Toolbox Recordings

Smartie pants returns with possibly his smartest track yet. This tune is so different to anything else doing the rounds at the moment but not so unfamiliar it looses any appeal. Starting out with a slightly dark edge to this track, the eerie sirens and vocals take you on a real journey through to the elevated breakdown where you really do want to throw your hands up in the air. Toolbox loves!

Place Your Bets

Wayne Smart - Place Your Bets (Sept 2016)

Toolbox cannot get enough of this remix, Dan Diamond at his absolute best. That vocal break at the start of the tune really is a goosebump moment before anything has happened! Rolling energy with the baseline teamed with vocal stabs and old skool hits dances along nicely until the break. The synth used for the break is full on dirty but uplifting with that huge diva vocal and when it kicks back- power! 10 out of 10.

Kamishake (Dan Diamond Remix)

Nik Denton - Kamishake (Dan Diamond Remix MAR 2018 Dentology Remixed EP)

Kent massive representing on this next release set to be a huge summer anthem. The Queen of Toolbox teams up with one of the top producers of the past few years. Big vocals, piano riffs, acid lines and hoovers complete what can only be described as summer in a tune.

I Got Your Back (Original Mix)

Lucy Fur & Sean Inside Out- I Got Your Back (October 2018)

Oh my gosh, talk about ending the year on a high. Finishing off 2018 we have a firm favourite release of yesteryear with Dramatik on the remix. This remix is everything we love about him, hooverlicious, playful, energetic and has the essence of those early Tinrib tunes from the 00's. Ace job!

Skittles (Dramatik Remix)

NikDBubble & Filthy Kitten - Skittles (Dramatik remix, January 2019)

Here at Toolbox we love to support raw passionate talent and to give those the opportunity with each release, a chance to shine as being a phenomenal artist. After consideration, it was decided that we should bring back the infamous Toolkit series in 2018- a showcase of handpicked artists who have produced ten monster tracks with a mix of the best engineers in the business.
 
As a genre, Hard House has witnessed some amazing artists step up and emerge these past few years- pushing the production boundaries with unique samples, thundering baselines and a slightly different yet still familiar feel that we have all come to know and love of the music. Upon reflection of past releases, one artist came to mind for the re-launch. With a string of tracks already featured on the Toolbox label, now producing and writing his own material as a solo act plus being omnipresent across the biggest parties in the UK it was an effortless decision to make. We proudly present the Aaron James Toolkit.
 
Aaron has fully cemented himself a respected and established DJ in the music scene, accredited from his vinyl background and energetic sets across super brands such as Xstatic, Frantic and Twist. But as he will confirm, there is nothing like belting out your own productions to a packed dancefloor.
 
The short-lived but mammoth success of the ‘Forbidden Friends’ guise saw some of Toolbox’s most downloaded releases of their year including ‘Apples’ and ‘Blunt Punt’. Vicious Circle also endorsed the duo with ‘Balls Out’ and the remix of Justin Bourne’s ‘Rok Da House’ drew so much attention that it was used on every DJ’s mix and heard out every weekend for months. It is still being smashed to this day.
 
In 2016 it was well overdue for Aaron to break away from that and catapult himself onto a solo path for his own musical development. Passion become an obsession and pretty soon more Toolbox Digital number 1’s were being unleashed like ‘Do What You Like’ and ‘Bitch Kick’ with Matt Mara. Twist Trax ‘Bones’ had huge success globally in Australasia and really catapulted Aaron to the next forefront level.
 
Toolbox 19 covers an expanse spectrum of tracks from traditional handbag house all the way to relentlessness. Like a perfectly balanced dish, this album has all the elements of a Masterchef creation. We have hoovers, we have piano stabs, we have enormous baselines and plenty of elevated vocals to suit. But to name a few to get your tastebuds going from the funkier side we ‘Timewaster’. A real groovy production with plenty of stabs, diva vocals and a very 90’s house feel with breakbeat interludes.  ‘Ya Feel Me’ delivers a thundering baseline track with huge attitude vocals, and twisted synths which was a massive hit in Ibiza for the legendary ‘Xstatic’ brand. And how could we not mention ‘The Urge’ who slaps in your face the biggest baseline you will hear this year complimented by one of the best uses of a unique vocal sample with a deliciously dark edge.
 
We would like to thank everyone in advance for supporting the re-launch of the Toolkit series and of course Toolbox Recordings, the artists and the releases over the years.
 
Much love,
Toolbox Recordings

Aaron James - Toolbox Toolkit 19 Album Sampler

Toolbox is very excited to have Hard House all Star Dawn Lee this month. After a very successful 2018, we predict she will be huge in 2019- this track being no exception. What can only be described as a pounding baseline, this track thunders along nicely with the cheeky use of 90’s diva R&B vocals. A quick turnaround breakdown delivers a strong synthy lead on the kick out with some very desirable key changes and a bit of acid for good measure.

Tricky (Original Mix)

Dawn Lee- Tricky (Feb 2019)

Wayne German can do no wrong in our eyes and this belter is no exception! This track takes us on a almost funky techy trip until that baseline drops which smacks you right in the face. The old skool riff takes us that little bit higher with plenty of phaser action before a mammoth hoover lead tops us all of!

Down On Me (Original Mix)

Wayne German- Down On Me (Jun 2019)

This track is exactly what you would expect from this filthy pair! Intense baseline with RBR's trademark stabs. Filthy Kittens influence cuts through like a knife with the old skool vocal used and that kick arse hoover riff after the breakdown. Good work team.

Filthy Kitten & Random But Raw - Like Me (July 2019)

Yes Terry! The Mungrel returns with this ridiculous NRG tune with so many twists and turns. The pounding baseline works so well with the industrial samples used throughout and of course the absolute hero of the track is the Willy Wonker breakdown.

Dawdy Factory (Original Mix)

The Mugrel- Dawdy Factory (August 2019)

Hard House welcomes back Hayz after a break from the music scene with this corker of a remix of a Toolbox classic. The synth riff makes a great edition from the original whilst keeping it uplifting and energetic. We look forward to many more of Hayz's productions.

Candi Overload (Hayz Remix)

Munkjack - Candi Overload Hayz Remix (Jan 2020)

What a start for 2020, Wayne German at his best again! Driving baselines with a a few subtle key changes and good use of cheeky vox stabs.  Good to hear an original jazz hands style vocal for the breakdown too which is used before releasing an absolute hoover beast riff. 10/10!

Overtime (Original Mix)

Wayne German- Overtime (Nov 2019)

Toolbox is very excited to have our very own Pulse Fiction feature on this months release. In addition to his trademark baseline that we all love, we have groovy key changes and old school stabs that lead us through to that classic sounding riff breakdown. A Toolbox classic in the making.

Dorothy's High On Drama (Original Mix)

Pulse Fiction - Dorothy's High On Drama (Sept 2019)

Here is the first admission from Irish whizz-kid Kevin Byrne on his label debut. With a weighty rolling baseline that evolves throughout, accompanied by prominent dynamic percussion; this track develops in to something rather tasty! With it’s appealing vocal drops/pull-outs, cheeky hoovers and grimy main leads that are enough to make any dancer get their head down and chops full out on that dance floor. We fully welcome the contribution from Kev, and are looking forward to working more with him in the future.

Bass Heavy

Kevin Byrne - Bass Heavy (Hammerheads Feb 2020)

Another label debut now, this time from the production machine that is Wayne G. We are delighted to claim this signing for Hammerheads as WOW… What a beast it is! With it’s captivating vocal loops, intense rolling baseline and quirky stabs. This number is sure to get any crowd going with it’s insane main drop that’s full of our favourite sweeping de-tuned hoover sounds, gritty running synth lines and a refreshing uplifting element to the mix in and out. This release is not one to be missed!

Bow Wow

Wayne German- Bow Wow (Hammerheads Mar 2020)

This release from 2 Snobs (Jake Martin & Nogger) is an absolute monster of a track and has featured heavily in many artists’ closing sets across the country. This track is a deeply tech infused savage hard house number; showcasing a mighty offbeat bassline, ferocious synths, intoxicating vocal loops, as well as it’s haunting air raid sirens and untamed main drop that’s full of energy and drive. What a debut from the boys this is, we are enthralled to have this release featuring on Hammerheads and await their next instalment of mastery.

Chromozone

2 Snobs - Chromozone (Hammerheads May 2020)

The Gathering is one of many tracks that will be featuring on the label by Hammerheads manager Aaron James (collaborating with label debutant Jay Lyth in this instance), setting the tone for future releases, starting as he means to go on with signings henceforth! It features a multitude of catchy offbeat vocal stabs, dirty distorted riffs and a forceful low and deep offbeat bassline. Also full of eery synths and heavy hitting leads, with a menacing in your face hoover riff to finish the track off with your mix out. This is a great addition to any DJ’s wallet looking for the harder edged track within their set’s.

The Gathering

Jay Lyth & Aaron James - The Gathering (Hammerheads Jan 2020)

After a year in the making, we can finally present to you Toolkit 20. Following the success of last years release we had to really pull out all the production stops to bring you a cutting edge album by an unmistakably talented artist.

Our next offering is from a DJ & Producer who has graced our scene for over a decade. Not only does he run the Encoded label and their events, he is also Co-Label Manager for the mighty Frantic Digital. With a string of residences under his belt to his accolade, this artist continues to produce monster track after monster track and creating future hard house anthems. Let’s get excited, we present to you the Wayne Smart Toolkit.
 
Wayne Smart is a household name within our heavyweight scene who originally stems from a vinyl background but has never compromised his music style. This is clearly demonstrated when he plays his back catalogue vinyl rips just too good to be kept in a record bag, in this now digital world. Renowned for having lots of energy whilst keeping the fun, Wayne has been able to incorporate his set sound into his productions. Many of these can be found on his Soundcloud page where his LIVE sets from the infamous Tidy Weekenders have had over 10’000 hits. 2019 sadly sees Wayne’s retirement from DJing but to our delight he is hosting a huge retirement gig in London in October featuring many of the scenes much loved DJ’s and artists who have been influential in his music career to date. Fortunately for us, he is nowhere near hanging up the studio headphones.
 
His first major success was a collaboration that turned heads with Phat Beats & Defective Audio ‘Death Warrant’ which still appears in DJ’s wallets today as a firm favourite. Showing his diversity he has a huge range of music from funky hard house to driving hard trance under his many aliases which include DDT and the Pandemics. The past 5 years have seen many of his official remixes and original tracks on top shelf labels like Vicious Circle, Toolbox and Deprivation that have been featured on album after album including the huge ‘Girls Like It Hard’ Mixed By Lucy Fur & Cally Gage. ‘Frantic’ on Frantic Digital was a game changer, as was ‘I Bass’ on Deprivation and ‘Bad To The Bone’ with Mike Taylor also featured on ‘Frantic Digital’. Wayne was lucky enough to tour Australia and New Zealand in 2016 showcasing many of his productions to his global fan base. He has also been fortunate enough to have worked with some of the most influential producers in the scene including BK, James Nardi, Dave Owens and Dom Sweeten, and this album is no different.
 
Toolkit 20 runs from red to purple like a rainbow of sound to cover every aspect of dance music. Heavy baselines, plenty of hoovers, old-skool stabs and uplifting vocals will catapult your ears through journey after journey on this album. Demonstrated on tracks like 'What's Your Problem' and 'Your Love'. Both old-skool feel masterful creations that take you back to 1999 with all the baseline heaviness of 2019. The insane baseline groove that is 'Changes', complimented with that hoover lead and huge diva vocals. And not for the fainthearted you have 'Get Here Now' with that circa 2000 Nu NRG feel involving plenty of grit and a hoover riff to drool over. 
 
Thank you again for supporting the Toolkit series, of course our heart Toolbox Recordings and the long awaited return of Hammer Heads Digital.
 
Much love,
Toolbox Recordings 
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Wayne Smart- Toolbox Toolkit 20 Album Sampler

Toolbox is very excited to have Tom on board this month, all the way from Russia. With so much attitude and grit with twisted Russian vocals and a very dark breakdown this is a 2am must play!

Tom Whyld - Disco Junky (Toolbox Feb 2020)

Hooked On U is a full on Nu NRG sounding track from Marc Lewis and we feel his best production yet. The vocals, insane baseline and old skool stabs really elevate this track into the forefront of any DJ’s mind.

Hooked On U (Original Mix)

Marc Lewis - Hooked On U (Toolbox Mar 2020)

Finally we are proud to have hard house superstar Adam Butler feature on the label and what a release!? Heavy ass baseline, crisp percussion and the naughtiest riff all lead you out of this eerie but very trademark Toolbox sounding track. We absolutely love it.

Toolbox Recordings

Paul James Buckless