Eddie Chacon, one half of 90s duo Charles and Eddie talks about making an album with Solange and Frank Ocean's producer three decades after the hit song 'Would I Lie To You?'.
It had been over ten years since Eddie Chacon had anything to do with music, nearly three decades since he and Charles Pettigrew topped the international charts with their 1993 hit ‘Would I Lie To You?” and their album Duophonic.
Eddie Chacon's new album Pleasure, Joy and Happiness is a “subtle” and “celestial” record full of wonky loops, washed out vocals and dreamy beats. It’s a 21st Century lounge sound, far more “warts and all” and organic than the expensive, major label productions than he came to prominence on.
The sonic universe of the record is courtesy of producer John Carroll Kirby who had previously made records with Solange, Kirin J Callinan, Frank Ocean and Blood Orange.
Chacon nervously agreed to a“blind business date” with Kirby organised by their mutual friend Terrible Records’ Ethan Silverman who was very keen to get the 90s soul crooner back in to the studio.
“I was not so sure [Kirby] was going to be super excited about working with a 56 year old guy that hasn’t done anything significant in quite some time,” admits Chacon who is now a fashion photographer and art director.
Their initial two-hour coffee meeting continued for a few more hours in Chacon’s car.
“I remember feeling so comfortable with him that I was tapping out beats on my lap and singing in the car.”
“I can honestly tell you that the last time I really felt that comfort level was when I was working with Charles on the Charles and Eddie records in the early to mid-90s.”
At their peak the duo toured the world, sold thousands of records and even collected a few Ivor Novello songwriting awards. After Charles and Eddie, Chacon went on to write and produce artists in Denmark and even UK girl band Eternal.
He never had the chance to make music with his offsider again - Charles Pettigrew died of cancer in 2001 - Chacon speaks of the lasting impact and influence of his former band mate.
“The most profound thing he drew out of me was a light heart. I think when you’re laughing a lot and having fun you’re also able to be comfortable enough to get down to the real core of what you have to offer and what you can bring to the table creatively.”
“I think he would have been very saddened to learn that I stopped doing music for as long as I did.”
On finding his musical creativity again, Chacon feels in a “far more comfortable place than when” he “was a young kid that really had something to prove.”
“It’s a very tender thing to be creative so if you don’t have an atmosphere that encourages you to be able to open up you won’t be able to get to the core of who you are and be able to do something that is honest to yourself.”
“I wanted to make a record that embodied all of the human condition and it wasn’t gimmicky or involved a persona.”
“I wanted something that wasn’t beholden to the pop music world, sales or album charts already.”
Pleasure, Joy and Happiness is out now on Bandcamp and Spotify
