Hi-Gate

Hi-Gate is an electronic music project formed by BBC Radio 1 DJ Judge Jules (real name Julius O’Riordan) and his long-time partner Paul Masterson. The project’s name originates from Judge Jules living in the Highgate area of North London; it also references a type of filter used in music production.

The duo formed in 1998 when Paul Masterson sent Judge Jules a demo of a track he had just finished, which would later become Synth and Strings. Jules, noticing that the phone number on the demo matched the Highgate area code, contacted him and suggested removing the vocals from the track. The instrumental version he subsequently received was played on his Radio 1 show, propelling the track into the UK top 10 charts.

This fruitful collaboration led them to co-produce tracks together like Pitchin' and Caned and Unable, which earned them appearances on the TV show Top of the Pops. They later released the track I Can Hear Voices, featuring singer Jina, who was also a member of the project.

Their work evolved with collaborations, notably with Boy George on the tracks Out of Fashion and Poverty, which were included on their 2003 album Split Personality. Their musical style is associated with hard house and trance.

Under the Hi-Gate name, the artists are also known under several aliases and side projects, including The Clergy, Celine Diablo, Nappy Hardcore, Floorgasm, VPL, Chi Chi Hernandez, Working Class Hero, and Organic Overload. Paul Masterson is also active under the pseudonyms Yomanda and Sushi.