Freemasons / Биография

Freemasons (band)

Freemasons Also known as BN3, The Alibi, Walken, Funk Fanatics Origin Brighton, England Genres Dance, Funky house, Disco house Years active 2005 - present Labels Loaded Associated acts Phats & Small
Beyoncé
Kelly Rowland
Kylie Minogue
Solange
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Dannii Minogue
Katherine Ellis Website http://www.freemasonsmusic.net/ Members James Wiltshire
Russell Small

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 "Freemaison" 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. In 2007 they were rumored to be producing an album for Donna Summer, but the project fell through due to scheduling commitments.

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

Year Information Chart positions UK Compilations Chart [7] Irish Top 30 Compilations [8] 2007 Shakedown

1st studio album

Released: January 22, 2007

Formats: 2 CDs, digital download

Label: Loaded Records

- - Unmixed

2nd studio album

Released: October 29, 2007

Formats: 2 CDs, digital download

Label: Loaded Records

58 - 2009 Shakedown 2

3rd studio album

Released: June 29, 2009

Formats: 2 CDs, digital download

Label: Loaded Records

17 39

Singles

Year Single Chart positions Album UK [5] AUS BEL BUL FIN FRA IRE NL 2005 "Love On My Mind" (featuring Amanda Wilson) † 11 46 27 — — 70 38 26 Unmixed 2006 "Watchin'" (featuring Amanda Wilson) † 19 — 34 — 5 — 49 29 2007 "Rain Down Love" (featuring Siedah Garrett) † 12 — 20 17 8 — — — "Nothing But A Heartache" (featuring Sylvia Mason-James) † — — — 18 — — — — "Uninvited" (featuring Bailey Tzuke) 8 — 2 7 — 11 50 4 2008 "When You Touch Me" (featuring Katherine Ellis) † 23 — 28 — — — — 30 2009 "If" (featuring Hazel Fernandes) — — — 15 — — — — "Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)" (featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor)[9] 13 51 — 9 19 44 38 85 Shakedown 2

† Refers to singles also featured on the Shakedown album.