From Local Grind to International Spotlight
At 26, Northampton-born DJ and producer Tommy Phillips has quickly become one of the UK’s brightest new exports in house music. His journey hasn’t been linear; he started out producing rap beats at 16, shifted into house at 21, and by the end of 2023, left his job in construction to commit to music full-time. That leap paid off.
His sound is a fusion of Chicago house grooves, breakbeat drive, and irresistible vocal hooks has carried him from local clubs to some of the world’s most iconic stages, including 528ibiza, Drumsheds, and Crobar.
“House music has always been in me. Rap gave me a different ear; it taught me how to make drums hit harder and how to layer grooves with grit. That rawness is still in my sound today.”
Breakthrough & Recognition
Tommy’s breakthrough came with his Smokin’ EP on Hector Couto’s Roush, which stormed the Beatport charts. He followed up with Foolish Stuff on Ben Rau’s Meta, proving he was a consistent creative force.
By 2024, his track You Just Might on Max Dean’s neXup led to a UK tour with Max himself. Then came the viral rework of Deadmau5 and Kaskade’s classic I Remember, which exploded on TikTok, racked up over a million streams, and became an official Mau5trap/Sony release in 2025.
In June 2025, his Fixation EP featuring his own vocals topped Beatport across three genre charts, cementing him as more than just a producer: he’s a vocalist, DJ, and full spectrum artist.
“When Deadmau5 supported me and his team reached out, that was a real turning point. To have someone at that level acknowledge what I do showed me the path is real.”
Touring the Globe
Momentum hasn’t slowed. In the past year, Tommy has completed a sold-out South American tour, hitting Buenos Aires, Medellín, Quito, and Santiago. His global summer tour is expanding his footprint further, marking him as a fast-rising international name.
But he stays grounded:
“I keep sharp with my team, my family, my girl and my close mates. Social media can mess with your head if you start comparing yourself to others. The only way is to work hard and stay locked on the vision.”
Influences & Sound
House may be the backbone of Tommy’s sound, but his influences stretch much wider. Early on, he found inspiration in Illangelo’s work with The Weeknd, which pushed him to think differently about textures and layers. The Alchemist also left a mark, showing him the endless possibilities of sampling.
“Growing up I was obsessed with Weeknd's producer ‘Illangelo’ his productions and use of sounds in unique ways has really pushed me to be more experimental in my own. The alchemist too, his use of sampling inspired my work a lot”
Today, Tommy looks to peers like Andrew Azara, Luke Dean, Max Dean, Chris Stussy, and Jamback, whose creativity keeps the scene moving forward. Beyond music, he often finds sparks of inspiration in film, fashion, and the rhythm of everyday city life.
Life Beyond the Booth
Away from the clubs and studio, Tommy keeps things grounded. Music is still the anchor, but when it’s time to unwind, he reaches for the records that first taught him feeling.
“Soul and RnB always. Sade or Aaliyah if I want to reset. I love Latin flavours too like Smoke City and I have been running a lot of old Kerri Chandler lately.”
If he wasn’t making music, Tommy says he’d still be creating, maybe in fashion or film,but construction is one chapter he’ll never return to. And even as his career accelerates, he isn’t afraid to look back at how far he’s come:
“It makes me laugh sometimes but it also makes me proud. Every rough idea was a step toward where I am now. The journey is in those early beats”
The Vision Ahead
Tommy’s goals go far beyond charts and streams:
“My mission is to reach a point where my family never have to work again. That is what drives me every day. Along the way I want to stand on the biggest stages like Creamfields, Glastonbury and Parklife. Those moments will come, but the long-term vision is bigger than just me.”
From rap beats in Northampton to festival stages across the globe, Tommy Phillips’ rise is proof of persistence, versatility, and vision. And with heavyweight co-signs, sold-out tours, and Beatport-topping records already under his belt, the story is only just beginning.
