Len Arran
Encyclopedia
Len Arran is an English
composer of film score
s, and songwriter for Skunk Anansie
and solo artist Deborah Dyer
(Skin
).
He began his career as a guitarist in London
in the late 1980s. In 1991, he developed a writing partnership with Dyer, leading to the formation of rock band Skunk Anansie.
From 1994 onwards, they produced eight Top 40 singles, including "Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)", "Twisted", and "Brazen (Weep)", and three gold/platinum albums: Paranoid and Sunburnt
(1995), Stoosh
(1997) and Post Orgasmic Chill
(1999). 2004 saw the release of songs for Skin's first Solo Album, Fleshwounds
on EMI
followed by her second solo album, Fake Chemical State
(V2 Music) released in March 2006.
The huge hit song "Secretly" was used in the film Cruel Intentions
(1999), along with other tracks for the films Strange Days
(1995), Mission: Impossible
(1998), The Avengers
(1998), and other television credits in Europe and America.
Arran has composed music for many computer games, including the Sony Entertainment PC
game Tellurian Defence. He has scored music for several Irish short films, in addition to music for "Simon Community" TV commercials.
He has scored films including the award winning A Dublin Story (2003), and Push Hands (2004), Past Pupil (2005) and L'Empire des loups
(2005). Other works include the British romantic comedy The Truth About Love
(2006), the Shimmy Marcus/Paul Davey documentary "[Breaking Boundaries]"(2008) and the latest feature from Shimmy Marcus, Soulboy
'".
In 2009 the film [New Boy]' (2007), scored by Arran was nominated for an Oscar at the 81st Academy Awards
( 2009).
Arran lives in Dublin, Ireland and is currently working with the Welsh singer Kadesha on her debut album.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
composer of film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s, and songwriter for Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie is an English rock band whose members include Skin , Cass , Ace and Mark Richardson .Skunk Anansie formed in March 1994, disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009...
and solo artist Deborah Dyer
Deborah Dyer
Deborah Anne Dyer, known by the stage name Skin, is a singer and occasional model. As Deborah Dyer, Skin studied Interior Design at Teesside University in Middlesbrough and they later honoured her with an honourary degree. She is currently the lead vocalist of English band Skunk Anansie...
(Skin
Deborah Dyer
Deborah Anne Dyer, known by the stage name Skin, is a singer and occasional model. As Deborah Dyer, Skin studied Interior Design at Teesside University in Middlesbrough and they later honoured her with an honourary degree. She is currently the lead vocalist of English band Skunk Anansie...
).
He began his career as a guitarist in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the late 1980s. In 1991, he developed a writing partnership with Dyer, leading to the formation of rock band Skunk Anansie.
From 1994 onwards, they produced eight Top 40 singles, including "Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)", "Twisted", and "Brazen (Weep)", and three gold/platinum albums: Paranoid and Sunburnt
Paranoid and Sunburnt
Paranoid and Sunburnt is the first studio album by British rock band Skunk Anansie, first released in 1995 via One Little Indian Records. It was re-released in 2005 with a DVD featuring the videos to the singles. This album was recorded with the band's original drummer, Robbie France but he is not...
(1995), Stoosh
Stoosh
Stoosh is the second studio album by British rock band Skunk Anansie, first released in 1996.-Track listing:Tracks written by Dyer [Skin], Kent [Ace], Lewis [Cass], except as noted.#"Yes It's Fucking Political"#"All I Want"...
(1997) and Post Orgasmic Chill
Post Orgasmic Chill
Post Orgasmic Chill is the third studio album by British rock band Skunk Anansie, first released in 1999. Two album covers exist: the European version with the band lounging in an oceanside apartment, and the American version with the band standing on the Atlantic City boardwalk.-Track listing:...
(1999). 2004 saw the release of songs for Skin's first Solo Album, Fleshwounds
Fleshwounds
Fleshwounds is the debut album from Skunk Anansie lead singer Skin. The album was re-released with an art work and slight track change.Not entirely satisfied with the album, Skin re-released it with new album artwork and a slightly different track listing. "As Long As That True" was replaced with...
on EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
followed by her second solo album, Fake Chemical State
Fake Chemical State
Fake Chemical State is the second solo album by Skunk Anansie lead vocalist Skin. Released on 20 March 2006, the album was produced by Gordon Raphael and Skin herself, except for the first single "Alone in My Room" which Skin produced with former Mansun lead vocalist Paul Draper...
(V2 Music) released in March 2006.
The huge hit song "Secretly" was used in the film Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions is a 1999 American drama film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair. The film is an adaptation of the 18th-century French epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Laclos and is set among wealthy teenagers living in modern New York...
(1999), along with other tracks for the films Strange Days
Strange Days (film)
Strange Days is a 1995 cyberpunk science fiction film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and produced and co-written by James Cameron and Jay Cocks, starring Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Michael Wincott and Vincent D'Onofrio. Despite positive reviews, the film was a...
(1995), Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible (film)
Mission: Impossible is a 1996 action thriller directed by Brian De Palma and starring Tom Cruise. Following on from the television series of the same name, the plot follows a new agent, Ethan Hunt and his mission to uncover the mole within the CIA who has framed him for the murders of his entire...
(1998), The Avengers
The Avengers (film)
The Avengers is a 1998 American film adaptation of the British television series of the same name from the 1960s.The film was directed by Jeremiah Chechik...
(1998), and other television credits in Europe and America.
Arran has composed music for many computer games, including the Sony Entertainment PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
game Tellurian Defence. He has scored music for several Irish short films, in addition to music for "Simon Community" TV commercials.
He has scored films including the award winning A Dublin Story (2003), and Push Hands (2004), Past Pupil (2005) and L'Empire des loups
L'Empire des loups
Empire of the Wolves is a 2005 movie directed by Chris Nahon, written by Christian Clavier, Jean-Christophe Grangé, Chris Nahon and Franck Ollivier, and starring Jean Reno, Arly Jover, and Jocelyn Quivrin....
(2005). Other works include the British romantic comedy The Truth About Love
The Truth About Love
The Truth About Love is a 2004 film directed by John Hay.-Synopsis:In Bristol, as part of a drunken bet with her sister , a happily married Englishwoman sends an anonymous Valentine's Day card to her husband to see if he hides it...
(2006), the Shimmy Marcus/Paul Davey documentary "[Breaking Boundaries]"(2008) and the latest feature from Shimmy Marcus, Soulboy
Soulboy
Soulboys were a working class English youth subculture of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and fans of American soul and funk music...
'".
In 2009 the film [New Boy]' (2007), scored by Arran was nominated for an Oscar at the 81st Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
( 2009).
Arran lives in Dublin, Ireland and is currently working with the Welsh singer Kadesha on her debut album.