up with Jamie Catto, Sister Bliss and Maxi Jazz to form the electronic act Faithless. ‘Insomnia’, ‘Salva Mea’, ‘God is a DJ’, ‘We Come One’, ‘Mass Destruction’, ‘Bombs’ and ‘Not Going Home’ followed. Faithless have released 7 albums, the last being The Dance in 2010.
In 2010/ 2011 Faithless sold over 500,000 records but in September 2011 Faithless finally hung up there dancing boots and each member moved on to do other things.
With Faithless, Maxi Jazz wrote all the raps and Rollo wrote the lyrics. Rollo also co-wrote and produced his sister Dido’s first 2 albums, No Angel and Life for Rent, (each of which sold over 10 million copies).
In the (almost) 20 years since Rollo released his first record nearly all his work has been with friends and family. But there have been diversions, he has mixed and/or produced artists such as U2, New Order, Robbie Williams, Roxy Music, Moby, Björk and The Pet Shop Boys. With Faithless he also collaborated with some of his heroes, Boy George, Cat Power, Robert Smith (from The Cure), Rufus Wainwright and The Temper Trap.
Most recently Rollo has produced the One Eskimo album All Balloons. He wrote the lyrics for the songs ‘Amazing’ and ‘Kandi” (which won AAA song of the year 2010 in America) on that album. He was Oscar nominated in 2011 for the co write (lyrics again) of ‘If I Rise’ (from Danny Boyle’s film 127 hours).
He had a children’s book published in 2008 by Macmillan, called Safe From Harm.
He has also just finished producing the first All Thieves album, called, We Are All Thieves and is back working with Dido on what will be her fourth album.
Albums
- 2000 When We Were Young, as Dusted (with Mark Bates)
- 2005 Safe From Harm (re-release of When We Were Young), as Dusted (with Mark Bates)
- 2005 Instrumentals, as Dusted (with Mark Bates)
Singles
Dusted- all produced with Mark Bates
- 1997 "Deeper River" (with Pauline Taylor)
- 2000 "Always Remember To Respect And Honour Your Mother"
- 2000 "Childhood/Want You"
- 2001 "Under The Sun"
Rollo & Rob D productions
- all produced with Rob DouganRob DouganRob Dougan, also known as Rob D , is a genre-blending music composer. Mixing elements of orchestral music, trip hop, and bluesy vocals, his work is tangentially relatable to electronic music. He was known primarily for his breakthrough 1995 single "Clubbed to Death ", further popularised by 1999's...
- 1993 "I Believe In You", as Our Tribe (with Colette)
- 1994 "Love Come Home", as Our Tribe (with Frankie Pharaoh and Kristine WKristine WKristine W, born Kristine Weitz, is an American singer-songwriter. She has released seven albums, three of them through major labels, plus an early recording she sells to fans through her website...
) - 1994 "High", as O.T. Tunes
- 1994 "Hold That Sucker Down", as The O.T. Quartet (with Colette)
- 1995 "Hold That Sucker Down '95", as The O.T. Quartet (with Colette)
- 1995 "High As A Kite", as One Tribe (with Roger)
- 1995 "What Hope Have I", as Sphinx (with Sabrina Johnston)
- 2000 "Hold That Sucker Down 2000", as The O.T. Quartet (with Colette)
- 2005 "Hold That Sucker Down 2005", as The O.T. Quartet (with Colette)
- 2007 "What Hope Have I (Remixes)", as Sphinx (with Sabrina Johnston)
Rollo Goes...
- 1993 "Get Off Your High Horse", as Rollo Goes Camping (with Sister BlissSister BlissSister Bliss is a British keyboardist, record producer, DJ, composer and songwriter. In the studio she is best known for her work with Rollo Armstrong, particularly as part of the now disbanded dance group Faithless.She started music at the age of five, when she learned how to play the piano...
and Colette) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#43 - 1995 "Love, Love, Here I Come", as Rollo Goes Mystic (with Sister Bliss and Pauline Taylor) - UK #32
- 1996 "Let This Be A Prayer", as Rollo Goes Spiritual (with Sister Bliss and Pauline Taylor)- UK #26
- 1997 "Love, Love, Here I Come '97", as Rollo Goes Mystic (with Sister Bliss and Pauline Taylor)
Other aliases
- 1992 "Hypnotized", as High On Love (with Chris Rushby)
- 1992 "A Million Ways", as Stoned Democracy (with Chris Rushby)
- 1993 "In My World", as High On Love (with Chris Rushby)
- 1993 "Close (Like An Overdose)", as Stoned Democracy (with Chris Rushby)
- 1996 "Help Me Make It", as Huff & Puff (with Ben Langmaid and Sister Bliss)
- 2000 "Born Again", as Huff & Puff (with Ben Langmaid)
Single production for other artists
- 1992 Felix - "Don't You Want Me" (with Red Jerry)
- 1992 Felix - "It Will Make Me Crazy"
- 1992 Frankë - "Understand This Groove" (with Rob Dougan)
- 1993 Frankë - "We're On A Mission"
- 1993 U.S.U.R.A. - "Tear It Up"
- 1994 Sister BlissSister BlissSister Bliss is a British keyboardist, record producer, DJ, composer and songwriter. In the studio she is best known for her work with Rollo Armstrong, particularly as part of the now disbanded dance group Faithless.She started music at the age of five, when she learned how to play the piano...
- "Cantgetaman, Cantgetajob (Life's A Bitch!)" (with Colette) - 1994 Kristine WKristine WKristine W, born Kristine Weitz, is an American singer-songwriter. She has released seven albums, three of them through major labels, plus an early recording she sells to fans through her website...
- "Feel What You Want" (with Rob Dougan) - 1995 Kristine WKristine WKristine W, born Kristine Weitz, is an American singer-songwriter. She has released seven albums, three of them through major labels, plus an early recording she sells to fans through her website...
- "One More Try" (with Rob Dougan) - 1995 Kristine WKristine WKristine W, born Kristine Weitz, is an American singer-songwriter. She has released seven albums, three of them through major labels, plus an early recording she sells to fans through her website...
- "Don't Wanna Think" (with Rob Dougan) - 1995 Sister BlissSister BlissSister Bliss is a British keyboardist, record producer, DJ, composer and songwriter. In the studio she is best known for her work with Rollo Armstrong, particularly as part of the now disbanded dance group Faithless.She started music at the age of five, when she learned how to play the piano...
- "Oh! What A World" (with Colette) - 1996 Kristine WKristine WKristine W, born Kristine Weitz, is an American singer-songwriter. She has released seven albums, three of them through major labels, plus an early recording she sells to fans through her website...
- "Land Of The Living" (with Rob Dougan) - 1996 Sister BlissSister BlissSister Bliss is a British keyboardist, record producer, DJ, composer and songwriter. In the studio she is best known for her work with Rollo Armstrong, particularly as part of the now disbanded dance group Faithless.She started music at the age of five, when she learned how to play the piano...
- "Bad Man" (with Junkdog Howler) - 1996 Pauline Taylor - "Constantly Waiting" (with Sister Bliss and Matt Benbrook)
- 1998 Pauline Taylor - "The Letter" (with Matt Benbrook)
- 2000 Shawn Christopher - "So Wrong" (with Rob Dougan)
- 2000 Sister BlissSister BlissSister Bliss is a British keyboardist, record producer, DJ, composer and songwriter. In the studio she is best known for her work with Rollo Armstrong, particularly as part of the now disbanded dance group Faithless.She started music at the age of five, when she learned how to play the piano...
feat. John Martyn - "Deliver Me" - 2000 Sister BlissSister BlissSister Bliss is a British keyboardist, record producer, DJ, composer and songwriter. In the studio she is best known for her work with Rollo Armstrong, particularly as part of the now disbanded dance group Faithless.She started music at the age of five, when she learned how to play the piano...
- "Sister Sister" - 2001 DidoDido (singer)Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
- "Thank You" - 2001 DidoDido (singer)Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
- "Take My Hand" (with Sister Bliss) - 2003 DidoDido (singer)Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
- "Stoned" - 2003 DidoDido (singer)Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
- "White Flag" - 2004 DidoDido (singer)Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
- "Sand In My Shoes" - 2007 Kristine WKristine WKristine W, born Kristine Weitz, is an American singer-songwriter. She has released seven albums, three of them through major labels, plus an early recording she sells to fans through her website...
- "Sweet Mercy Me" (with Rob Dougan)
Album production for other artists
- 1996 Kristine W - Land Of The Living (with Rob Dougan)
- 1998 Pauline Taylor - Pauline Taylor
- 2000 DidoDido (singer)Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
- No Angel - 2003 DidoDido (singer)Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
- Life For Rent - 2003 P*Nut - Sweet As
External links
- Faithless at eNotes.
- UEFA EURO 2008 full Trailer Intro Theme Jingle on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. This is the long version of the trailer with the full soundtrack, composed by Rollo.