The Layabouts

Leigh Darlow and Alex Paschali’s immense partnership as The Layabouts was, as you might expect, forged in the studio and being local lads as well, we welcomed them with open arms to the Soulstice family in 2014…

Juggling university studies in sound recording with engineering work at a number of busy London-based recording spaces dedicated to dance music, Leigh was eventually drawn to the renowned Earthworks studio facility in Barnet, just north of the capital.

It was here, in 2001, that he’d meet guitarist (and fellow engineer) Alex. Both were working on separate projects but shared an immediate connection. The pair, kindred musical spirits, started working together on un-credited backing tracks for major clients including Ministry Of Sound.

Away from the studio they’ve toured extensively both home and abroad, their biggest gig to thousands of revellers at South Africa’s epic Spring Fiesta in 2012. But it is Leigh’s gradual transformation of the duo’s Earthworks HQ into a truly world-class recording facility that best reflects The Layabouts’ rise and rise. Leigh became Earthworks owner in 2004, but runs the studio today alongside like-minded artist and engineer Matt Bandy. Through Bandy’s label Limestone Recordings that The Layabouts took their next intrepid steps.

After a brief hiatus to reclaim their ‘roots’ Leigh and Alex have a number of fresh projects in the can ready to go, including far-reaching collaborations with several leading underground lights, including UK soulstress Imaani, who shared the Soulstice main stage with them… and in 2017, the fruits of their labour were delivered when they released the international club hit ‘Stay’… The boys (& the girl) done good!