In anticipation of his upcoming performances in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Foshan next week, we caught up with hit DJ Chuckie. Known for his diverse range of EDM and house hits, many of which incorporate Latin elements, as well as his high-profile collaborations, Chuckie chats with us about Asia’s music scene, post-club snacking and his recent Grammy Award nomination!
You have worked with some of the biggest names in the music business, from Michael Jackson, 50 Cent, AKON and LMFAO to J. Balvin, David Guetta, Hardwell and Kesha. Which artist that you’ve worked with left the greatest impression on you?
I must say working with Lil Jon has left the biggest impression on me. That’s because we connected on a personal level first. I think it’s really important to have that connection with an artist so the studio flow is more organic. I think that’s why the remix of David Guetta’s ‘Sexy Chick’ came out that nice. Oh, and I can’t forget about the remix of ‘Let The Bass Kick’ featuring Lil Jon and Jermaine Dupri.
You were nominated for a much coveted Grammy Award this month, how does it feel to gain that recognition?
I’ve won many awards in my life but this must be the most prestigious music award there is. It’s always nice to get recognition for your work but when I got the news about me being nominated, I was over the moon. Coming from the dance music industry and a clubbing culture, being nominated for this award is beyond my wildest dreams!
You have been on the top of DJ Mag’s Top 100 list over seven times, and several times you were included in the Top 35 (No.32 and No.35), is this the best measure of a DJ or producer’s true popularity?
To be honest, I think topping the streaming media and Billboard charts is the best way to really measure the popularity of an artist. But if you come from the underground club culture it’s all about rocking clubs. I know plenty of chart-topping artists that won’t deliver a decent DJ set. At the end of the day, I believe in DJ skills showcased in any venue because that’s where I come from. All I wanted is to become one of the worlds greatest DJs ‘behind the wheels of steel’!
Image via Xin Wang Group
One of your most iconic festival performances was the Ultra/UMF Miami ‘Main Stage’ show where you had Slash from Guns N’ Roses perform live with you – quite a unique combination of rock and dance music!
Yes, I agree. I have always been a fan of blending different genres and using a platform like Ultra or EDC is the best way to showcase this. It was also fun to prepare something special with my good friend Slash. To be honest, I was kind of nervous sitting with him in the studio to work on this project, what a legend!
Any dream collaborations you care to share?
Recording a track with Jay Z is still my ultimate dream. But in general I don’t really have a wish list of artists I would like to collaborate with. If you look at the history of all my collaborations, you’ll see that I’ve always worked with new or unknown artists. That’s where I really love the challenge, making music I like versus music I think people will like.
You’ve held residency at some of the hottest nightclubs in the world, including Omnia and Marquee in Vegas, how do you see Asia’s music scene being different?
The biggest difference I noticed playing in Asia is that people really follow the energy of a song and that it’s less important to play a popular radio song. I remember playing at Ultra Korea and I played a lot of unknown tracks but the crowd was so loud and intense! That’s when I knew that vibe is everything! I think that’s also the reason why I play less vocals when I play in Asia because it’s more about the groove than about the big breaks with random vocals.
Image via Xin Wang Group
What are your favorite hangouts in Hong Kong? What about Guangzhou and Foshan?
To be honest, I’ve never seen anything of these cities because my tour schedule in the past never allowed me to stay longer than 24 hours in one city. The good news is that I take more time off to enjoy cities nowadays. So if you know any good spots I should check out, let me know! Hahaha.
Which is the superior late-night, post-club snack: shawarma, pizza or poutine?
So, I would say any spicy food, preferably Asian, after my set will make me happy. But I’ve had too much late night junk food in the past, I’m trying to live a healthier lifestyle now. Tour life isn’t easy, dealing with different time zones, many flights and loads of after parties; I think it’s important to make sure you have the right balance because nothing is more important to me than working with a clear mind on the thing I love the most and that is music.
Anything else?
Special thanks to the Xin Wang Group [info@xin-wang.com] and @MusicFestAsia for arranging the tour!
Guangzhou: Sun Nov 18, 10pm-late; TBA. G5 Le Nest. See event listing.
Foshan: Tue Nov 20, 10pm-late; RMB88-100. GALAME. See event listing.
Hong Kong: Thu Nov 22, 10pm-late; HKD288 and up. Zentral Club. See event listing.
[Cover image via Xin Wang Group]
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