Freemasons

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Freemasons are a dance band from Brighton, East Sussex, England. The act consists of producers Russell Small (who is also one half of the house production duo Phats & Small) and James Wiltshire (who also works with Phats & Small under the alias 'Jimmy Gomez').

Career

Their name is taken from the Brighton pub^[1] which they frequently visit. The duo also record and remix under the similar sounding Freemason name, which is also the name of their record label that was founded in 2005. Freemasons have also produced tracks under the names of Alibi, Walken, Funk Fanatics, and BN3 (which is part of their hometown of Hove's postal code).

In 2005 the duo transformed Jackie Moore's 1979 #1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play track "This Time Baby", and Tina Turner's 2000 hit "When the Heartache Is Over", into an international club hit as "Love On My Mind". A #11 hit in the UK,^[2] it was also released in the United States on their U.S. label home, the New York based Ultra Records.

Freemasons were also the remixers on Faith Evans' 2005 #1 Hot Dance Club Play and #4 Hot Dance Airplay hit, "Mesmerized". The Freemason's follow-up, "Watchin'" was released in the United States in 2006 with Amanda Wilson as their lead vocalist for the track. "Watchin'" peaked at #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play and within the Top 20 of the Hot Dance Airplay chart. The third original single from the Freemasons, "Rain Down Love" reached the Top 20 of the Hot Dance Airplay chart. Their fourth single (released digitally), "Nothing But a Heartache" featuring vocals from Sylvia Mason-James was released in June 2007. The Freemasons also remixed Beyoncé Knowles' original song, "Déjà Vu" in 2006 (for which they were nominated for a Grammy Award). The Freemasons followed this up with further remixes of "Ring the Alarm", "Beautiful Liar" (duet with Shakira), and "Green Light". They also co-produced "The One" on Kylie Minogue's album X with Richard Stannard.

On 29 October 2007, the Freemasons released Unmixed, an album containing unmixed versions of most of their mixes to date.^[3] As a bonus, there is a data track containing samples and a cappella versions of "Unmixed".^[4] In 2007, The Freemasons worked with Kelly Rowland, to produce the remix of her single "Work", for the non-American markets.

The follow up to their own "Uninvited", "When You Touch Me", was released in the UK on 30 June 2008. The song featured Katherine Ellis. The video premiered in May 2008. The song entered the UK Singles Chart in June 2008 and reached its peak of #23 on 6 July.^[5]

Beyonce's sister, Solange Knowles used the duo's production skills to create her single "I Decided" for its release in 2008.

Freemasons released the song "Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)", featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor, on 15 June 2009 in the United Kingdom.^[6] The single peaked at #13 in the UK, making it their fifth Top 20 hit on the UK Singles Chart, and was a smash hit on the club charts. It had success in the European charts.

X Factor 2008 winner Alexandra Burke confirmed on her official website that the Freemasons had produced tracks for her debut album.

Work on their second artist album (the follow up to their debut artist album 'Unmixed,) is underway and is expected to be released in 2010.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

^† Refers to singles also featured on the Shakedown album.

Remixes

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2005

• "Mesmerized" - Faith Evans
• "I Just Can't Get Enough" (featuring Abigail Bailey) - Herd & Fitz
• "Zap Me Lovely (The Nokia Song)" - Trick
• "Lovin' You More" (featuring Steve Smith) - Steve Mac vs. Mosquito
• "I See Girls" - Studio B
• "C'mon, Get It On" - Studio B
• "Movin' Into Light" - Black Fras
• "Suntan" (featuring Tia) - The Beach
• "I Wasn't Kidding" - Angie Stone

2006

• "Déjà Vu" - Beyoncé Knowles
• "Ring the Alarm" - Beyoncé
• "Right Here, Right Now" - Fatboy Slim
• "Love Sensation" - Loleatta Holloway
• "Shine" - Luther Vandross
• "Most Precious Love" - Blaze (ft. Barbara Tucker)
• "Moving too Fast" - Supafly Inc.
• "Turn Me On" - Dirty Old Ann
• "In My Mind" - Heather Headley
• "(Don't) Give Hate a Chance" - Jamiroquai
• "Give Me the Night" - Xavier

2007

• "Take Me 2 the Sun" - Disco Freaks
• "Beautiful Liar" - Beyoncé & Shakira
• "Green Light" - Beyoncé
• "Sexual Healing" (ft. Marvin Gaye) - Rockefeller vs. Alibi
• "Work" - Kelly Rowland

2008

• "Disco's Revenge" (featuring Amanda Wilson) - Gusto
• "The One" - Kylie Minogue
• "I Decided" - Solange Knowles
• "Sandcastle Disco" - Solange Knowles
• "Disco Lies" - Moby
• "Pjanoo" - Eric Prydz
• "Keep This Fire Burning" (featuring Amanda Wilson) - The Outsiders
• "Love Is The Answer" (featuring Peyton) - Funk Fanatics

2009

• "Million Dollar Bill" - Whitney Houston
• "Take Me To The Sun 2009 Remix" - Disco Freaks

Producer credits

• 2007 "The One" - Kylie Minogue (Freemasons, R. Stannard)
• 2008 "I Decided, Pt. 2" - Solange (Freemasons, The Neptunes)
• 2009 "Nothing But The Girl" - Alexandra Burke (Freemasons, Neyo)

References

External links

• Official website