TWO men from the region are behind some of the biggest dance tracks being played in clubs across the country.
Nilesh Parmar and Dave Heels, both from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, are music DJs and together formed production team Bass Slammers.
They remix and play tracks for some of the UK’s leading nightclubs and dance events, and have just seen their debut album reach number two in the UK compilation chart after selling 15,963 copies.
Big Tunes Ignition, which entered the chart at number seven and is currently at number two, features 12 tracks they produced.
Mr Parmar, 30, who recently moved to Leicester, said: “At first you just want to see it in the charts. Top three in the first week is amazing.”
Father-of-one Mr Heels, 32, said: “Just seeing it on the shop shelves was amazing, and it is really funny to hear something we have made playing in a car that goes past.”
The pair both started their music careers as DJs in local pubs and clubs and began working together two years ago.
Mr Parmar was touring the UK when he met one of Mr Heels’ friends during a session in Stockton.
He suggested they get in touch, as they were both from Newton Aycliffe, and the following day their creative partnership was formed.
In a stroke of good luck, Mr Parmar’s younger brother, Dipesh, was working for clubbing group Ministry of Sound selecting artists, and secured them a remix trial.
Their first track was a remix of Rush Hour by SJB featuring Jane Wiedlin, of Eighties group the Go-Go’s, which impressed industry bosses.
They have since featured on several dance albums and performed on the Athems and Clubbers’ Guide UK tours in front of thousands of clubbers at major venues including the Metro Arena, in Newcastle.
Mr Heels said: “Two years ago, I was there watching bands like Keane, and then I found myself on stage there. It was unreal.”
For Big Tunes Ignition, the music company Hard2Beat selected tracks for the pair to remix into hard house versions.
Bass Slammers are the only producers given permission to remix British rap star Dizzee Rascal’s chart-topping track Bonkers.
Mr Parmar, who is also a graphic designer, said: “We hope the album keeps doing well in the charts and maybe goes higher and hope the success helps us get more gigs and freedom to produce more original tracks in future.”
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