Hi‑Gate was formed in the United Kingdom by BBC Radio 1 DJ Judge Jules and producer Paul Masterson. Their partnership began in 1998 when Masterson sent Judge Jules a track that would later become known as "Synth and Strings", prompting Jules to suggest a vocal edit and to promote the track on his radio show. The result was the single "Pitchin' (In Every Direction)", released on 3 April 2000, which entered the UK Singles Chart’s top ten and secured the duo a spot on Top of the Pops. In 2000, they released "I Can Hear Voices – Caned and Unable", featuring vocalist Jina, further cementing their presence in the trance scene. Their 2002 album Saxuality expanded their catalogue, while the 2001 single "Gonna Work It Out" achieved a third top‑40 position in the UK. The group continued to collaborate with artists such as Boy George on tracks like "Out of Fashion" and "Poverty" that appeared on the 2003 album Split Personality. The duo’s work has consistently charted within the UK’s dance and trance listings, and they remain active contributors to the genre.