B U R N S was born in Glasgow on Halloween in 1985. His mother was an artist and painter. His father was a professional heavyweight boxer. Growing up, watching both parents work made a deep impression on BURNS and combined to give him an appreciation of both beauty and power, a combination that comes through in his own work, in his love of melody and of sonic impact.

B U R N S began making music at age twelve, playing guitar and keyboards before discovering sampling as a teenager.