12 March 20-26, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | and with the intent of enhancing life’s enjoyment rather than us- ing them as a way to avoid or escape life’s challenges. Chase ac- knowledges the tension or paradox in this portrayal but seems to argue that it’s not hypocritical; instead, it’s a nuanced stance pro- moting balance and awareness. It’s one of the many concepts enhanced with music videos, promotional art, and posters. He hopes that, eventually, fans will start wearing paper bags to his raves. Musical Mentor Chaste Records was founded in 2021 after a conversation with friend and mentor Pawsa, who helped guide Chase early in his career. As a University of South Florida student, Chase moved to Ohio for an internship, where he became interested in making music. “I put up my first track with a Photoshop cover on DistroKid, and it blew up with 1.6 million views. That was the start. Pawsa told me to create real art and start my own label. That’s when I began to build this world in 2021. The early success showed me that authenticity resonates with people.” Chase and Pawsa have traded discourse over what art is and what it can be. “Pawsa has always approached music as an art form, focus- ing on its visual elements, sound, and the message it conveys. That perspective shaped the way he taught me to approach my own work,” Chase says. “When I sent him some tracks for Solid Grooves, he suggested, ‘Hey, why don’t you start your own re- cord label?’ At first, it sounded like an insane idea. Imagine re- leasing your first-ever track on your own label instead of signing with an established one. It was practically unheard of in the U.S. at the time. The only people I’d seen do it successfully were Pawsa and Michael Bibi, but Pawsa laid out a game plan for me, and I decided to go for it.” Chase gets his name from Westchase, the area north of Tampa, his hometown. Tampa is where his dream of DJing be- gan, and he started to learn the tools of the trade. It is also where Chase picked up his love of rap music and artists such as Mac Miller, Odd Future, Drake, and pre-legacy-ruined Kanye West. He points this out because, just like hip-hop, house music has changed a lot in the way it now has its own swagger. “After six or seven years of producing and refining ideas, we’ve created our own unique sound and culture, and it’s amazing to see it grow,” he says. “Back in college, everyone was into trap and rap, and I had to go to Eu- rope to experience house music. Now, it’s thriv- ing here, and we’re leading the charge, surrounded by incredibly talented kids creating incredible music.” Back to Miami One place Chase would go to search for his fix of house music was Miami’s Club Space, where he heard British producer Michael Bibi play his track “Love + Happiness” while he was in the crowd. “That moment solidified the label for me. It was a validation of the path I was on. I used to chase Michael Bibi all over the world, sending him my music and showing up to his gigs. When he played my song, it was like a meant-to-be moment.” Since then, Chase has been traveling the country, bringing himself and his Chaste Record parties to places like New York, Chicago, and, of course, Miami. He’s set to return to South Flor- ida for Miami Music Week, bringing his Chaste Records showcase to Factory Town’s Cypress End stage on Sunday, March 30. It’s an upgrade for Chase, who held his first MMW showcase last year at Jolene Sound Room downtown. “Miami is my home base, and Factory Town is special to me. I spend all my budget on bringing my favorite artists here. It’s about creating a culture and a community. This year, we’re de- buting merch and throwing a massive party. It’s going to be incredible. We’re bringing in Beltran, Max Dean, Omri., Liam Palmer, Elliot Schooling, Slugg, and Lousy Lover, AKA my boy Kris, another Miami leg- end.” With a busy year that includes an MMW show- case, massive shows, and his Coachella debut, Chase is not slowing down. He wants to continue collaborating with creatives and spreading the gospel of house music. “I want to create safe, fun environments for party- ing that focus on art and music. I’m blending the cultures of rock, rap, and house music to push boundaries and build something unique,” he says. “This year is about growth, experi- mentation, and laying the foundation for something timeless.” Factory 93. With Ilario Alicante, ChaseWest, Archie Hamilton, Stacey Pullen, Kinahau, and Annicka. 3 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the National Hotel, 1677 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; thenhpool- parties.com. Tickets cost $67.40 to $100 via dice.fm. ChaseWest Presents Chaste. With Beltran, Elliot Schooling, Liam Palmer, Lousy Love, Max Dean, Omri., and Slugg. 7 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at Factory Town, 4800 NW 37th Ave., Miami; factorytown.com. Tickets cost $120 via dice.fm. HUGEL IF TRUE I t’s the first week of December, and the chaos of Miami Art Week has the city in a chokehold. Hugel is sitting in the pri- vate dining room at Delilah explaining to New Times why women love “I Adore You,” his collaboration with Topic and Arash. “The song resonates because it brings pos- itive energy. Girls want to hear lyrics like ‘I adore you’ — not something degrading,” he says. “It’s a feel-good track that connects across genres. Everywhere I go, from clubs to festivals, I see people dancing and smiling to it. It’s amazing how a track can transcend lan- guage and culture. I think people are craving music that feels good and unites them, and ‘I Adore You’ does exactly that.” The French producer is hosting a dinner at the Brickell hot spot for his streetwear brand, Tafari World. He has a laid-back de- meanor throughout the whole thing, getting more animated when he talks about his Art Week sets at Delilah, Hyde Beach, and Fac- tory Town. After dinner, he plays a bangers-filled set, introducing some new the Weeknd edits into his set. “I’d love to work with the Weeknd,” he says. “If hip-hop isn’t the thing anymore, I’d produce cool records for cool places — San Tropez, Monaco, wherever. Let’s make it happen. Music should be timeless and fit the vibe of the moment, whether it’s a packed club or an intimate setting.” The night ends in the industrial area at the edge of Hialeah, where Factory Town is lo- cated. Hugel has a pop-up shop in the venue’s warehouse area, which is being used as part of an art exhibition. As he walks through the space, fans seemingly appear out of nowhere, asking for a photo, to which Hugel happily obliges. Once at the pop-up, spearheaded by Hu- gel, business partner Tafari (AKA Tyler Bee- jan Adibi), and creative director Kamali, the team looks around at the custom Bearbrick, racks of T-shirts and sweaters, and painted leather pieces. “I’ve always loved clothes,” Hugel says. “Every rapper and producer in hip-hop has their fashion line, and I thought, ‘Why not me?’ I wanted to do it for years but never found the right partner until Tyler came along. He understood my vision and took it to the next level. We work as a team. Tyler han- dles most of the designs, but I give my input, especially on pieces that reflect my style. For example, I was involved in the details of the silver and leather jacket designs. It’s a back- and-forth process, but it works because we’re aligned creatively.” Latin Influence It’s early March, and Hugel is back in his pad in Lisbon. He just returned from playing a gig in France, and tomorrow, he will fly to Romania. “It’s crazy, but I’m grateful and blessed,” he tells New Times over Zoom. Latin House maestro Hugel’s global sound takes over Miami. BY OSVALDO ESPINO Erector Sets from p9 “WE’VE CREATED OUR OWN UNIQUE SOUND AND CULTURE, AND IT’S AMAZING TO SEE IT GROW.” Hugel >> p14 Hugel photo
