Dave Nada

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Dave Nada, real name David Villegas, is an American-Ecuadorian DJ and producer. He is credited as the inventor of moombahton, a fusion genre of house and reggaeton. He comes from College Park, Maryland, and began as a radio DJ for the University of Maryland's student station 88.1 WMUC. That aroused his interest in producing and DJing. In the early 2000s he got to know Jesse Tittsworth through a mutual friend, who invited him to play at his party Crunk in Washington. Later he organized TaxLo in Baltimore.

Music and breakthrough

In 2007 Tittsworth introduced him to Matt Nordstrom. Together they formed the DJ and production duo Nadastrom, which shaped his career for about ten years. His sets and productions combine, among other things, electro, house, Baltimore club, punk, hip hop and Latin and folk influences. Nadastrom collaborated with and made remixes for, among others, Diplo, Skrillex, Dillon Francis, Celia Cruz, Kanye West and Steve Aoki.

Influence

Moombahton came about in November 2009. At a house party of high-school students he slowed the Afrojack remix of Moombah by Chuckie and Silvio Ecomo down to 108 beats per minute, so that it fitted better with the slower reggaeton and bachata that was being played there. The young crowd responded enthusiastically. At home he made more slowed-down edits of Dutch house tracks, shared them with other DJs and gave the sound the name moombahton, a blend of Moombah and reggaeton. Together with the DJ Sabo, Nadastrom started the party series Moombahton Massive. Nada also founded the label Hermanito with Tittsworth. His origin story shows how an accidental change of tempo can create a genre.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 2010Punk Rock Latino

Mentioned in other articles

• Moombahton GenreIn late 2009 the DJ Dave Nada was playing at a party for his cousin in Washington.