Oxide & Neutrino

Alex Rivers, known as Oxide, and Mark Osei-tutu, known as Neutrino, formed the English DJ and MC garage duo Oxide & Neutrino in London. Their career officially began in 1999, shortly after they met at a London-based pirate radio station, Supreme FM, where they both initially played drum & bass. This background influenced their unique sound, which brought elements of drum & bass and jungle, such as powerful basslines and MCs, into the predominantly soulful UK garage scene. Their first track, “Bound 4 Da Reload (Casualty),” was initially created as a dub for their radio show. After being pressed onto a white label, it sold 20,000 copies, signaling their unexpected rise. The single then officially topped the UK Singles Chart in April 2000, sampling theme music from popular TV shows like ‘Casualty’ and ‘The Bill,’ and dialogue from the film ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ (1998).

Following the success of “Bound 4 Da Reload (Casualty),” the duo released their debut album, “Execute,” in 2001, which reached number 11 on the UK album chart and was certified Gold. They were also integral members of the UK garage group So Solid Crew. Their second single, “No Good 4 Me,” featuring fellow So Solid Crew members Megaman, Romeo, and Lisa Maffia, reached the top 10 in December 2000 and was certified Silver. This success solidified their position beyond a one-hit-wonder status. In 2002, they released their second album, “2 Stepz Ahead,” which peaked at number 28 and earned a Silver certification. The duo experienced significant commercial success early in their career, including performing at major festivals across Europe during the summers of 2000 and 2001, and an appearance at SXSW festival.

Despite their commercial achievements, Oxide & Neutrino faced resistance from the mainstream garage scene due to their darker sound. This led them to establish their own pirate station, Delight FM, and organize their own events, such as “Garage Delight at the Collesium.” They also encountered a media backlash, particularly as part of So Solid Crew, which unfortunately led to reduced bookings and venue license issues. After releasing their third album, “2nd Chance,” in 2007, they maintained a lower profile, focusing on studio work. They made a return to the music scene around 2007, playing at dubstep raves and rebuilding their presence on the underground circuit. Since then, they have performed at festivals such as Bestival, SW4, and Wireless, and signed a new record deal with New State Music in January 2021, releasing the track “Where Do We Go” featuring Leo the Lion.