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British DJ and producer Mark Knight has become synonymous with soulful house either through his own productions, DJ sets, or Toolroom Records, the influential label that has grown to become a byword for quality soul-infused house music.

From an early age Knight had an interest in music, with soul his main go-to, but it wouldn't be until his late teens that he fell in love with the soulful house sound that was being played by Paul "Trouble" Anderson, Tony Humphries, and Bobby & Steve. By 2001 Knight had started producing his own music and DJ'ing, releasing music on a collection of different labels. Over the next two years he became disillusioned with the way his releases were being handled and, along with his brother and father, set up Toolroom Records in 2004. Named after the toolshed that his studio was in, the label started to release not only Knight's work but releases from the likes of Rozalla, ATFC, and Allister Whitehead. As Knight's presence grew with the scene, his take on soul- and funk-infused house became sought-after and DJ slots became available to him across Europe and the U.K. Alongside DJ'ing and running Toolroom, Knight continued to release his own productions on the label, with a steady supply of quality house issued before the release of his debut, 2016's A Year in the Life. The album looked backed at 2015 and collected all of Knight's releases into a cohesive mix, from chugging Detroit-inspired house to funk-laden beats. Toolroom continued to grow over the years and began to nurture new talent, hosting parties around the world and releasing numerous compilations and mixes. In 2020, when COVID-19 hit, Knight took the time to work on his second album, 2021's Untold Business, which saw him looking back to the music that inspired him as a teenager. He featured artists such as Robert Owens, Beverley Knight, and Damon Trueitt to create a mix of soulful garage, house, and '80s-influenced soul. Knight's productions continued to flow into 2022 and saw him teaming up with Armand Van Helden on the T.J.M.-sampling "The Music Began to Play." ~ Rich Wilson