AMBITIOUS DJs Jason Phats and Russell Small always dreamed of pop stardom when they performed at clubs across Brighton.

And the duo are now set to follow in the footsteps of dance star Norman Cook with their debut single tipped to enter the Top Ten.

The single, called Turn Around, has been picking up huge amounts of airplay on Radio 1.

And the video, starring Hove boxer Chris Eubank, is a regular on music cable station MTV.

Jason and Russell are putting out the single under the name Phats & Small Presents Mutant Disco.

It was recorded in just 12 hours at Jason's home studio in Kingsway, Hove.

The friends had never worked together before recording the song.

But industry insiders believe they could match the success of Hove-based friend and fellow DJ Norman Cook, who has scored a string of hits under the name Fatboy Slim.

Jason, 28, said: "We always said we would do something together and we have finally got round to it. The buzz surrounding the record has been amazing."

Phats and Small will be familiar to many clubbers, as they have been resident DJs at venues, including Brighton's seafront Zap and Escape, since the early Nineties.

Jason attended Falmer High School. An ex-pupil was Luke Cresswell, co-founder of percussion and dance group Stomp.

Jason said: "I used to play in bands when I was at school. One of my teachers said I used to remind him of Luke.

"I was always writing lyrics in class and the teacher used to grab my book to see what I was doing."

Russell, 31, was born in Brighton but grew up in Peacehaven, attending Tideway School in Newhaven. He's now a resident of the Poet's Corner area of Hove.

Jason has spent the last two and a half years working on solo material, honing his reoord production skills and earning cash for work on other people's songs.

The duo still play regular DJ slots and are soon to fly out for shows in countries including Australia, Malta and Singapore.

The £20,000 video, recorded over two days last month, used locations on Brighton seafront and in the North Laine.

In one scene Eubank, at the wheel of his distinctive American truck, shakes his fist as Jason cycles in his path along Madeira Drive.

Russell said: "It has always been an ambition to do this, so I suppose we have always been ready for pop stardom."

Turn Around is due to be released on Multiply Records on March 22.

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