Tim Hutton is a UK producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (guitarist, … Read Full Bio ↴Tim Hutton is a UK producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (guitarist, bassist, drummer, and also classically trained as a brass and piano player).

His musical career began in the early 80’s playing drums and bass for two bands, The Mob and Zounds, on the anarchist punk label Crass Records, and touring Europe and UK several times over.

A burgeoning fascination for funk led to him striking out on his own, which led to signing to EMI and recording an album as The Neighbourhood, which was a seven piece band (including Dexy’s original horn section) he subsequently put together. More touring followed, and a spot featuring as a singer on Afrika Bambaataa’s album The Light.

Two more solo albums followed, and stints working with the Horny Horns, Lee Perry and reggae singer Bob Andy amongst others, before the Acid House boom took him, along with many others, in a different musical direction.

What followed was several albums, twelves and ep’s, under various guises on labels such as Reflex, Germany’s Source and San Francisco’s Reflective. This was purely electronic music, with no involvement of any instrumental playing or singing; as a long time singer and player of guitar, bass, drums, brass and keyboards, this was a period of stripping back, influenced by the “faceless techno bollocks” represented by artists and labels such as Aphex Twin and Basic Channel.

It was followed after a while by two albums of more pronounced musicality welded to the electronic and dance music values he had explored in the previous few years. These were his solo album Everything on PIAS Recordings (an album of songs taking in lo-fi, jazz standard and electronic-tinged folk influences) and Variations under the moniker Soul Ascendants (along with DJ Nick the Record) on Nuphonic. The latter was a mixture of house, jazz and afro-beat, featuring collaborations with Fela Kuti’s bandleader and drummer from the Africa 70, Tony Allen.

Both these albums were released in 2000, and it was at this time that he was asked to contribute as writer and vocalist to Groove Armada’s third album Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub). This preceded a period of touring with the band during 2001 – 2002 as vocalist, also helping on trumpet, guitar and keyboard duties, and featuring as vocalist on their next album Lovebox.

Moving on once again, at the end of 2002 he toured with Paul Oakenfold in the States as lead and bass guitarist and vocalist to promote the Oakenfold's album Bunkka, and then as bass player with the breaks-based outfit Hybrid, providing live the bass parts Peter Hook had played on record.

In late 2003 he started working with Tom Findlay from Groove Armada, leading to a remix album Launchpad Remixes.
In 2004 Tim provided horns on several songs on Ian Brown’s album Solarized. He also co-wrote and played guitars and bass on song Time Is My Everything.

Colours
Tim Hutton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Looking out from day to day
At a dirty old expensive motorway
I dream of colours when all around is grey
I dream of colours and sunlight

There's a way i'd rather be
Than the person who pretends that he is me
I dream of colours to be what i would be

I dream of colours, it inspires me

Suddenly, a shaft of light breaks through
Illuminates the room
When all around was darkened
And tender hues of light and shade
It paints a picture of an
Altogether brighter day

Looking out from day to day
At a dirty old expensive motorway
I dream of colours when all around is grey
I dream of colours...and sunlight

Sunlight...sunglight...sunlight...

Overall Meaning

In Tim Hutton's song Colours, the singer is expressing his yearning for something more than the mundane routine of his day-to-day life. He's looking out at a dreary and polluted motorway, but he dreams of a world filled with vibrancy and light. The color that he craves becomes a source of inspiration for him to become a better version of himself. He doesn't want to be the person who pretends anymore - he wants to be authentic and true to himself.

The song paints a vivid picture of the drastic change that occurs when a shaft of light pierces through the darkness. Suddenly, everything is illuminated, and tender hues of light and shadow paint a picture of a brighter and more hopeful day. The song is infused with a sense of hope and possibility - it's a testament to the transformative power of imagination and the human spirit's resilience.

Line by Line Meaning

Looking out from day to day
Observing my surroundings day by day

At a dirty old expensive motorway
Viewing a busy and polluted highway

I dream of colours when all around is grey
I yearn for vivid and lively visuals in a dull environment

I dream of colours and sunlight
I long for the sensations of bright colours and warm sunlight

There's a way i'd rather be
I have a preferred version of myself

Than the person who pretends that he is me
I desire to be genuine rather than imitate someone else

I dream of colours to be what i would be
I aspire to be my true self and express my uniqueness

I dream of colours, it inspires me
The idea of vibrant colours motivates and uplifts me

Suddenly, a shaft of light breaks through
Unexpectedly, a beam of light pierces the darkness

Illuminates the room
It brightens up the space

When all around was darkened
In a place where everything else was dimmed