There are few acts more intrinsically woven into the fabric of British dance music than Utah Saints. From the euphoric explosion of rave culture through to today's festival stages, the Leeds electronic pioneers have remained guided by a simple philosophy: let the music do the talking. Ahead of their appearance at SHIIINE ON, Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt reflect on the golden era that shaped them, the enduring power of community, and the unexpected journey that transformed bedroom productions into era-defining anthems. With trademark humility, humour and authenticity, they look back on three decades of innovation while keeping their eyes firmly fixed on the next moment, rather than the rear-view mirror.

SHIIINE ON celebrates the music, culture and spirit of the 90s. When you look back at that decade, what do you think made it such a special and unrepeatable time for British music?

Rave and Oasis.

Electronic music really came into its own through clubs and dance music. The (very basic by today’s standards) tech had become affordable- if you could scrape some money for an Atari computer and a sampler or maybe a keyboard with a sequencer, you were off. Loads of us were able to start making electronic music in bedrooms, and get it out on record..

Oasis came along and reinvented swagger, confidence and presence- it became fine to tell everyone how great the music was, which was against the grain of a lot of acts who were a lot less shouty.

Your music became synonymous with the explosion of rave culture, but what do you remember most vividly about those early years when everything seemed to be moving at breakneck speed?

It was all about the music, sound, lights and common experience of everyone there.

When you were in that environment, in the moment, nothing could bring you down.

"Something Good" remains one of the defining tracks of the era. Did you have any idea when you were making it that it would still be filling dancefloors and festival fields decades later?

No, no idea. We’d had What Can You Do For Me go top 10, which we didn’t expect, and Something Good was nearly a year later.

A lot of people had written us off as a one hit wonder, but we have always stuck to not putting something out for the sake of it, only if we are both happy will we release a track.

We were very proud of Something Good - artistically and technically, as it as tricky to make it all work with the tech available at the time.

With every release we hoped to sell 1000 copies, which was enough to pay for the next one. Our first three singles all sold 175000 in the UK, always a surprise to us!

Many bands at SHIIINE ON are coming from indie, alternative and Britpop backgrounds, while Utah Saints were flying the flag for dance music. Did it feel like everyone was part of the same movement back then, or did the scenes remain separate?

We’ve always felt part of lots of different scenes- Jez came with Metal and European Electronic Industrial influences, Tim with Hip Hop and Detroit electronic influences. Both of us had a pop sensibility, and loved Public Enemy, New Order and The KLF. We found (and still find) ourselves on all sorts of bills, and every gig we prep a bit for, but always try and reflect the energy of the audience.

You were pioneers in using samples in ways that felt fresh and innovative. Looking back, which sample gave you the biggest thrill when you first heard it work in an Utah Saints track?

That is a great question which we have never been asked before…

Kate Bush was a huge one, it took us two weeks solid to get the sample to sit right.

After that, there are a few - mostly on the second album - Metallica, Iggy Pop, Chrissie Hynde, Chuck D, all legends….

The 90s gave us legendary clubs, festivals and all-night adventures. Is there one gig, club night or festival moment that perfectly captures what that era felt like for you?

Yes, our Friday night in Leeds at The Gallery. So many perfect moments, and under the radar made it feel even more special.

You've seen electronic music evolve through multiple generations. What do you think today's artists could learn from the DIY spirit and sense of community that existed in the early rave scene?

That pushing envelopes and taking risks works if the music, performance and community is authentic.

Many people attending SHIIINE ON will have first discovered Utah Saints in the 90s, but there will also be younger fans seeing you for the first time. What do you hope both groups take away from an Utah Saints performance in 2026?

That we are real, that our main driver is music, that we always reflect the energy of the audience, and that, having spent our whole lives in music, we can bring in the best influences :)

After more than three decades in music, what still excites you about stepping on stage and playing festivals such as SHIIINE ON?

Every gig is special for us - we still get nerves, we still want every gig to be our best, and we’re always excited to see the response to our sets, especially when we throw in a sample people might not expect

Festivals like SHIIINE ON are all about shared memories. Is there a particular Utah Saints track that instantly transports you back to a specific moment in your own life?

No, we try to have no rear view mirror in Utah Saints, although bringing Edwin Starr to Glastonbury and Leeds/Reading festivals to sing Funky Music and War with us will always be close to our hearts.

You've been involved in club culture, promotion, DJing and live performance. Which aspect of the music world has taught you the most over the years?

All of it - club culture helps us understand where we fit, promotion has really helped us understand how our peers work, and helped us avoid working with people we don’t really get along with. DJIng and live - instant feedback on what we are doing, very in the moment.

If you could go back and give the Utah Saints of 1991 one piece of advice before the journey began, what would it be?

Do stuff and stuff happens.

Looking at the SHIIINE ON line-up, are there any artists you're particularly looking forward to catching or reconnecting with over the festival weekend?

All of them- we have total respect for all the acts on the bill. Everyone, including the audience, deserves a medal for making it this far.

What can fans expect from your SHIIINE ON set? Are there any surprises, forgotten gems or crowd favourites they should be ready for?

We honestly aren’t sure what we will play until we get into our set.

We do come with a love of music though, and hopefully that comes across.

The 90s are often remembered as the decade that changed British dance music forever. If you had to choose one song, one venue and one memory that best represent that period, what would they be and why?

Prodigy - Outta Space

The Gallery Leeds, where we were based.

1000 people all in the same moment.

What shines through this conversation is that Utah Saints remain as passionate about music today as they were when they first pieced together tracks on affordable samplers and Atari computers. Whether reminiscing about unforgettable nights at Leeds' legendary Gallery club, discussing the thrill of discovering the perfect sample, or explaining why they still get nervous before every performance, their enthusiasm remains wonderfully intact. As they prepare to take to the SHIIINE ON stage, fans can expect more than nostalgia. They can expect a celebration of musical curiosity, shared experiences and the enduring spirit of a scene that continues to unite generations on dancefloors across the country. After all, as Utah Saints succinctly put it: "Do stuff and stuff happens."

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