MARRS
| Company type | Collaborative music project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Martyn Young, Alex Ayuli, Rudy Tambala, Russell Smith, Steven Young |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Products | "Pump Up the Volume" / "Anitina" (single) |
| Parent | 4AD |
MARRS (displayed as M|A|R|R|S) was a collaborative music project formed in 1987 by the bands A.R. Kane and Colourbox. They are primarily recognized for their global hit single "Pump Up the Volume", which stands as a significant one-hit wonder with considerable impact.
History
The inception of MARRS occurred in 1987, bringing together A.R. Kane and Colourbox alongside contributions from DJs Chris "C.J." Mackintosh and Dave Dorrell. Instead of fully integrating, each group produced separate compositions that were then shared for further development. One such piece, "Anitina," originated from A.R. Kane and featured drum programming by Steve Young of Colourbox. Conversely, "Pump Up the Volume," produced by Martyn Young, was largely sample-based and included guitar parts from A.R. Kane.
The name MARRS was created by combining the first names of five artists affiliated with 4AD: Martyn Young (Colourbox), Alex Ayuli and Rudy Tambala (A.R. Kane), Russell Smith (an A.R. Kane associate and founder of Terminal Cheesecake), and Steven Young (Colourbox).
Their only release was a double A-side single, "Pump Up the Volume" / "Anitina," issued by 4AD in the United Kingdom. Commercially, only "Pump Up the Volume" gained widespread success, topping charts in the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, while also securing top ten rankings in various other countries. Although "Anitina" briefly appeared on UK charts at the label's request, it did not attract notable consumer attention.
In the United States, "Pump Up the Volume" was distributed through 4th & B'way/Island Records with certain samples modified due to copyright concerns.
The track received a Grammy nomination in 1989 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance but was ultimately surpassed by David Sanborn's "Close-Up." By September 1987, MARRS declared no intentions to release further material. Following this, Colourbox disbanded permanently, while A.R. Kane returned to activity after a break spanning from 1994 to 2015.
Steven Young of Colourbox and MARRS died on 13 July 2016.
Discography
- 1987: "Pump Up the Volume" / "Anitina (The First Time I See She Dance)" (4AD AD 707) Aus, NLD, UK, US, US Dance Club Play