April 28, 2026
Latin Energy, Locked In for Cinco de Mayo
Whether you’re opening, headlining, or bouncing between genres, these Latin playlists give you room to move. DJcity has you ready for Cinco de Mayo with pl...
Friday, February 16, 2018
Chuckie Talks J Balvin Collab, ‘Machika’
Chuckie at Exchange LA on Oct. 6, 2017. (Source: Facebook)
Dutch legend Chuckie recently spoke with Billboard about co-producing J Balvin, Jeon, and Anitta‘s international club anthem, “Machika.”
The track, which is currently No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, was also produced by Dutch trio ChildsPlay and frequent Balvin collaborator Sky Rompiendo El Bajo.
In the interview, Chuckie explains that the foundation of “Machika” isn’t reggaeton like some listeners may think. Instead, it’s rooted in a Dutch Caribbean house style called “bubbling.”
“Bubbling was born in the late 1980s when DJ Moortje, a Netherlands-based DJ from Curacao, accidentally speeded up a dancehall track during a club set …,” Billboard writes. “The rhythms of Jamaica [including reggaeton instigator dembow] have been favorites in the Netherlands,” Chuckie says. “Bubbling changed the speed to almost double the tempo.”
“The sound of ‘Machika’ is [the sound] of the evolution of bubbling … A lot of the grooves are sounds I was using back in the ’90s. It’s kind of reinvented itself for this new generation of kids.”
Along with his experience in the style, Chuckie also recognized the importance of mashing different cultures.
“Now with the Internet, we’re all world citizens; [through music] we get to learn about other cultures and I think that’s beautiful,” Chuckie says. “They know that whatever I’m going to send them sounds different. It’s nice to have different flavors in a genre. That keeps it interesting for everyone.”
According to Billboard, “Machika” has been rumored to be in the running to be used as a World Cup song. That makes sense, given the track’s high energy, fusion of cultures, and international appeal.
Watch the video for “Machika” above download the track and its remixes on DJcity.
Related: J Balvin, Jeon, and Anitta Drop New Single and Video, ‘Machika’
