Latest news with #FatFreddysDrop
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
New Zealand music industry in mourning after legendary musician dies - prompting tributes from world famous artists
New Zealand 's music community is in mourning following the sudden death of Fat Freddy's Drop founding member Chris Ta'aloga Faiumu — better known to fans around the world as DJ Mu. The celebrated musician, producer and driving force behind one of the country's most beloved bands passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, his bandmates confirmed in a statement. 'Our talismanic founding member, production maestro, selector and brother, Chris Faiumu, aka DJ Mu, has unexpectedly passed away,' the band wrote on social media. 'This is a seismic shift in our world.' They added: 'Tears flowed on receiving word that your journey had taken you to the heavens, Chris. 'The star by which we navigated across the sea has gone and the crowns of flowers that adorned our heads are forever broken since you journeyed, Brother.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Faiumu was a founder and creative engine of the iconic NZ reggae band Fat Freddy's Drop, who rose from late-night Wellington jam sessions in the early 2000s to become one of the country's most successful musical exports. Over the past two decades, the band built a loyal international following, selling out venues across Europe and Australasia. Four of the band's albums reached number one at home, and two charted in the Australian top 20 Faiumu's partner, Nicole Duckworth, managed the band as part of their fiercely independent operation. His death has sent shockwaves through the global music scene, with tributes pouring in from artists around the world. 'Mu… My heart is broken… you were so welcoming... Thank you and may you rest in beats!' wrote hip-hop legend DJ Jazzy Jeff. Australian singer Tay Oskee added: 'This hits hard. Rest in peace legend.' Known for his humble presence behind the decks, DJ Mu was often seen hunched over the machine as he laid down the infectious beats that became the bedrock of Fat Freddy's signature sound. Faiumu was a founder and creative engine of iconic NZ reggae band Fat Freddy's Drop, who rose from late-night Wellington jam sessions in the early 2000s to become one of the country's most successful musical exports He produced a unique fusion of reggae, soul, dub, funk and electronica, deeply infused with his Pacific roots. Born and raised in the Wellington suburb of Wainuiomata, Faiumu was the fifth child of Samoan immigrant parents. He attended Scots College, where his nickname 'Mu' was coined by classmates who found his surname hard to pronounce. It stuck, and would later become a name known in music circles around the world. His path into music began at university, where he stumbled upon the campus radio station Radio Active and was thrust on air within minutes. That moment sparked a lifelong passion for DJing, sound production and championing NZ music culture. Those early experiments in sound would evolve into full-fledged live collaborations with musicians in late-night Wellington bars - ultimately leading to the formation of Fat Freddy's Drop. He is survived by his long-term partner Nicole and their daughter Mia.
RNZ News
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Tributes to Fat Freddy's Drop founder, DJ Chris Faiumu
Chris Faiumu died suddenly on Wednesday. Photo: Bruce Mackay/The Post A New Zealand hip-hop great says he will be forever proud of Fat Freddy's Drop founder Chris Faiumu for taking Wellington and South Pacific music to the world. Chris Faiumu, also known as DJ Mu or Fitchie, died suddenly on Wednesday . Music industry voices say he was a pioneer of the New Zealand music scene and a force behind Fat Freddy's Drop, one of the most successful bands to come out of Aotearoa. Bill Urale, also known as King Kapisi, said his death was a huge loss for the music community. Urale - originally from Wellington's south coast, where Faiumu lived - said they first met in the 1990s, when he was about 18, recording demos at radio station Radioactive. He was surprised to see another young Samoan DJ and engineer at the station. "We were just going up there and we were, like, 'Whoa, the engineer's Samoan', and I said, 'Sole, what's your name?' "He was, like, 'Faiumu', so I was, like, OK cool'. It was just nice to meet another Samoan brother, who was out there just doing their thing." Urale said that connection lasted throughout both their music careers, as he watched Fat Freddy's Drop take off. "Just thinking that my brother Chris was the backbone of the whole group, it was always a phenomenal thing for me. "I was, like man, super proud of my brother, and still super proud of what him and the Fat Freddy's boys have been able to achieve across the world, representing Aotearoa South-Pacific music worldwide." Fat Freddy's Drop came onto Wellington's music scene with hypnotising live improvised performances, before breaking out big with their 2005 album Based On a True Story . 'Wandering Eye' was a huge single and the band toured regularly overseas, gaining followings in Australasia, Europe and North America, and selling out to large concerts and festivals. Urale said Faiumu was one of New Zealand's best DJs, engineers and producers. "A lot of DJs DJ, but they don't make their own music and they don't produce their own music, so when you think about the body of work that Mu has been able to make, it's phenomenal and also, from Wellington, it's gone worldwide." Music journalist Nick Bollinger said DJ Mu devoted his life to music, starting out as an avid record collector. In Wellington, he DJ'd in bars like the Matterhorn and Bodega, then started creating his own rhythms on an MPC sampler. He created the baselines and beats that the rest of Fat Freddy's Drop would build on, Bollinger said. "He was usually back a bit and at the side, hunched over his equipment. It was hard to know what he was doing there some of the time - he was busy, but it was mysterious. "He wasn't the singer, he wasn't the guitarist, he wasn't the saxophone without him, there would have been no Fat Freddy's. "He was the roots of the thing - the foundations." Despite their success, Fat Freddy's Drop never signed to a major label. Bollinger said Faiumu never compromised on the independent spirit that helped make the band unique. RNZ music programmer and longtime friend Zen Yates-Fill knew Faiumu in the 1990s, when the two worked together in a record store, and he would attend some of the band's mesmerising gigs. He said Faiumu was a connoisseur of music, encouraging friends and listeners to discover new sounds. "He was a navigator for music, leading us into waters that we didn't really know from this country." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Fat Freddy's Drop founder Chris Faiumu 'DJ Mu' dies
New Zealand hip-hop great King Kapisi says he will always be proud of Fat Freddy's Drop founder Chris Faiumu, for taking Wellington and South Pasific music to the world. Mr Faiumu, also known as DJ Mu or Fitchie, died suddenly on Wednesday. He was a pioneer of the New Zealand music scene, and a force behind Fat Freddy's Drop, one of the most successful bands to come out of Aotearoa. Ellen O'Dwyer reports. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Midday Report Essentials for Friday 18 July 2025
In today's episode, A pioneer of the New Zealand music scene has died. Chris Ta'aloga Faiumu, also known as DJ Mu or Fitchie, was a founder of the band Fat Freddy's Drop; Fonterra is pleased to see the end of a long running trade dispute involving NZ and Canada; Teens in New Zealand are hoping the governments will follow the UK's lead and let under eighteens vote; Phoenix fans are anticipating cold weather but an electric atmosphere at tomorrow's match against Wrexham FC.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Fat Freddy's drop founder Chris 'Mu' Faiumu dies
A pioneer of the New Zealand music scene has died. Chris Ta'aloga Faiumu, also known as DJ Mu or Fitchie, was a founder of the band Fat Freddy's Drop. RNZ Music Programmer and long time friend Zen Yates-Fill spoke to Charlotte Cook. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
