Music Folks
Basement Jaxx: The Brixton Duo Who Won a Grammy for House Music
October 21, 2026 · by Music Folks
Basement Jaxx are the London house duo of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, known for dance records that mix Latin rhythms, soul and pop mischief. They won two Brit Awards and a Grammy, and they remain a festival favorite more than three decades after their first club night.
Quick Facts
- Formed: 1994, London, England
- Members: Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe
- Genre: House, dance, electronic
- Key albums: Remedy (1999), Rooty (2001), Kish Kash (2003)
- Key songs: “Rendez-Vu,” “Where’s Your Head At,” “Romeo”
- Awards: Brit Awards for Best British Dance Act (2002, 2004); Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album (2005)
From a Brixton Club Night
Buxton and Ratcliffe met in a Clapham pub in 1993 and bonded over New York house music. A year later they began a club night in Brixton, South London, which later grew into the venue Rooty and gave its name to their second album. Their first EP came out on the label Wall of Sound, and they later launched their own label, Atlantic Jaxx.
Hits and Honors
Their debut album, Remedy (1999), included “Rendez-Vu,” which reached No. 4 on the UK singles chart, the duo’s highest placing according to Wikipedia. Rooty followed in 2001 with “Romeo” and “Where’s Your Head At,” and Kish Kash in 2003 won the first Grammy given for Best Dance/Electronic Album, at the 2005 ceremony. They were named Best British Dance Act at the Brit Awards in 2002 and again in 2004.
Later albums included Crazy Itch Radio (2006), Scars (2009) and Junto (2014), released through Atlantic Jaxx and PIAS.
Where They Are Now
As of October 2026, the duo have not released a new studio album since Junto, but they remain active. They have written music for children’s television, including shows for CBeebies, and returned to live performance at Coachella in 2025. In early 2026 they played a run of dates in New Zealand and Australia, their first full tour there since 2010, and were announced as headliners at The Big Feastival in the UK.