Remembering DJ Mu: The Soul of Fat Freddy’s Drop Has Left Us
It’s hard to process this — but we’ve lost a true icon. Christopher Ta’aloga Faiumu, better known to fans and friends as DJ Mu or DJ Fitchie, has passed away suddenly, and honestly, it feels like a massive void has just opened up in the soul of New Zealand music.
Chris wasn’t just a DJ. He was the producer, the pulse, the founding heartbeat behind Fat Freddy’s Drop — a band that didn’t just represent Aotearoa’s musical identity, but helped shape it. Since their beginnings in Wellington in 1999, Fat Freddy’s Drop evolved into a genre-bending force, blending reggae, soul, dub, funk, house, and jazz into something that felt both global and unmistakably local. And at the center of that creative universe was Mu.
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He wasn’t always in the spotlight, but his influence was everywhere. Whether it was his MPC sampler laying down the initial beat, his production genius shaping their signature sound, or his vision that guided their independent path without ever needing a major label — Mu made it all happen. Their first studio album, Based on a True Story , still holds records in New Zealand for how long it stayed at number one. And let’s not forget, they built it all without compromising, just making music on their own terms — that was Mu's spirit.
What made Mu special wasn't just the music — though that was incredible. It was the way he held space for others. He hosted, collaborated, lifted others up. Everyone who worked with him talks about his warmth, his humility, his generosity. He was a talismanic presence — the kind of person you felt lucky to orbit around, whether you were making music or just having a kōrero. His friends at Th'Orchard called him a gracious host. Others have said simply, "Thanks for the music bro, we'll continue to dance."
Fat Freddy’s Drop described him as “the star by which we navigated across the sea.” That line has stuck with me. Because if you know their music — you get it. Chris was the guide, the unseen hand, the deep current carrying everything forward. He helped build a sound that resonated across the world, from packed London venues to homegrown jam sessions in Wellington.
Chris came from humble beginnings in Wainuiomata, the son of Samoan immigrants. He went from collecting cassettes and vinyl to deejaying at Radio Active, and from there, slowly and methodically built one of the most respected music careers in the country. Every beat he dropped, every note that formed from a jam session, every show they played — it all mattered. It all came from Mu.
And while fans across Aotearoa and beyond are feeling the loss, our hearts are especially with his partner Nicole Duckworth and daughter Mia, as well as the entire Faiumu and Duckworth aiga.
Chris Faiumu was a quiet powerhouse. A sound sculptor. A brother. A leader. A legend. His journey may have moved on, but the music — and the aroha — will echo forever. Rest easy, Mu. We’ll keep dancing to your rhythm.
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