Bio

Manda Rin biography - by Jim Gellatly

Step back to 1996 and a cheery wee girl shouts her way through a song called ‘Kandy Pop’ on Top of the Pops. Along with the Clark brothers (AKA Sci-fi Steven & John Disco), that first Top of The Pops appearance went down in history, with Bis becoming the only “unsigned” band to appear on the legendary TV show.

Going on to sell over 100,000 albums in Japan, signing to the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal label in the States, and soundtracking the popular Powerpuff Girls cartoon series, Bis finally called it a day in 2003. Still firm friends with Steven and John, there have been several Bis reunions.

After Bis she launched a new career as a broadcaster (as Amanda MacKinnon), hosting shows on BBC Radio Scotland, Beat 106 and Xfm Scotland. She was always drawn back to making music, but continues to be much in demand as a DJ at events.

Shortly before the release of her debut solo album ‘My DNA’, Manda was diagnosed with MS.  Not wanting attention this wasn’t revealed until recently.  It’s not been a smooth ride for the singer, and more recently eye problems resulted in several operations.

That put her other activities on hold for a whole, but she still managed to guest with Texan band Hyperbubble and become the first person to ever appear on the Never Mind the Buzzcocks identity parade twice. Her first appearance was initially pulled as it featured Russell Brand just after the whole Brandgate scandal.

Not one to rest on her laurels, she also produced graphics for the iPhone game ‘All Fridges Are Psychotic’. Her artwork is also subject to an exhibition at Glasgow’s 2011 Popfest, featuring her manga inspired interpretations of classic album sleeves.

Her status as an icon of Scottish indie pop was further cemented when The Lane in Glasgow’s trendy Ashton Lane named a cocktail after her!

She may be older and wiser than the Glasgow teenager who first made that TV appearance, but with her solo material she retains all the energy of her early Bis performances. Continuing the disco punk thread through her new music, current inspiration comes from acts like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Marina and the Diamonds, Future of the Left and Le Tigre.

Forever the fighter, she’s overcome many a hurdle to get where she is today. With rumours of further Bis reunions and more solo projects in the offing, plus her DJ engagements and art, she’s as busy as ever.