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Manda Rin
Manda Rin
Manda Rin
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Key Information

Amanda MacKinnon[1] (born 22 March 1977), better known by her stage name Manda Rin, is a Scottish singer, artist and songwriter. She is the singer, drummer and keyboardist of the Scottish indie rock band Bis,[2] later fronted the Kitchen and also released a solo album. She also co-hosted a radio show on BBC Scotland called Air.[3]

Rin was the only person ever to appear in three of the line up rounds on Never Mind the Buzzcocks: twice on the original run on the BBC, and once on the revival on Sky. Her first appearance initially unaired; one of the contestants on the programme was Russell Brand who, shortly after taping, became embroiled in a tabloid row after leaving messages on the answerphone of Andrew Sachs for his radio programme, resulting in Brand being banned from the BBC.[4]

Music career

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Bis

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In 1994, Rin, along with the brothers Steven Clark (Sci-fi Steven) and John Clark (John Disco), formed the band Bis in Glasgow, Scotland.[5] In March 1996, Bis performed their single "Kandy Pop" on Top of the Pops twice,[6] which charted at number 25 in the UK Singles Chart.[7] The lead single, "Eurodisco", from their second album, Social Dancing (1999), reached number 37.[7] Bis toured extensively from 1996 to 2000, and achieved strong fan bases in Japan,[8] the US and Australia. The band split in 2003, but in 2005 formed a new band, Data Panik, which lasted until the next year.[8] Bis reformed in 2007 and released a fourth album, Data Panik Etcetera, in 2014.[6] A fifth album, Slight Disconnects, followed in 2019.[9]

Solo

[edit]

Rin released a solo single, "Guilty Pleasure",[10] and an EP, My DNA Sampler, in 2008, both on This Is Fake DIY Records.[11] The next year, her EP My DNA was released,[12] and a solo album of the same name followed in 2009.[1]

Other work

[edit]

Rin contributed vocals to tracks for the 1998 album Cat Food by J Church[13] and Meister's 2004 album I Met the Music.[14]

Rin also fronted the Kitchen with Ryan Seagrist from Alison Mosshart's first band, Discount, who released several singles from 2001 to 2004 and an album in 2003 on the Damaged Goods label.[15] She later teamed up with Hyperbubble on a track for the group's 2011 album Drastic Cinematic and for the 2013 EP Hyperbubble + Manda Rin.

Following the first dissolution of Bis, Rin became a DJ at nightclubs, most notably Death Disco at the Arches in Glasgow.[16]

Artwork

[edit]

Rin was responsible for the manga-inspired artwork on all of Bis's releases.[17] Her sleeves aided the success of the band, most notably in Japan;[8] she published a monthly comic strip in the Japanese magazine Buzz.[citation needed] More recently, Rin has held an exhibition of her work under the title "Cover Versions and Other Hits".[17]

Personal life

[edit]

In 2009, Rin revealed that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis four years earlier.[18]

Rin married Stuart Memo in 2011.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Manda Rin

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Manda Rin, born Amanda MacKinnon, is a Scottish singer, songwriter, musician, and visual artist renowned for her contributions to and genres. She first gained recognition as the and keyboardist of the Glasgow-based band Bis, which she co-founded in 1994 at age 16 alongside schoolmates Sci-Fi Steven (Steven Clark) and John Disco (John Clark). Known for their energetic, twee punk-infused sound, Bis became the first unsigned band to perform on BBC's Top of the Pops in 1996 and achieved mainstream success with their 1998 single "" from the album Social Dancing. The group also composed the theme song for the animated television series and toured with prominent acts including , , Garbage, and Pavement. Bis disbanded in 2003 after a decade of activity but reunited in 2007 for live performances and new material, with album releases in 2014 and 2019, and continued live performances into 2025. Throughout her career, Rin has explored side projects and collaborations, including fronting the band The Kitchen, contributing to Data Panik (a Bis offshoot), and working with acts like Juno! and Hyperbubble. In 2008, she released her solo debut album My DNA on the UK label This Is Fake DIY Records, featuring electropop tracks like the single "DNA" and showcasing her evolution toward more mainstream electronic influences. Beyond music, Rin has maintained a multifaceted career, including a day job designing and producing custom badges since 2000, as well as visual art and occasional DJ sets. Her work often reflects a playful, DIY rooted in Glasgow's vibrant indie scene, blending punk energy with pop accessibility.

Early life

Childhood and family

Manda Rin, born Amanda MacKinnon on 22 March 1977 in , grew up in the suburban area of . Thornliebank, historically tied to industrial activities such as and coal mining, provided a working-class environment that characterized her early years. Her family embodied this modest backdrop, with her mother employed in a local bar, reflecting the everyday realities of community life in the region. This setting, part of the , fostered a grounded upbringing amid Scotland's west-central Lowlands, where local schools like Woodfarm High in nearby played a central role in daily routines. The influences of Renfrewshire's close-knit, industrially rooted communities contributed to her developing creative outlook, emphasizing resourcefulness and community ties that later informed her artistic pursuits. Early hobbies and local experiences in this environment laid the foundation for her interests, though specific childhood activities remain less documented beyond the cultural vibrancy of suburban Scottish life. Her transition to musical exploration began in at Woodfarm High School.

Musical beginnings

During her teenage years in the Glasgow area, Amanda MacKinnon, known as Manda Rin, discovered key musical influences from punk, indie, and pop genres, including the movement, , the B-52's, and emerging acts like Blur and . These inspirations shaped her interest in energetic, DIY-driven sounds amid the vibrant local indie scene of the early 1990s. At Woodfarm High School in near , MacKinnon met John Clark (later John Disco), and through him, his older brother Steven Clark (Sci-Fi Steven). She connected with the brothers early on by purchasing their initial demo tape for £2 in 1991, admiring their style and even Steven's Blur T-shirt, which sparked a shared passion for music. This led to informal creative collaborations, with MacKinnon joining them to experiment with songwriting and performance. MacKinnon's first hands-on experiences with instruments came through these sessions, where she took up the keyboard as her primary tool. Around 1993, she participated in the local music scene by performing at the iconic 13th Note venue, a hub for indie and punk acts, though her debut was nerve-wracking—she positioned her keyboard behind a pillar to ease her anxiety. These steps marked her entry into professional involvement, fueled by the city's DIY ethos and culture that helped uncover underground bands.

Music career

With Bis

Bis was formed in 1994 in , , by Amanda MacKinnon (known as Manda Rin), Steven Clark (Sci-Fi Steven), and John Clark (John ), all students at Woodfarm High School in nearby . The band drew initial inspiration from , , and DIY punk , crafting a distinctive indie sound characterized by energetic, hook-driven songs. Manda Rin served as the primary vocalist and , with additional contributions on drums during live performances and recordings. The band's breakthrough came with their 1996 EP The Secret Vampire Soundtrack on Chemikal Underground, featuring the single "Kandy Pop," which peaked at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart and marked Bis as the first unsigned act to perform on . Their debut studio album, The New Transistor Heroes, followed in 1997 via , establishing their playful, irreverent style with tracks blending punk attitude and pop melodies. Subsequent releases included the 1998 single "Eurodisco," which reached number 37 on the UK chart, showcasing their evolving electronic influences. Rin played a key role in songwriting, collaborating with her bandmates to infuse with witty , while her dynamic stage presence energized their chaotic, high-octane live shows. After releasing two more albums—Social Dancing (1999) and Return to Central (2001)—Bis disbanded in 2003 amid shifting pressures. The group briefly reunited in for a series of reunion concerts, followed by a more permanent reformation in 2009. This led to the 2014 album data Panik etcetera on LOAF, which revisited their punk roots with modern production, and Slight Disconnects in 2019, featuring Rin's co-written tracks like "" that balanced nostalgia and fresh experimentation. In 2022, they released Systems Music for Home Defence on Last Night From , continuing their sound with tracks reflecting on modern life. Her ongoing involvement in performances has sustained the band's reputation for vibrant, community-driven gigs, including appearances at Bearded Theory Festival in May 2024 and The Hug and Pint in on June 14, 2025.

Solo work

Manda Rin's solo career began during a hiatus from her band Bis, allowing her to explore a more personal sound blending electro-pop, disco, and indie influences. In 2008, she released her debut solo single "Guilty Pleasure," a track characterized by its upbeat synth-driven energy and themes of indulgent escapism. This was followed by the EP My DNA Sampler on This Is Fake DIY Records, which previewed material from her forthcoming album and highlighted her shift toward introspective lyrics paired with danceable rhythms. The full-length album My DNA, also on This Is Fake DIY Records, arrived later that year on September 8, expanding on the EP with 11 tracks that delve into personal expression, including body acceptance in "Less Than Zero," relational strife in "Break-Up/Breakdown," and emotional vulnerability in "Bruises." Standout songs like the title track "DNA" feature laser-like keyboards and a rubbery bassline, while "The Word Out" incorporates chanting vocals and jagged guitars for a raw edge. The album's production emphasizes nuance over the shouty punk of her band work, drawing from influences such as CSS and The Gossip to create a brighter, more electronic pop palette. Critically, My DNA received mixed praise for its experimental spirit but was noted for occasional inconsistencies in vocal delivery and overall cohesion. described it as a continuation of Rin's "bright, kandy pop" style from Bis, now infused with and Scandinavian dance elements, though it critiqued the thinner vocals on tracks like "" and a lack of bold identity. The album saw reissues in 2014 with bonus tracks, including a of "DNA" by , and in 2022 as a limited-edition pink vinyl on Past Night From , underscoring its enduring appeal among indie listeners. Following the 2009 Bis reunion, Rin has not released new solo material, though her early solo output remains a key showcase of her individual artistic voice focused on themes of self-discovery and resilience.

Other projects

In addition to her primary musical endeavors, Manda Rin fronted the indie rock band The Kitchen from 2001 to 2004, collaborating with Ryan Seagrist of Discount on releases including the 2002 single Better on the Floor and the 2005 album Foreign Objects, which blended punk influences with electronic elements. Earlier, she contributed backing vocals to several tracks on J Church's 1998 compilation album Cat Food, including "The Heroic Trio" and the ELO cover "Turn to Stone." In 2004, Rin provided lead vocals for the track "Dignity" on Meister's debut album I Met the Music, a project led by Japanese musician Ryo Matsui featuring guest appearances from artists like Mark Gardener of Ride. Rin later collaborated with synthpop duo Hyperbubble, lending vocals to "Geometry" on their 2011 album Drastic Cinematic and reprising the track alongside new songs like "Message from Beyond" and "Hello Heaven Operator" on the 2013 EP Hyperbubble + Manda Rin. These releases highlighted her versatile pop sensibilities in a bubblegum electronic context. She also performed as a DJ at events in Glasgow's Arches nightclub during the early 2000s, spinning alternative and electronic tracks as a resident alongside other local acts. Beyond recording and performance, Rin hosted alternative music radio program Air starting in 2000, showcasing emerging indie and punk artists. She made three appearances on the panel quiz show in the Identity Parade segment, including episodes in 2010 and 2011, with a third in 2004 that went unaired due to production issues. Early side projects like The Kitchen occasionally overlapped with Bis members in informal sessions, but remained distinct ensembles.

Artwork

Visual style and influences

Manda Rin's visual artwork prominently features -inspired designs, particularly evident in her contributions to Bis's album covers and promotional materials. For the band's debut album The New Transistor Heroes (1997), she created a sleeve characterized by anime-style illustrations that blend cartoonish figures with a youthful, energetic aesthetic, drawing directly from Japanese traditions. This approach reflects her early adoption of elements, influenced by the artwork she encountered in fanzines like Kitten Frenzy, which shaped Bis's overall visual identity. Her style integrates punk aesthetics with Japanese pop culture, emphasizing a DIY ethic through techniques such as , photocopying, and typewriter text to convey rants, opinions, and satirical commentary on pop culture tropes. Vibrant colors and motifs further define her work, as seen in the bold, eye-catching designs for Bis releases that satirize music industry conventions while maintaining a defiantly cute and twee vibe. These elements combine Riot Grrrl-inspired rebellion with influences, resulting in artwork that critiques societal norms through playful yet pointed visuals. Over time, Rin's artistic practice has evolved from these band-related designs toward more personal explorations, retaining core themes of and vibrant expression while expanding into standalone pieces that merge her musical roots with broader visual storytelling.

Exhibitions and collaborations

Manda Rin's first major solo exhibition, titled "Cover Versions and Other Hits," took place during the Popfest in 2011, featuring her manga-inspired reinterpretations of classic album covers by artists such as Nirvana, , and . The show highlighted her distinctive visual style, drawing from her longstanding role in creating artwork for her band Bis, and included original pieces alongside these cover remakes. In July 2012, Rin presented an extension of this collection at Mono in , where the works were displayed and available for purchase from July 19 to 25. Limited-edition prints from the exhibition, such as those depicting , were produced in runs of 25 copies each and later offered through platforms like . That same year, Rin held another show at Cafe Gandolfi in , exhibiting three original acrylic-on-canvas pieces that all sold during the event. In December 2012, she showcased selections from her "Single Bullets" series at a bar, with each piece derived from a single frame of a fictional narrative. Rin's artwork has continued to be available through independent sales, including limited-edition prints sold via Last Night From , encompassing Bis-related designs and standalone originals up to 2025. These efforts reflect her ongoing collaborations with music labels and galleries, though no major public exhibitions have been documented since 2012.

Personal life

Health

In 2005, Manda Rin was diagnosed with (MS), a chronic affecting the . She kept the diagnosis private for several years before publicly revealing it in June 2009 via a personal post on her , during the promotion of her solo album My DNA. Rin described the decision as "extremely difficult," noting that the condition had weighed on her for over a decade and that she had not been ready to accept it fully at the time. The diagnosis has presented ongoing physical challenges, including balance issues that cause occasional falls, prompting adjustments to her performances with Bis such as relying on her keyboard for stability on . Despite these effects, Rin has demonstrated personal resilience, continuing her music career and managing her badge design business, Wee Badgers, even as symptoms worsen seasonally—particularly during winter, which she describes as a "scary time" that requires pushing forward without delay. Rin has used her platform for MS awareness, sharing in that she hoped her openness would highlight the condition and illustrate how individuals can persist in daily life amid its hardships, a message reinforced by the positive public response she received.

Family

Manda Rin is married and has two children, including a son born around 2014. Her son has shown enthusiasm for her band's music, becoming a fan of Bis's "Kandy Pop" by age seven. In her , Rin balances family responsibilities with her creative pursuits. As a parent, she juggles domestic duties alongside her commitments to and visual , maintaining her multifaceted career without noted expansions to the family unit as of 2025. She has reflected on the emotional weight of milestone performances, discussing with her husband the potential for onstage sentimentality during Bis's 30th anniversary events, highlighting the integration of her relational life with professional endeavors.

References

  1. https://www.clashmusic.com/features/manda-rin/
  2. https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/manda_rin
  3. http://punkglobe.com/mandarinintereview109.html
  4. https://www.dandelionradio.com/artist/bis
  5. https://www.cameo.com/mandarinbis
  6. https://kittysneezes.com/interview-manda-rin-402/
  7. https://www.lightsgoout.co.uk/?p=2452
  8. https://shop.lastnightfromglasgow.com/collections/manda-rin
  9. https://bisnation.com/
  10. https://www.indiedisco.com/interview/2016/11/from-the-archives-interview-with-manda-from-bis/
  11. https://www.discogs.com/release/1639169-Manda-Rin-My-DNA
  12. https://snackmag.co.uk/interview-manda-rin-bis-slight-disconnects
  13. https://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/postgraduate-study/postgraduate-community/stories/interview-hyper-literate-cyber-alliterate-pop-purveyors-biss-manda-rin-and-sci-fi-steve
  14. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095508314
  15. https://blueskyscotland.blogspot.com/2020/08/thornliebank-orchard-park-1970s.html
  16. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn7l51lg465o
  17. https://www.millmagazine.co.uk/bis-is-it/
  18. https://archive.beggars.com/artists/bis/
  19. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity-interviews/bis-reunion-marks-20-year-4540356
  20. https://formalcontentsonly.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/an-interview-with-manda-rin-independent-scotland-5/
  21. https://bistheband.bandcamp.com/
  22. https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/32621/bis/
  23. https://bistheband.bandcamp.com/album/data-panik-etcetera
  24. https://bistheband.bandcamp.com/album/slight-disconnects
  25. https://bistheband.bandcamp.com/album/systems-music-for-home-defence
  26. https://bisnation.com/live
  27. https://bistheband.bandcamp.com/album/my-dna
  28. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12722-my-dna/
  29. https://www.discogs.com/release/22668290-Manda-Rin-My-DNA
  30. https://damagedgoods.co.uk/bands/kitchen/
  31. https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_kitchen
  32. http://www.j-church.com/records/catfood.html
  33. https://www.discogs.com/release/1897377-J-Church-Cat-Food
  34. https://www.discogs.com/release/2528423-Meister-I-Met-The-Music
  35. https://www.emusic.com/artist/rs_43880/Meister/bio
  36. https://www.hyperbubble.net/audio.html
  37. https://hyperbubble.bandcamp.com/album/hyperbubble-manda-rin
  38. https://www.altpress.com/hyperbubble_manda_rin_hyperbubble_manda_rin_ep/
  39. https://list.co.uk/news/41562/death-disco
  40. https://www.nme.com/news/music/bis-2-1308127
  41. https://buzzcocks.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Identity_Parade_guests_on_Never_Mind_the_Buzzcocks
  42. https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/never_mind_the_buzzcocks/episodes/24/5/
  43. https://glasgowmusiccitytours.com/blog/cover-stories-event-panel-discussion/
  44. https://www.jamesjammcmahon.com/-indie-heaven-1/bis
  45. https://www.flavorwire.com/240621/manda-rins-manga-inspired-remakes-of-classic-album-covers
  46. https://bisnation.com/post/24887973996/we-have-some-exciting-news-manda-rins-art
  47. https://bistheband.bandcamp.com/merch/the-slits-mandas-artwork
  48. https://www.instagram.com/p/DNZN64fK854/
  49. https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/13245137.singer-puts-on-art-show-in-city-bar/
  50. https://dearscotland.com/2009/07/03/manda-rin-interview-and-japan-show/
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