Bio
Illyus & Barrientos brought a love of sampling and an ear for melody together in Glasgow house music. Illyus's background in hip-hop and MPC-based beatmaking complemented Ivan Barrientos's production approach, with either partner able to start an idea and hand it across. Records for Toolroom, Defected and Mother Recordings carried that partnership into a wider club circuit.
The duo's 2019 calendar included Toolroom parties at Eden Ibiza, Calvin Harris's Ushuaïa programme and Radio 1's Big Weekend. Behind those appearances was a working relationship built as much on exchanging ideas as on sitting in the same studio: a sample found by one could become the foundation of a track developed by the other.
The name also marks a particular chapter. In 2026, Illyus explained that Ivan had stepped away and supported him in continuing alone as Illyus Barrientos. The recordings credited to Illyus & Barrientos remain the shared work of the original Glasgow partnership.
United Kingdom