Composer, performer, trombonist, producer. Three ARIA Awards. Australia Council commissions. Over two decades spanning contemporary jazz, electronics, film score, ska, acid techno, and orchestral composition — all connected by one thread: the refusal to be contained.
Born in Australia. Raised in Bangladesh as the only Western family in a village — fifteen years. VCA trained. ARIA awarded. Australia Council commissioned. A keynote before Donald Trump walked in. An O-1A visa. A green card. A jail cell in Florida. $6. One laptop. Melbourne again.
Dr. Kynan Robinson's life reads less like a career and more like a series of radical acts of becoming.
He has composed large-form works for the Melbourne Writers Festival, premiered at Wangaratta Jazz Festival, appeared on ABC Television's Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, and performed alongside Melbourne Ska Orchestra, C.W. Stoneking, and Adam Simmons' Toy Band.
He has been CEO of two global businesses. He has been deported. He has been jailed innocently. He rebuilt — alone, from almost nothing — and is still building.
This Is Florida is the album that tells the whole story.
A photographic project spanning over twenty years and every inhabited continent. Hotel corridors — liminal space, the architecture of transit, of constant becoming. People caught between arrival and departure.
— Full series available for exhibition and publication. Inquiries via Connect.
Windowless facades, each paired with a concept and a material, photographed across cities and towns. Companion series to Hotel Corridors.
— Full series available for exhibition and publication. Inquiries via Connect.
A large-scale theatre work drawing from Cormac McCarthy — specifically Blood Meridian. Music, video installation, lighting, scent. Commissioned by and premiered at the Melbourne Writers Festival.
“Astoundingly beautiful and original. An absorbing experience that overwhelms all the senses and leaves you breathless.”Vierre Magazine
“Nothing is wasted in the music… they transport you to a lawless realm, the delicacy and harshness of which is conveyed in a meticulously realised soundscape.”Liza Power — The Age
“This was really visceral music and its effect was felt physically… Robinson digging deep into the gravel, etched tenor notes into the dark room.”Roger Mitchell — OzJazz.net
After 18 months of experimentation, Robinson pieced together what he termed a ‘disassembled mosaic’ — a multifaceted creative response to McCarthy’s language, themes of detachment, tension, harshness, and the fragility of life.
“With Solo in Red, I feel as though I have found the creative and artistic voice I have been searching for throughout my entire career.”Kynan Robinson
Kynan Robinson — Trombone
Adam Simmons — Tenor Saxophone
Anita Hustas — Acoustic Bass
Jason Bunn — Viola
Andrea Keeble — Violin
Ronnie Ferella — Drums
Substack. Medium. Academic work. A PhD that coined a new term. An audiobook in progress with his father Dr. Stuart Robinson.
“Astoundingly beautiful and original. An absorbing experience that overwhelms all the senses and leaves you breathless.”
Vierre Magazine“Nothing is wasted in the music; there is lots of silence and small sounds… they transport you to a lawless realm, the delicacy and harshness of which is conveyed in a meticulously realised soundscape.”
Liza Power — The Age“Textured and dynamically complex — a hauntingly beautiful work.”
AusJazz Blog“This was really visceral music and its effect was felt physically… Robinson digging deep into the gravel, etched tenor notes into the dark room.”
Roger Mitchell — OzJazz.net“The combined virtuosity of Collider is nothing short of intimidating, yet each musician ensures it is the compositions themselves that take centre stage.”
Owen McKern — 3RRR“This is a surreal body of work worth unwrapping.” 4 Stars
Herald Sun“Truly pushes boundaries; calling on all his talent and daring to fuse auditory and visual aspects in a truly engrossing live show.”
3D World“Dual narratives running through — ideas that run simultaneously that don’t appear to relate to each other.”
Sydney Morning Herald“Adventurous music.” 4 Stars
Derek Leather — The Age“The drawcard is the eclecticism and the endless capacity to surprise.” 4 Stars
Leon Gettler — The Age“En Rusk has quickly become one of our best bands… challenging, angular music imbued with a classic groove.”
All About Jazz“Herald Sun Top Ten Jazz Albums 2003 — Number Two: Startlingly original funky music from a staggeringly talented Melbourne outfit.”
Herald Sun“Kynan Robinson typifies jazz players who are making brilliant and original music… they never feel restrained by its traditions.”
Herald Sun“If you haven’t begun collecting Australian contemporary jazz yet, this would be a good place to start.”
John Clare — Sydney Morning Herald“An air-kissing gorgeous twist of a disc… an absolutely delightful and essential listen.” 5 Stars
Rave Magazine“Undoubtedly one of the most exciting acts to come out of Melbourne in a long time.”
Muff Festival“One of the most original, interesting and thoughtful Australian releases this year.”
In The MixCommission inquiries, collaboration, press, education, keynote speaking, exhibition — anything that warrants a real conversation.
Melbourne, Australia
Commission · Collaboration
Keynote · Education
Press · Exhibition
