Pabz & Russell On ‘Atomic’, UK Garage Roots And Their Vinyl Debut On Wrong’uns
- Mar 6
- 4 min read
Pabz & Russell step into a new phase of their partnership with ‘Atomic’, featured on the ‘Wrong’uns 003’ vinyl release alongside Mehlor, Oward and Eren Arif. Out now via the cult underground imprint, the track captures the duo’s darker, groove-driven take on UK garage and house, pairing chunky drum work with rolling basslines and a distinctive lead that has already caught the attention of DJs across the scene.
The release also marks an important milestone for the pair. Issued on vinyl only, ‘Atomic’ lands on a label that sits deep within UK underground culture, placing their sound directly in front of the collectors, DJs and club regulars who continue to shape the modern garage and minimal house landscape.
For Pabz & Russell, however, the partnership itself did not begin as a formal project. Instead, it grew naturally through years of friendship and proximity.
“There was no real moment we realised it was more made up of a build up over the past decade with us being good friends however we were in duos(not together), we moved in together after being friends for 6 years we both had a whole floor each within the house and at that moment we knew our music worked together and it just clicked from then it was just up down up down and smashing out music and creating all different things.”
Living in the same house quickly turned ideas into finished tracks.
“Knowing Russell was just upstairs, if I had an idea, I could just run up, and we would get something down and vice versa.”
That environment helped shape the sound they now build together. Both producers came into the partnership with a shared love for UK garage and house music, but their more recent productions lean into a darker, heavier direction.
“We have both always had a passion for garage and house music with a raw edge to it. The past 4 years, we have dived into the darker style baselines, along with faster bpm’s and chunkier drums and within creating that is where atomic came from.”
Like many producers rooted in club music, the duo begin their tracks from the ground up. Rhythm comes first.
“First, we always start with the drums, for us, solid drum sets up the foundation to work from, then we will start working on a baseline that grooves with the drums.”
But one specific detail in ‘Atomic’ ultimately made the track stand out.
“The main detail that made us think ‘yes’ was the lead, aka ‘the famous pabz patch which is a chain of arpeggiators, working together to make such a unique sound.”
That distinctive lead became the moment where the pair knew they had something worth finishing.
The choice of label for the release was equally instinctive. Wrong’uns has long been associated with the deeper end of the UK underground, and for Pabz & Russell, it felt like a natural home for their sound.
“EVERYTHING! Its short and sweet.. We were having a mix in the living room, and the Pabz pulled out Wronguns 001 whilst Russell was at the back door having his morning smoke, and that was it - that sealed the deal.”
Since the track began circulating, it has already found its way into the hands of DJs who helped shape their own taste in club music.
“First of all when creating the track we didn’t expect it to reach any big names, it is always very unexpected when you see a big name play your track, you don’t expect your track to get in the hands of names such as Sidney Charles so when it happened it was unreal as it was someone who had inspired us since day 1.”
Support from established artists can change how producers see their own work, but for the duo, the reaction has mostly reinforced their instincts about the record.
Releasing the track as part of a vinyl-only package also carries its own significance. For producers working within the underground house and garage space, vinyl remains closely tied to authenticity and DJ culture.
“One of our biggest goals has been to release on vinyl, with this being our first one its very special to us as it's our favourite label, especially as a collab. The sound that we both create is a certain sound, and having it come out on wronguns will deliver it to the right music heads.”
While the duo are based elsewhere, one UK city continues to stand out as a key hub for their sound.
“It has to be Manchester as this is one of the places we visit the most, as it has some of the best venues, including the Loft and the Progress Centre, which is where we saw dungeon meat together for the first time.”
The city has also played a direct role in the life of ‘Atomic’.
“It is the one place our tracks have been supported the most. Sidney Charles and Tristan da Cunha both played Atomic. & not forgetting it was the first time we played B2B at Wronguns at Romona.”
Looking ahead, the pair are already working on what comes next.
“We are currently working on a joint EP, working on getting some more gigs together and also finding some more homes for our music.”
And the collaboration between them may grow even further.
“Who knows, there may be a joint label to come…”
With ‘Atomic’ now out on the ‘Wrong’uns 003’ vinyl release, Pabz & Russell’s partnership arrives at a moment where friendship, proximity and shared taste have turned into a sound that fits naturally within the deeper edges of UK underground club culture.
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