Downtown has signed a worldwide deal with British Drum and Bass group Chase & Status. The deal covers the duo's upcoming release Return 2 Jungle as well as their external third party writing.
Chase & Status have repeatedly found chart success in the U.K., from topping the UK Dance Chart with their early hit "Pieces" featuring Plan B to peaking at Number 2 on the U.K. Albums chart with their sophomore album No More Idols. Multiple songs from Idols, including "End Credits" featuring Plan B and "Let You Go" featuring Mali, would become Top Forty hits in the U.K. Two albums later, the duo have built a collaborative roster spanning grime acts Kano, Dizzee Rascal, and Tinie Tempah, as well as global pop artists such as Jay-Z, Rita Ora, and Rihanna.
Chase & Status, who are currently celebrating their 15 year anniversary, commented, "We are very excited to have signed to the legendary Downtown Music Publishing roster, we've been working with Dan Lloyd Jones very closely for many years now and it's great to finally put pen to paper. He has brought a lot of great ideas in the past and we're very excited for the future and this partnership with Downtown."
"I've known Saul and Will for over a decade and worked closely with them on their past releases. They are diamonds in the rough," said Daniel Lloyd Jones, Head of A&R, UK. "Signing them is adding to the exceptional people that we are blessed to be surrounded by at Downtown. Will and Saul are not only talented writer/producers, they are fine music industry execs and entrepreneurs. On top of their own achievements, they've set-up Elam, which keeps expanding and providing opportunities for the next generation of writers, set up their own publishing company, had multiple cuts with Rihanna, and won the coveted Red Bull Culture Clash along with Shy FX and David Rodigan."
The multi-platinum selling duo are gearing up to release of their highly anticipated Return 2 Jungle album, along with accompanying exhibitions, a documentary, and a European tour. Two new tracks from the forthcoming record, "Retreat 2018" ft. Cutty Ranks and "Heater" ft. General Levy, are due to drop around their headline set at Clapham's SW4 festival this coming August Bank Holiday weekend. Their Super Sharp Reloaded exhibition at Selfridges, launches on Aug. 9 and runs till Sept. 6, celebrating Rave culture and its direct relationship with high fashion.
Since opening its London office in 2015, Downtown has continued to invest in British songwriters, building a diverse roster that reflects the UK's vibrant music market, including Sacha Skarbek, Imogen Heap, Naughty Boy (Sam Smith, Emile Sandé), Slaves, Izzy Bizu, Goldie, Kano, Saltwives (Zayn, Iggy Azalea, Charles Hamilton, BeBe Rexha), and ZDOT (Wiley, Professor Green, Lady Leshurr, Bugzy Malone).
Pictured (l-r): Sonia Diwan, Saul Milton (Chase), Daniel Lloyd Jones, Will Kennard (Status) and Roberto Neri
