Charles Olins

Studied as a classical pianist and chorister.

After leaving school became a recording session keyboardist and arranger, working largely in house for Trident Studios, recording and arranging for artists including Julian Lennon, Demis Roussos, Donovan, Rusty Egan (Visage) /Spear of Destiny. Also played in various bands including Yes, with whom he recorded the album 90125, produced by Trevor Horn.

Immediately following the Yes album 90125 signed to ZTT/Island records as member of group Esquire. The band also signed to Geffen records for the USA in 1985 releasing one album, produced by the band with Trevor Horn and Chris Squire.

Between 1984 and 2008 wrote and arranged 8 albums for French Disco supremo Cerrone also creating the soundtrack for the 2008 Paris theatre production of A Clockwork Orange and performing a series of huge 'son et lumiere' shows in France and Japan, including playing at Live 8.

Moved to Los Angeles in 1986, signing as songwriter to Warner Chappell music, and spent 5 years in LA acquiring the basic comprehension of the art of film scoring. At the same time he continued his studio work, playing keyboards and synthesizers for renowned producer David Foster, and recording in France with various artists including Cerrone, Jaques Higelin, Kassav and Diane Dufresne.

Moved back to London in 1990 and began working exclusively in film and tv, starting with multiple television commercials and documentaries for the BBC.

1995 assisted legendary arranger /composer Paul Buckmaster with score to Terry Gilliam's Twelve Monkeys and Most Wanted.

1998 composed first solo features- Betty (Dir Richard Murphey) & Aldrich Ames:Traitor Within (Dir John Mackenzie)

During the same period, in addition to movie projects, was engaged by the BBC, Channel 4 and other channels with documentary and drama. Projects included Mysteries of the Ancients, Growing up Wild, Looking after Jojo (Dir John Mackenzie) & Myra:The making of a Monster. Also produced TV commercials for companies including Porsche, Samsung, Land Rover, Sony Playstation and BluRay

Using a combination of classical composition techniques/real instrumentation/synthesizers and samplers developed an individual style. Film projects from this period include Shaka Zulu:The Citadel, Renaissance (Co-composed with Nicholas Dodd) House of 9, Post Impact & The Flock. Television projects included 2 seasons of True Justice, 5 cartoon films in the Jasper the Mule series.

2017 joined forces with the Paris based Modern Freaks, creating the score for Gaumont's The Mansion. More recent movie projects with them include the comedies Divorce Club (Dir. Michael Youn), Je te veux moi non plus, Les Bodins en Thailande (Dir. Frederic Forestier). TV projects include fantasy mini-series Le Talisman (2020) and comedy/drama series Frerots, & Morning Night (2021). Documentaries include Dieuleveult, les disparus du fleuve and Uderzo, sur le divan d'Asterix, both for director Yannick Saillet

2023 UK projects included short feature Supercharged , a second season of Morning Night and BDE (Dir. Michael Youn)

2024 Les Infaillbles (Dir. Frederic Forestier) and an upcoming sequel to Les Bodins.

Regular collaborators and musicians include composer J.Peter Robinson, orchestrator/conductor Nicholas Dodd, composer & conductor Guy Farley, Emmy nominated music editor Poppy Kavanagh, violin maestro Olen Cesari, Erhu master Guo Gan, guitarists Kamil Rustam & Dominic Miller (Sting), and Pearl Jam drummer Matt Chamberlain. Commercials collaborations include Andy Carroll / The Elements Music in London and Los Angeles, and Laurence Cedar / Binary Music in London