January 1st 1999, the beginning of a new year and the birth of Defected records. The brainchild of Simon Dunmore, Defected was conceived with partner Janet Bell, after the closure and subsequent take over of A&M, the major that was their employer at the time. Simon sensed the time was right for a more challenging beginning. "Starting our own label was like a natural progression. We'd kind of come to the end of the road with majors; it felt like the right time to do something for ourselves. Their first release, I can't get enough by Soulsearcher reached No. 8 in the national charts and sold 100,000 copies. Subsequent releases from Powerhouse, Masters at Work and a top 5 hit for Paul Johnson with "Get Get Down", proved the labels credentials to deliver quality house music of the highest quality. July 2001 saw Defected score their biggest success with their first Number 1 in the U.K. national's singles chart "Another Chance" by legendary DJ Roger Sanchez. And with the album "First Contact" and follow-up singles "You can't change me" (Feat. N'Dea Davenport) and Nothing To Prove (Feat. Sharleen Spiteri) it put the label on firm footing. Dance floor anthems have always been a key to Defected and none more so than the sublime "Finally" by Kings of Tomorrow. "Finally" is the record every label wanted to sign and every DJ wanted to play in 2001 and thanks to a remix from Danny Tenaglia, Finally was the DJ's favourite record of 2001. Thereafter, there was more success with a top 10 hit with Shakedown At Night and numerous club hits from ATFC, Liquid People, Kathy Brown, DJ Chus, Kings Of Tomorrow and DJ Gregory. 2003 was the year that Defected launched the Defected In the House series. It ran also a weekly Ibiza residency at the legendary El Divino every Sunday. Here Junior Jack won the best new DJ and E-Samba achieved the accolade of tune of the season. Defected continue to go from strength to strength and their tracks should be in every house DJ's collection.