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Mark Rutherford (composer)

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Mark Rutherford
Background information
Birth nameMark Joseph Rutherford
Also known asDarkus
Markus Darkus
Markus Rutherford
OriginLondon, England
GenresClassical, orchestral, electronic, drum and bass, experimental, world
Occupation(s)Composer, producer, arranger, musician
Websitemark-rutherford.com

Mark Joseph Rutherford is a British composer and producer whose work appears on records, video games, television programmes, commercials and feature films.

Early years

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From the age of nine, Rutherford studied classical guitar and classical music theory, learning the Segovia Technique under the guidance of tutor Leslie Nicholls (LGSM BA Hons), a former pupil of Adele Kramer. He also learned to play the piano while studying composition and classical music history.

Records

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Rutherford was a guitarist and songwriter with Jimmy the Hoover. The band, managed by Malcolm McLaren,[1] had a top 20 hit,[2][3] and toured with bands such as Siouxsie and the Banshees and Bow Wow Wow.

He then travelled to Central and Eastern Africa, spending a year and a half living with, and recording, native tribes people. On his return, and under the mentorship of producer Steve Levine,[4] Rutherford learned the techniques of record production, working alongside artists and musicians such as Dave Gilmour, Boy George, Bonnie Tyler, Labi Sifri, Barrington Levy and Motörhead's Lemmy.

In 1991, Rutherford secured a studio space at William Orbit's Guerrilla Studios in Crouch End, London.[5] He shared this with the DJ John Gosling, aka Sugar J.[6] Here, Rutherford collaborated with Orbit on many projects including remixes for Peter Gabriel, The Christians, Psychic TV and Yothu Yindi. He also shared co-production and co-writing credits on Orbit projects including Bassomatic, Strange Cargo and Beth Orton.[7]

Also in 1991, Rutherford began his collaborations with Goldie under the name of Rufige Kru and Metalheads. Their first record, along with DJ Freebase, was "Krisp Biscuit/Killa Muffin", released on Reinforced Records in 1992. This was followed by the "Dark Rider EP", featuring the tracks "Darkrider", "Believe", "Menace" and "Jim Skreech". It was at this time that Goldie gave Rutherford the nickname "Darkus",[8][9] a reference to the "darker" sound Rutherford had brought to the sound of the EP.

Goldie and Rutherford were then asked by Synthetic Hardcore Phonography Records[10] in Camden to write and produce a new record. This became the first Metalheads track "Terminator". For this track, Rutherford brought an Eventide H3000 Ultra-Harmonizer[11] to the studio, a piece of equipment that he had previously been experimenting with at Steve Levine's studio. The H3000 was able to pitch shift in real time,[12] which was used in "Terminator" to affect the breakbeat while keeping its original tempo.

Goldie and Rutherford wrote and produced three more tracks; "Kemistry", "Knowledge" and "Sinister" for what became the Metalheads' "Terminator EP".[8][13][14] This was followed up later with the "Ghosts of My Life/Terminator 2" EP. Many of the Rutherford / Goldie tracks have been re-released and remixed in the years following their original release.

Peter Gabriel then invited Rutherford,[15] alongside DJ Sugar J and Engineer Robert Hill, to create an album using contributions from artists who had gathered at one of Gabriel's "Real World Recording Weeks"[16] at his Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire. The result was the world music crossover album "Way Down Below Buffalo Hell" by Jam Nation. The album includes contributions from artists including Ayub Ogada, Alex Gifford (Propellerheads), Peter Gabriel, Galliano, Jocelyn Pook, Daniel Lanois, Billy Cobham, Karl Wallinger, Jah Wobble and the late Lucky Dube.[17][18]

Mike Oldfield invited Rutherford to his studio to work on the album "Songs of Distant Earth". For this, Rutherford used field recordings he had previously made in Africa. Following the release of the album Oldfield asked Rutherford to remix the single "Let There Be Light".[8]

Rutherford also worked with Einsturzende Neubauten after the band's producer Jon Caffery became aware of Rutherford's experimental style of production.

After Rutherford had remixed the single NNNAAAMMM[19][20] he was invited to rehearse with the band in preparation for their upcoming tour.

Video games

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Rutherford's first game score in 2010 was for Aliens vs. Predator. This was 70 minutes of live orchestral score recorded in Slovakia with the Istropolis Philharmonic Orchestra. For this score, Rutherford made his own percussion kits constructed from bits of metal and various tools which were then scraped and hit with nails, sticks, brushes and mallets.[21][22][23]

In 2013, Rutherford composed and produced the live orchestral score for Batman: Arkham Origins. The score was a combination of extreme synthesised elements and full live orchestral score performed by the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra.[24][25]

2015 saw him scoring Assassin's Creed Chronicles. Rutherford collaborated on the music with Chris Jolley and Aaron Miller. The game is set in three countries, China, India and Russia, and to create these distinctive musical themes Rutherford used the world music experience gained during his time at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios.[26][27][28]

The soundtrack for Dirty Bomb is a combination of processed orchestral elements, electronica and abstract sounds made from a collection of bespoke instruments that Rutherford made. One of the instruments was made from a three-metre steel girder sitting on a galvanised metal box with various straps and bungee cords attached. He used a collection of vintage microphones to record the instrument, including an AKG D12 from the 1960s placed inside a metal box and an AKG D190 from the 1970s.[29][25]

Rutherford has also composed and produced the scores for the Sniper Elite video game series.[30][31][32]

Film and television

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Rutherford's introduction to feature Films and TV came when producer Steve Levine offered him the opportunity to work in his studio in London. During this time, his roles were engineering and programming. He also performed as an instrumentalist whilst working on feature films including the award-winning Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Eversmile, New Jersey[33][34] and Mister Frost.[33][35]

Following this, Rutherford composed music for the film This Is Not a Love Song,[36][37] the first film to be streamed on the internet simultaneously with its cinema premiere at London's Leicester Square.[38]

Rutherford's work with writer-director Chris Crow has involved him scoring the feature films Devil's Bridge, Panic Button,[39][40][41] A Viking Saga: The Darkest Day[33][42] and The Lighthouse.

Rutherford's music has also featured in the films Hell's Kitchen, Blood Brothers, Sacred Planet and Peace One Day.[33]

He has also composed music for short films including Fish Can't Fly[43][44] and Dust. In 2014, he worked on the post-apocalyptic action-satire Get Some.[33]

Rutherford's music can also be heard on television shows and documentaries including Channel 4's Body Shock series, The Twins Who Share a Brain, Horizon, 5th Gear, Minds Eye, Trading Spaces, Perfect Proposal, Visions of the Future, Horizon Space Tourists, Formula One and WWE Smackdown/Raw.[33]

Selected film scores

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Selected video game scores

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Selected discography

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  • William Orbit – Strange Cargo 3William Orbit – Strange Cargo 3[8]
  • Steve Levine – Life Aid Armenia[8]
  • Mike Oldfield – Songs of Distant Earth[8]
  • Peter Gabriel & Carl Wallinger – La Visite Est Terminée[8]
  • Peter Gabriel – Mercy Street[8]
  • Metalheadz – Dark Rider EP[8]
  • Metalheadz – Ghost of My Life EP[8]
  • Metalheadz – Krisp Biscuit/Killa Muffin[8]
  • Metalheadz – Terminator EP[8]
  • Jam Nation – Way Down Below Buffalo Hell[8]
  • Arthur Baker – Zone Rock[8]
  • Bassomatic – Science & Melody[8]
  • Beth Orton – Super Pinky Mandy[8]
  • Daniel Lanois – 454[8]
  • Einsturzende Neubauten – NNNAAAMMM[8]
  • Galliano – Meeting of the People[8]
  • Jah Wobble – Prehistoric Gran Prix[8]
  • Jane Sibery – Harmonix[8]
  • Lucky Dube – First Time[8]
  • Psychic TV – God Star[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Jimmy the Hoover – Do You Remember?". doyouremember.co.uk. 17 October 2006. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Official Charts Company – Jimmy The Hoover". archive.is. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  3. ^ "JIMMY THE HOOVER | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Steve Levine interview in Music Week". The Music Producers Guild. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  5. ^ "William Orbit | Biography". www.williamorbit.com. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  6. ^ AnOther (12 June 2012). "John Gosling, DJ". AnOther. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Mark Rutherford". discogs. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Mark Rutherford". discogs. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  9. ^ "10 Essential Goldie TracksRufige Kru – "Menace"". Complex. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Synthetic Hardcore Phonography | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  11. ^ "H3000 Series | Eventide". www.eventideaudio.com. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  12. ^ "The best designed and most enjoyable effects unit ever: Eventide H3000 UltraHarmonizer". Audio Hertz. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  13. ^ Old Skool Wax (19 September 2015), Metalheads – Terminator (1992), archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 2 April 2018
  14. ^ "Terminator – Metal Heads | Release Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Way Down Below Buffalo Hell » Real World Records – World music label". realworldrecords.com. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Real World Records – World music label". realworldrecords.com. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  17. ^ "Jam Nation » Real World Records – World music label". realworldrecords.com. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  18. ^ "Way Down Below Buffalo Hell – Jam Nation". Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Release 'Ende Neu Remixes' by Einstürzende Neubauten – MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  20. ^ Einstürzende Neubauten (1 July 1997), NNNAAAMMM Remixes by Darkus, retrieved 2 April 2018
  21. ^ Turner, Ken (16 February 2010), Aliens vs. Predator 3, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, Laila Pyne, retrieved 31 March 2018
  22. ^ "Mark Rutherford Interview (Music Composer for 2010 AvP Game) – AvPGalaxy". avpgalaxy.net. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  23. ^ MetaJoke (13 March 2010), Finis Omnium – Aliens vs Predator End Credits Theme, archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 2 April 2018
  24. ^ Richer, Benoit (2013), Batman: Arkham Origins, Carlos Alazraqui, Laura Bailey, Troy Baker, retrieved 31 March 2018
  25. ^ a b "Credits – Audiobeast". audiobeast.io. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  26. ^ Assassin's Creed: Chronicles, Johnny Neal, Kenny Blyth, Howy Bratherton, 9 February 2016, retrieved 31 March 2018{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  27. ^ Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China – Closing Credits, archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 2 April 2018
  28. ^ Assassin's Creed Series (17 November 2016), Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia – Closing Credits, archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 2 April 2018
  29. ^ Dirty Bomb, Jimmy Akingbola, Nonso Anozie, Ayesha Antoine, 2 June 2015, retrieved 31 March 2018{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  30. ^ tominatorxx (7 March 2016), Sniper Elite V2 – full soundtrack, archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 2 April 2018
  31. ^ Siu Hei CHENG (17 August 2017), Sniper Elite 3 Ultimate Edition credits, archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 2 April 2018
  32. ^ Siu Hei CHENG (24 August 2017), Sniper Elite 4 ENDING CREDITS, archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 2 April 2018
  33. ^ a b c d e f "Mark Rutherford". IMDb. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  34. ^ Eversmile, New Jersey (1989), retrieved 2 April 2018
  35. ^ Mister Frost (1990), retrieved 2 April 2018
  36. ^ "Screenwriters' Lecture: Simon Beaufoy". bafta.org. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  37. ^ "this is not a love song film – Google Search". google.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  38. ^ Staff and agencies (5 September 2003). "British film premieres online". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  39. ^ MovieMogulFilms (15 April 2011), PANIC BUTTON – Official Trailer No. 1 [HD], archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 2 April 2018
  40. ^ Film, British Council. "British Council Film: Panic Button". film.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  41. ^ "Panic Button – Movie Mogul Films Ltd". moviemogulfilms.com. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  42. ^ THE LIGHTHOUSE | Official UK Trailer – on DVD 31 October, retrieved 2 April 2018
  43. ^ EOTPFilmFestival (10 October 2007), Fish Can't Fly, archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 2 April 2018
  44. ^ Film, British Council. "British Council Film: Fish Can't Fly". film.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  45. ^ Eltringham, Bille (5 September 2003), This Is Not a Love Song, Michael Colgan, Kenneth Glenaan, David Bradley, retrieved 30 March 2018
  46. ^ "Devil's Bridge (2010) – Full cast and crew". IMDb.
  47. ^ a b "Films". Chris Crow – Director. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  48. ^ a b "The Darkest Day (2013) – Full cast and crew". IMDb.
  49. ^ "Dust (2010/11) – Full cast and crew". IMDb.
  50. ^ "The FOCAL International Awards 2011 – FOCAL International Awards – FOCAL International". focalint.org. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  51. ^ "Panic Button – Movie Mogul Films Ltd". moviemogulfilms.com. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  52. ^ Horton, Adam; Horton, Joe (2014), Get Some, Warren Brown, John Hannah, Kieran O'Connor, retrieved 30 March 2018
  53. ^ Crow, Chris (8 July 2016), The Lighthouse, Mark Lewis Jones, Michael Jibson, Ian Virgo, retrieved 30 March 2018
  54. ^ "BBC – The Lighthouse – BBC Films". Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  55. ^ "Aliens vs. Predator (2010) (VG) – Full cast and crew". IMDb.
  56. ^ "NeverDead (2012) (VG) – Full cast and crew". IMDb.
  57. ^ IGN (30 August 2013), Killzone Mercenary – Gamescom 2013 Trailer, archived from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 30 March 2018
  58. ^ Dirty Bomb, Jimmy Akingbola, Nonso Anozie, Ayesha Antoine, 2 June 2015, retrieved 30 March 2018{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  59. ^ "Batman: Arkham Origins (2013) – Full cast and crew". IMDb.
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