Welcome to the Official ILS web page!

ILS - Over 10 Million+ combined plays on Spotify.

Multi award winning producer ILS started from a humble background. With an extensive discography spanning several years and nearly 300 track credits ILS has some of the most groundbreaking tunes in dance music under his belt and a musical history which encompasses every aspect of production, engineering and DJing, ILS is one of electronica's leading lights.

 

ILs started out in 1991 in West London - Shepherd’s Bush. He set up a studio inspired by D&B and the ‘straight out of the bedroom’ movement that the new era of samplers allowed. The ILL Mansions studios was born. The studio kit was based around the Atari and Akai S1000 sampler. Only a couple of minutes sample time did not really allow for working with full singer / songs or ‘proper live musicians’ but could still match the punch of the big studios.ILS started out by charging local DJs from pirate radio in the area to make dubplates.

Don FM & Flex were the 2 pirate radio stations he could pick up from Lime Grove W12, and it was a buzz to work with DJs from those stations. Usually 4-hour sessions at a time, they needed 2 sessions to complete most tracks. It was through this network that ILS met his future collaborators; G Force aka Mark Force (Reinforced records & Bugz in the Attic), Richard File (Mo Wax), Cas (Rugged Vinyl), Solo (Production House), Donna Dee (500 records), Dave Tipper (Fuel), DJ Deekline (Hot Cakes), Stevie Hyper D (MC) etc. It was nice being a ‘pay by hour’ engineer and producer but the aim was to be recognised in his own right.

As his reputation grew, ILS was invited to work for LTJ Bukem's drum & bass label Good Lookin Records under the name ILS & SOLO or Axis. ILS joined GLR (Good Lookin Records) at it's inception and helped define the classic D&B sound of this new label with LTJ Bukem.

ILS then joined Mo Wax record label in 1996-7(famous for artists like DJ Shadow) as an engineer / producer. He helped create sound designs for clients such as Coca Cola, Nike, Bacardi, Miller and even made a 7 track album for NIKE which was given away free with magazines across Europe ..totaling a million units. His client list grew to include such big names as Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Garbage, James Lavelle, Richard File (UNKLE), Solo ,Derek Dahlarge-Wall of Sound and Tipper. Following the demise of the Mo Wax label Tipper suggested that ILS put some of his ideas into an album for emerging breaks label Fuel Records, the result, 'Idiots Behind the Wheel' 1996, was hailed as the first proper nu-skool breaks album. With tracks pulled out for compilations and mixes like Adam Freeland’s 'Coastal Breaks 2' album, ILS deserved success grew.

'Idiots Behind the Wheel' - with its blend of cinematic funk, tough beats and atmosphere-soaked string and jazz elements stands up today as one of the most essential breaks albums ever.

Naturally, success follows success, and the next few years saw ILS hooking up with Marine Parade for the release of his second album 'Soul Trader' starring vocals from Diane Charlemagne, the key single from which, '6 Space / Next Level', was chosen to soundtrack a critically-acclaimed Orange TV ad. More advertising work, continued support from Top DJs with mix albums. It won Breakspoll album of year and extensive touring around Europe, Asia and the US followed.

'Bohemia' was ILS third studio album was released in 2005 on Distinctive Records and was one of the most talked about albums of the year. Zane Lowe made 'Bohemia' his 'album of the week' on his Radio 1 show and the first single 'Cherish' was picked up by Pete Tong. Radio appearances on Kiss FM, XFM, and a set with the legendary Carl Cox on his international show ensured this amazing album got the coverage it deserved. With the same kind of musical integrity seen in the first two releases but a much harder and more lush dance floor edge, 'Bohemia' shattered expectations as to what a credible breaks album sounds like. Strings and sub-bass combine with gorgeous vocals from Bulgarian singers Desi and Roni (from Nasekomix), and with production support from Wizard and long-time breaks collaborator Donna Dee. Further vocals come courtesy of MC Wonda and Rhalia. 'Bohemia' was the only essential album purchase of 2005. It was made even more famous when the game 'Need For Speed: Most Wanted' picked up on the track 'Feed the Addiction' as one of it's main title themes. 

The next album "PARANOID PROPHETS" on Botchit and Scarper records set to blow up in 2008. Recommended by such leading lights as Zane Lowe, DJ Mag , Jay Cunning, Pete Tong and the Stanton Warriors. It won Breakspoll album of year (again). Making ILS the only artist in that genre to win 2 best album awards.

A few years later Distinctive was taken over by a new owner and decided to get ILS back into the fold, for one last album ’33 RPM’ aka ‘Revolutions’ in 2010. ILS wanted to do this last one because he wasn’t very happy with the last album 4!ILS has made some great music, and has also made some not so good music (sorry to everyone for that!).

The trick is to keep on going and something magic will happen eventually!

Ils Discography: Vinyl, CDs, & More | Discogs