Phats & Small

Phats & Small, the British electronic dance music duo, emerged from Brighton in 1998, featuring Jason “Phats” Hayward and Russell Small. The duo gained international recognition with their single “Turn Around” in 1999, which utilized samples from Toney Lee’s “Reach Up” and Change’s “The Glow of Love.” This track debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart before rising to number two, becoming a significant hit for the group. Their debut album, “Now Phats What I Small Music,” was released later the same year.

Following their initial success, Phats & Small continued to produce music and perform. Ben Ofoedu, who appeared in the “Turn Around” video, contributed vocals to subsequent singles like “Feel Good” and “Tonite.” The duo also engaged in remixing efforts for artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire (“September”) and Simply Red (“Ain’t That a Lot of Love”). In 2001, their second album, “This Time Around,” was released, featuring Tony Thompson as the main vocalist after Ofoedu pursued a solo career. This album included singles such as “This Time Around” and “Change.” Jason ‘Phats’ Hayward, a founding member, began producing at age 14 and had a career spanning over two decades, selling more than 4 million records.

After a period, Phats & Small returned in 2005 with the album “Soundtrack to Our Lives,” which introduced Ryan Molloy as a new vocalist, alongside a returning Ben Ofoedu and new vocalist Carrie Luer on tracks like “Sun Comes Out.” Russell Small also co-founded The Freemasons, a production team that achieved numerous UK Top 20 hits and a Grammy nomination. In 2016, a new rendition of “Turn Around” was released with new vocals from Ofoedu, marking a continuation of their musical output and engagements. Jason Hayward’s early career involved DJing in Brighton clubs alongside artists like Carl Cox and Colin Dale, and he established his label AFROCUTS in the late 90s, receiving support from notable DJs such as Fatboy Slim and Daft Punk.