Utah Saints are a pioneering British electronic music duo formed in 1991 by DJs Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt. Known for early rave-era hits like “Something Good” and “What Can You Do for Me,” they are renowned for sampling eclectic sources (Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, The Stone Roses) combined with house beats. They have sold over 2 million records, played over 3,000 DJ gigs, and continue to produce/remix music.
Key Bio Details:
- Members: Jez Willis (formerly of Cassandra Complex) and Tim Garbutt, who met in the Leeds rave scene.
- Origins: The name comes from a sample of a band called Arizona, with “Utah” chosen because it appeared next to U2 in record stores.
- DJ Style: Primarily House, but described as “heads down DJ-ing with effects,” incorporating 90s dance, tech-house, and unique edits of known tracks.
- Key Achievements: 9 Top 40 UK hits, 4 in the top 10. Listed in Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time.
- Legacy: Known for pioneering, high-quality sampling technology in the early 1990s and, along with their production work, they founded and promoted legendary club nights like The Gallery and SugarBeatClub.
The duo remains active as DJs and producers, having remix credits for artists including Bring Me The Horizon and Take That.
