DJ Phats, otherwise known as Jason Hayward, began his Djing career back in 1989. From his early residency at Brighton’s Zap Club with Carl Cox, to frequent stints at the Ministry of Sound, Jason’s career has gone from strength to strength both as DJ and producer.

 

His music production dates as far back as 1986 but his first electronic work surfaced later in ’88. Early productions include The Delorme/Kathy Brown “Turn Me Out” and Dharma Bums “Spanish Fly” projects on Stress and Zoom Records, not to mention his re-creation of George Benson’s “Give Me The Night” and a long list of remixes for DMC.

Russell Small, 37 grew up in Peacehaven, attending Tideway School in Newhaven. He began his Djing career at thirteen when he started his own mobile Djing business, being escorted by his father to weddings and parties.

Russell acknowledges the business did not last because of his inability to stop swearing over the mic. Odds against him, Small turned his focus to Djing and house music. As soon as the law would allow him, he launched himself onto Brighton’s club scene.

 

In 1998 Jason invited fellow Brightonian DJ Russell Small to his studio and Phats and Small were born, recording their first hit Turn Around, which reached number 2 in the UK charts and was a massive hit worldwide. They followed this with a further four top twenty hits and numerous remixes.

 

Apart from Fjing extensively all over the world, Russell and Jason spent the past five years writing and producing Phats and Small’s first and second albums – “Now Phats What I Small Music” and “This Time Around…”, and their latest “The soundtrack to Our Lives”.

They now have over 100 released productions and remixes in their colourful discography, working with the likes of Arther Naker, Jean Michel Jarre, James Brown, Lolletta Holoway and Masters At Work, and have amassed sales of over 3 milion worldwide.

 

In 2000 they won various awards for their work including a Muzik Dance Award, TMF Award, RSH Award, 2 German Dance Awards, 2 Southern FM/Capital Awards, 2 MOBO award nominations and a Brit Award nomination for Best Newcomer.

Their label Mutant Disc continues to provide a healthy diet of respectable house grooves to dance floors with releases signed by Carl Cox’s label.

 

Their latest production is a nod of respect to a dance floor classic and another successful collaboration that is Annie Lennox and Dave Stuart. It has veen championed by the world’s best DJs and played with great response on the floors of the world’s best clubs…