Soon it became quite a big club hit here in The Netherlands. We both loved the record so we decided to license it for our Fresh Fruit Label. For our release we made 2 remixes: Fresh Fruit Deep and Fresh Fruit Dub. Both didn’t have much vocals in it, not because we didn’t like them, but because back then we just didn’t have the equipment to include the full vocals. In those early days our ’studio’ was very basic!

Now, 17 years later, we made a vocal edit of our Fresh Fruit Dub, so you can finally hear it how it was ment to be.
Strictly Rhythm is re-releasing it on the 1st of februari 2010, alongside a remix and dub by Daniel Bovie & Roy Rox.

UPDATE: It’s out now on Beatport!

Strictly Defected, better dan a horse’s head in your bed.

In true Mafia style this is like two of the scenes original family’s getting together. House music’s biggest and best loved vocalists will be specially flown over to perform. Barbara Tucker will be singing ‘Beautiful People’ and ‘Most Precious Love’, the mighty Steve Edwards ‘World, Hold On’ and Marc Evans ‘The Way You Love me’. Ben Westbeech will also sing Live and DJ too. All the artists will all be backed by the Defected/Strictly all stars and a special 5 piece band led by Robin Faze Action.

Coupled with appearances from both The UK’s and Holland’s strongest DJ talent including appearances from The Shapeshifters, ATFC, Hardsoul, Michel Cleis, and yours truly, this is sure to be a memorable event at this year’s ADE.

Strictly Defected – The Original House Mafia @ Panama, Amsterdam
Friday, 23rd October 2009

ROOM ONE:
Kenny Dope
The Shapeshifters
ATFC
Roog (Hardsoul)
Chocolate Puma
Copyright
Andy Daniell
Miss Divine

THE ORIGINAL HOUSE MAFIA BAND LIVE IN ROOM ONE:
Barbara Tucker
Steve Edwards
Marc Evans
Yasmeen
Shovell

ROOM TWO
DJ Spen
DJ Gregory
Ben Westbeech
Michel Cleis
Simon Dunmore
DJ Yass
Daniel Bovie & Roy Rox
Aaron Ross

Having no parts or multitrack of the original recording, and doing al kinds of geeky trickery and filtering to isolate the sounds was the easy part. Remixing a real classic and one of our favourite Louie Vega records was the hard part! So we did our best trying to capture the spirit, trademark sounds and beats of the original record while updating it for today’s dancefloors. For the deeper crowds we also provided a dubbier version. Hope you like!

Get it @ Beatport.com

You guys have worked under the alias of name aside from Chocolate Puma such as ‘The Goodmen’ what’s the philosophy behind this?
We used a lot of aliases in the past. It was just another era. In the early 90’s using different names was very common. We always have been all over the place, and as we have been producing so many styles of music and so many tracks, we figured we needed as many aliases. Now times have changed, we’ve grown up a little, the whole game changed, and it just feel right to stick to one project name. We’re more focused then ever.

Where did the name Chocolate Puma come from?
We used to have a brown goldfish in the studio called Puma. So there you have it.

Since first rising onto the scene, how would you say your style progressed over the last years?
We’re still pretty eclectic, but our sound matured. In the early days we were like young kids in a candy store, trying everything at the same time. Now we’re a bit more focused, while still trying to keep it fresh. Production wise a lot has changed because of the new studio techniques. From cutting tape and using dusty mixing desks, to having your complete studio in a laptop, we’ve seen it all. But in the end we still love to make proper dance music.

What influences you guys when you go into the studio?
Almost everything, from records by young upcoming producers, old skool soul, 90ties house, the weather, punk rhythms, movie themes and vintage car sounds, to new plug-ins, hip hop, fashion hipsters and weird music blogs, you name it.

Have you got any tips for any rising producers out there?
Be original. Be yourself. Work hard. Do it for the music, not the fame.

What producers/ DJs are doing it for you at the moment?

Bart B more, Bingo Players, Baggi Begovic, Prok & Fitch, ….

What are your top ten tracks?
There are 3 tracks that are absolutely setting the dance floor on fire at the moment.
- our latest collaboration with Bingo Players – Disco Electrique,
- our remix for Shovell – Soul Makossa,
- and our remix of the classic Sole Fusion – Bass Tone on Strictly.
Other favorites are
- Sil – Dirty Windows (Chocolate Puma Remix),
- Bizarre Inc – Playing With Knives (CP Bootleg),
- Bart B More – So It Goes (Chocolate Puma Remix),
- Chocolate Puma – Dub Of Boom, Only Love Can Save Me, Morning Rain (Moist Beats)
- and some new trippy futuristic weird untitled demos we’ve been testing out lately.

What do you guys prefer producing in the studio or DJ-ing to a crowd?
We love to do both. When we’re in the studio we can’t wait to test out our latest tracks. And when we’re in front of a crowd we get really inspired by the energy the people give us. It puts the sounds we create in the studio in a whole new perspective. We then can’t wait to get back in the studio to translate that feeling into new music.

What would you say has been your biggest achievement?
After 18 years of producing records still being around.

How does the crowd differ in Holland from anywhere else in the world?
The Dutch crowd is known for being a bit more critical, so you really have to work a little bit harder to get them throwing their hands in the air. But that’s a good thing, it keeps us sharp. And maybe that’s something that sets Dutch DJ’s apart from the rest?

Where in the world is your favourite place to play?
This year’s WMC in Miami has been very good for us. The kids in Eastern Europe are always insane (in a good way!), and Sao Paulo is fantastic!

Your playing at DanceValley, will you be playing any other festivals this summer?
We’ve been known for always playing anywhere in the world, but in Holland. But this year we’re doing a lot of Dutch festivals. For example Free Your Mind, Defected In The House @  Lakedance, and some really nice and cozy festivals like Trix in the Mix, Zomerkriebels and Mattrix at the Park.

Have you got any funny stories from any past festivals?
Well…maybe not funny but nevertheless very memorable. While playing at this massive 40.000 people festival in Brazil, all of a sudden Zki disappeared off the stage. So when I looked down, there he was, laying on the concrete, next to a girl! It turned out that they had these banners behind the 10 ft high stage, but forgot to make a proper fence, and as a result they both fell down. Fortunately they had no major injuries, apart from some scratches and bruises.

Talking of summer what’s your favourite ice-cream flavour?
Chocolate Fudge of course..

Lastly, what do you think you would been doing now if you weren’t a DJ?
Ice cream manufacturer!

Thanks guys, you’ve been great!
Welcome!

source: http://ministryofsound.com/Club/NewsDetail.aspx?n=194

Do we need to say more??

“The Dutch supergroup’s Touch Me wasn’t only Strictly’s biggest selling download of 2008, it also catapulted Bingo Players into the spotlight and rejuvenated the career of the many faceted Chocolate Puma boys. Disco Electrique pulls off the same tough beats blended with vocals trick, microphone duties this time handled by Michelle David, who delivers a powerful, staccato set of lyrics with a little old school diva attitude to go with a stomping and surprisingly minimal production.”

See also: http://chocolatepuma.com/504/bingo-players-vs-chocolate-puma-disco-electrique/

One of the nicest festivals in The Netherlands must be Free Your Mind Festival in Arnhem. So you can imagine we think it’s totally awesome that we’re playing there. Catch us dropping our fat new tunes and never heard before dubs & bootlegs on the Sound Of Love Stage. Date: saturday 6th of june 2009.

The Next day, sunday the 7th of june 2009, we’re playing at the first ever Strictly Rhythm Party in The Netherlands @ Bloomingdale, Bloemendaal. This year it’s Strictly Rhythm’s 20th anniversary, and to celebrate they’re throwing a host of parties at various prime locations around the world. Oh, and monday the 8th of june, Strictly releases Bingo Players Vs. Chocolate Puma – Disco Electrique.

And if you happen to be near Breda on saturday the 30th of may, you can always drop by at IMhouse.

Bingo Players Vs Chocolate Puma – Disco Electrique will be released on Strictly Rhythm on the 8th of june 2009.

On Saturday October the 25th you can catch us spinning at the 2008 ADE twice.
From 00:00 till 01:30 we’ll be spinning in the main area of club The Mansion.

After that we will be heading to The Escape Theatre to join Defected In The House, shaking up the Strictly Rhythm Room. Playtime 03:00 till 04:00.

As usual, expect us playing only our own productions, remixes, exclusive unreleased material, dubs and bootlegs.

http://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/festival/more-info/1379
http://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/festival/more-info/1372