Lorin Cutts – Music Bio

LORIN CUTTS

A misspent youth as a singer/bass player in various punk bands from the age of 14 brought cider-fuelled dreams of rock n roll stardom. That was until an opportunity came along to move to the big smoke and work as a tape-operator and later as an engineer in a London recording studio. It was in this studio that Lorin fell in love with the developing music technology of the day. The studio had been set up in a Camden attic by The Eurythmics to record their ‘Sweet Dreams’ LP, and it was here that he learned how to mix in the dead of night by sneakily digging out master tapes and making his own mixes of tracks.

The studio was also host to a couple of very early drum machines/toys built by legendary Kraftwerk producer Conny Plank. Lorin says, ‘it seems almost dreamlike that my first exposure to electronic music making was in these amazing circumstances. I never truly appreciated how lucky I was at the time. I don’t have many regrets, but if I had one it would be turning down the chance to buy Dave Stewart’s ‘typewriter’ drum machine (the one that appears in the ‘Sweet Dreams’ video) for 50 quid. I simply didn’t have the money’. During this time Lorin worked as tape-operator/apprentice and learned how many records were made. He even appeared on a few and is particularly proud of making crowd noises in a supposed strip club alongside Johnny Thunders on his ‘Copy Cats’ LP.

Stints as engineer, studio manager and vocalist in various indie bands followed until in 1991 when a reluctant visit to Trade club in London showed Lorin how the other side of the music obsessed public lived. This music was just as dark, dirty and rebellious as punk, but without all the hideous hours spent hung over in the back of a transit van on a tour of the East Midlands.

Trade became a weekly scheduled stop and using skills learned during his grueling studio experience, he was soon making tracks for legendary Trade DJs Tony de Vit and Tall Paul as well as those at brand new club-on-the-block DTPM. The following year saw the debut releases of original tracks and remixes on fledgling labels Hooj Choons, Positiva, and Jumpin’ and Pumpin’, and of course numerous obligatory white labels.

A seven year publishing deal was signed in 1994 with Polygram / London Records, but by 1996 he’d become tired of the vacuous place that the music industry and club scene can become. Disillusioned and exhausted, Lorin moved once more and became a West Country recluse, listening to Strange Cargo albums with his sheep dogs in Somerset.

By 2004 Lorin had once again became excited by new developments in music technology, and a growing love of the breaks scene in the UK tempted him out of exile. DJ dates followed in places as far afield as Russia, Europe, and the USA. Exposure to a barrage of amazing new music prompted the launch of music label and multi-media company – mmrmmr. Now based in Portland, Oregon, Lorin spends his time between writing, producing and remixing music, researching UFO’s and frequency healing, and working as a freelance writer.

Lorin is currently working with frequency healing / response and incorporating this technology into his music production.

Lorin is also co-founder and executive partner of KGRA and presents Saturday Night Sounds and High Strangeness radio shows there.

TV credits include: Top Gear, Inbetweeners, Eddie Izzard, Royal Variety Performance, MTV, BBC, ITV, Channel 4. Publishers include: Polygram, Warner Chappell, BMG, Audio Network and BBC Worldwide.

All things Lorin Cutts on mmrmmr.com: here

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