Jeremy Sylvester

Jeremy Sylvester’s story starts in music. Born into it, he was raised around the sounds of his father’s band, the 1980s disco outfit J.A.L.N. Band. That early exposure to groove-heavy records, alongside influences like Chic, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Delegation and Kool and the Gang, laid the foundation for a career rooted in rhythm and soul.

His first productions came out of his father’s Eye to Eye Studio in Handsworth, Birmingham. Initially inspired by rave and reggae-infused sounds, he moved through drum and bass before co-founding Dubtronix in 1994 with his father. Releases like “Screwface” and “Fantasy” quickly made noise, establishing Sylvester as a serious studio talent.

DJing came slightly later, almost by accident, but it changed everything. Wanting direct contact with the crowd, he began playing deep New York house on pirate radio and in clubs, sharpening his instincts for what truly works on a dance floor. That experience led him to Nice ‘n’ Ripe Records, where he released music under a string of aliases including SLY, Deep Cover, Groove Connection, G.O.D and Sylvester, each reflecting a different facet of his sound.

After relocating to London, Sylvester immersed himself in the capital’s exploding house and garage scene. He founded Club Asylum, a production and remix outfit that brought underground credibility to mainstream names. Remixes for All Saints, Jodeci, KC & JoJo, Shola Ama and others carried a distinctly UK garage edge while keeping their club functionality intact.

A run with Azuli Records followed, including “Coke, Sex and Drugs” under the name Electronica, which reached number 14 in the Cool Cuts chart. On Multiply Records he delivered “Strangled,” a rework of The Stranglers’ “Peaches,” further proving his versatility. As part of Class A he remixed artists such as Eddie Grant, Gambafreaks, DJ Disciple and 10CC, while his Stealth Records project Pure Orange saw “Gained” hit number one in the Cool Cuts chart and number two in the Buzz Charts.

Collaboration has remained central to his output. His work with singer and songwriter Victoria Horn led to the formation of Feela, releasing material through Azuli. In 2022, Sylvester’s decades of contribution were formally recognised when he received the DJ Mag Underground Hero Award, a fitting nod to his influence on UK dance culture.

That same year he launched Garage Paradise, a club night dedicated to forward-thinking underground house and garage. He also runs two labels, Urban Dubz Music and Garage Paradise Music, the latter tied to his album “Underground Hero,” which spans everything from 2-step to 90s-inspired garage house.

Across his career he has worked with Stealth, Azuli, Nice ‘n’ Ripe, Defected, Diamondhouse, Positiva, BMG, Universal, Island, Softone, Kitchenware, Cool Pool, Ministry of Sound and Atlantic Jaxx. Most recently, he signed a new publishing deal with Songs in the Key of Knife, part of Hospital Records.

Jeremy Sylvester is not just a producer or DJ. He is a cornerstone of UK house and garage, a figure who has moved fluidly between underground credibility and chart impact while never losing the groove that started it all.