WOOKIE: THE UPBEAT R&B SOUND

Jason Chue, began his musical journey under the influence of his father, a Soundman in the Reggae industry. From a young age, Jason would accompany his father to studio sessions, where he observed the intricacies of music production. However, it wasn’t until his late high school years, after joining a band despite having no experience with instruments, that Jason’s interest in creating music was truly ignited. This pivotal moment led him to purchase his first keyboard, marking the official start of his career.

In 1991, during a visit to “Music House,” Jason met Wayne Marshall. Impressed by Jason’s R&B productions, which were stored on his keyboard, Wayne introduced him to Soul 2 Soul Records. This connection allowed Jason to work as an in-house producer, notably contributing to Wayne Marshall’s hit song “G Spot” in 1994. Despite his deep roots in R&B, Jason’s frequent attendance at Jungle raves fueled his desire to merge the smoothness of R&B with the raw energy of Jungle, a blend that eventually gave rise to his signature UKG sound. His first official foray into this new sound came in 1997, with a remix of Destiny’s Child’s “No No No” under his R&B alias “Katt,” which he titled the “Camdino Soul” mix.

By 1999, Jason had teamed up with Johnny J to form the duo X-Men, gaining recognition for their remixes of tracks like “Angel” & “Yesterday.” Although he initially viewed his sound as an extension of upbeat R&B, the duo garnered substantial support from key DJs like Tuff Jam & Frankie Foncett. In fact, it was Frankie’s enthusiasm for the X-Men mix of “Angel” that led to Jason’s first solo remix under the name Wookie—Gabrielle’s “Sunshine.” The name “Wookie” was inspired by his last name, Chue, & a playful school nickname “Chewy,” after the iconic Star Wars character Chewbacca.

Wookie’s success reached new heights with the release of “Battle” featuring Lain, which climbed to number 10 on the UK Charts in 2000. Throughout his career, Wookie has remained a beloved figure, his innovative approach to UKG leaving an indelible mark on the genre. His work not only defined a new sound but also inspired generations of musicians, forever altering the course of UKG.