NYC resident Nick Chacona has been developing his catchy and melodic sound for the past 10 years. He is versatile as a producer and DJ, using various venues and project names as outlets for his diverse interests which include Reggae, Classic R&B, Disco, House and Hip-Hop. All these influences can be heard in the cult classic ‘Band Practice,’ a tune released on the flipside to his ‘Pool Party’ project in 2003 that has since become Nick’s tour de force production featuring all live instruments. Said tune will soon be re-released by the new red hot San Francisco based label Hector Works.
Nick is currently lending his ears to Watts Music as a buyer and sales rep. He has released a number of singles and mixes on Mood Music, Bearfunk, Grayhound, Homestyle Cooking, Statra, Esho, and most recently Hector Works with Anthony Mansfield of Barfly fame. With new singles in the works for Bearfunk and Mood Music, 2006 looks set to be a defining year for Nick Chacona.
From his early days breaking on the mean streets of Hertfordshire, through his introduction to house music in the late 80s and his involvement with UK nu-house pioneers Akwaaba, Paul has always lived and breathed music.
Growing up in St.Albans, Paul was initially enthused, like so many of his generation, by the twin delights of the early hip hop sounds emanating from New York and the reckless pleasure of BMX. Joining him in these youthful pursuits were good friends Tom Lee & Steve ‘Fella’ Kotey.
As the 80s drew to a close Paul & friends were naturally drawn to the emerging acid house scene and all the hedonistic pleasure it had to offer. Nights were spent dodging Yardies at Labyrinth and indulging in underage hardcore delights at raves such as Telepathy.
Around this time Mudd’s DJ career started to take off and he had the dubious pleasure of spinning at the Tudor Oaks, a rather dodgy Hertfordshire club where he and old mucker Tom made an all too brief appearance on the famed late night TV show ‘The Hitman & Her’!
The early 90s brought a maturing in taste for Paul and a renewal of his love for the house sounds of New York & Chicago. Trips to clubs such as Release The Pressure, Bang The Party and the sounds of DJs such as Kid Bachelor, Linden C & Rhythm Doctor eventually led Mudd and compadres to the Cross and the Idjut Boys legendary Phreek nights. Paul felt he had at last found his home and immersed himself in the new homegrown house scene that was growing at a steady pace in London.
It wasn’t long before Paul and old friends Tom & Steve had fallen in with the Idjuts and with their encouragement and guiding hand Akwaaba was born. Putting their own dubbed out spin on the traditional house sound the boys’ music went down a storm and it wasn’t long before NYC legend Francois Kevorkian had beaten a path to their door, licensing the track ‘Jus’ Pilau’ for his Essential Mix compilation. High praise indeed. 2 albums and numerous 12s and remixes for labels such as Nuphonic, Tummy Touch, Strutt & Discfunction followed alongside DJ dates at clubs UK & worldwide.
At the turn of the century the three Akwaaba musketeers decided to go their separate ways and explore pastures new and Paul knuckled down in the studio to develop his unique style. Edits on Noid & Big Bear followed until the Mudd we know today was ready to be unleashed on the world. With backing from good chum Ben Cook, head honcho of Rong records in California, Paul released ‘Adventures In Bricket Wood’ to great acclaim amongst the cognescenti. More releases for Rong followed and a dream chance to work with Latin legend Chico Hamilton soon appeared. The resulting track ‘Kerry’s Caravan’ has gone down a storm in many a varied circle of musical quarters. Paul’s DJ work has not taken a back seat during this time and his take on the house & disco sound can be heard in many a club worldwide and not forgetting Paul’s involvement with Silver Bob’s Disco Meltdown, a random drunken pub disco he organises with good friends Trent Longbridge & Andre Tous Les Jours.
