“The man, the myth… The pseudo funk magician, Chats appeared one day when the rebels repeated the word “bass” three times in front of a mirror. Some say that he only speaks in song titles. Others, say that when listening to his heartbeat with a stethoscope, they have heard the unmistakable sound of slap bass. All we know is that if you feed him and water him, he turns up and makes any gig you’re playing 10 times groovier.”

Chatonda Ridley (Chats for short) is a bass player from Malawi. He’s spent the past 10 years in Scotland playing everything from jazz to ceilidh music; from headlining festivals to intimate living room performances. Chats is a true lover of music and connecting with others through it.

He got his first taste of music and playing in a band in high school in Malawi. He was initially taught drums by his close friends but quickly gave up when he realised his friend’s 8 year old little brother was better at the drums than him. With a bruised ego, he looked for other ways to make music with his friends and stumbled onto the bass guitar. As soon as he felt the ability to connect with his friends musically he fell in love and has been playing with anyone and everyone who would give him the time of day ever since.