Freemasons

Freemasons are an English-Irish dance and house group from Brighton, United Kingdom. The act begins in 2005 and consists of Russell Small and James Wiltshire, who work as DJ, producer, composer and remixer. Their music spans dance, electronica, funky house and vocal house.

Career

The duo builds a profile through club-focused productions and remixes, becoming known in the UK dance scene for work on major pop and R&B tracks. Their own releases earn three UK top 20 hits.

In 2005 they turn Jackie Moore’s 1979 Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play number one track “This Time Baby” and Tina Turner’s 2000 hit “When The Heartache Is Over” into “Love On My Mind”, with vocals by Amanda Wilson. The single samples the Moore recording and reworks material associated with both originals. In the United States it reaches the top 10 of the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and the Dance Top 40 chart, where it peaks at number 2.

They also remix Faith Evans’ 2005 number one Hot Dance Music/Club Play and number 4 Dance Top 40 hit “Mesmerized”. Their follow-up single, “Watchin’”, also with Amanda Wilson, appears in the United States in 2006. In early 2007 they release “Rain Down Love”, with Siedah Garrett on lead vocals.

Remixes and albums

Freemasons receive particular attention for their remixes of Beyoncé’s “Deja Vu”, “Ring the Alarm”, “Beautiful Liar” and “Green Light”. They also remix Kelly Rowland’s “Work” and release a remix of Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited”, a track associated with the film City of Angels.

Their two-disc album Shakedown appears in 2006. Unmixed follows in 2007 and differs from the first album by presenting the tracks in full-length form rather than as continuous mixes.