Phats & Small

Formed in Brighton in 1998, Phats & Small (Jason Hayward and Russell Small) became central figures in the UK's 'French Touch' influenced house scene. Their sound identity is rooted in the creative re-contextualization of 1970s disco and funk, most notably on their breakout hit 'Turn Around', which utilized samples from Toney Lee and Change.

This track established their signature formula: filtered loops, high-energy 4/4 beats, and soulful vocal performances, often provided by Ben Ofoedu. Their career arc saw them transition from club-focused producers to chart-topping remixers for artists like Earth, Wind & Fire and Simply Red. Culturally, they represent the 'Big Tune' era of British dance music, characterized by high production values and crossover appeal. Critical consensus views them as masters of the commercial house format, praised for their technical proficiency in sampling and their ability to maintain a consistent 'feel-good' aesthetic across multiple vocalists and albums. They remain a staple of 90s nostalgia sets and summer festival lineups.