Eight major studio albums released under the Ninja Tune label define the primary discography of Amon Adonai Santos de Araújo Tobin. Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1972, this composer and producer gained early attention for experimental sound design and complex sampling techniques that moved electronic music beyond traditional genre boundaries during the late 1990s.
Early Development and Cujo
Tobin spent his childhood moving between Brazil, Morocco, the Netherlands, Portugal, Madeira, and London before settling in Brighton, England. While studying editorial photography at university, he began crafting electronic compositions using samplers and an Amstrad Studio 100 4-track recorder. Operating under the pseudonym Cujo, he released material on 12-inch vinyl, leading to the 1996 debut album Adventures in Foam on the Ninebar label.
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After interest from established acts like DJ Food and Funki Porcini, Tobin signed with Ninja Tune in 1996. The label officially re-released Adventures in Foam in 1997, including additional previously unreleased material. Following this, he produced a run of acclaimed albums, including Bricolage in 1997, Permutation in 1998, and Supermodified in 2000. Critics noted his inventive use of jazz samples and break-beat rhythms during this period.
Professional Studios and Interactive Media
Relocating to Montreal in 2002, Tobin transitioned to professional studio environments for his fifth album, Out From Out Where. In 2004, he began work on the score for Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. He engineered the soundtrack in four distinct layers of varying intensity, allowing the game's audio to shift in real-time based on player actions. This methodology influenced his later work, including the 2009 score for the game Infamous.
Collaborative Projects and Recent Work
Beyond his solo discography, Tobin formed the alias Two Fingers alongside collaborator Doubleclick, producing two albums under that name. His compositions have appeared in motion pictures such as The Italian Job and 21, as well as the independent film Taxidermia and the anime IGPX. His latest release, Nomark Selects V.2, arrived on June 20, 2025.
Fast facts
- Born: 1972, Rio de Janeiro
- Citizenship: Brazil
- Primary Label: Ninja Tune
- Notable Alias: Cujo
- Gaming Score: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)
- Latest Release: Nomark Selects V.2 (2025)
- Residence (2002): Montreal, Canada
Questions readers ask
What is Amon Tobin's most notable contribution to video game music?
He is credited with pioneering interactive soundtracks for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, where he composed tracks in four layered segments that changed based on player behavior.
Under which alias did he release his early work?
Before using his own name on the Ninja Tune label, he released music under the moniker Cujo.
Achievements
- Instruments: synthesizer and phonograph
- Genres: electronic music, trip hop and intelligent dance music
