FC/Kahuna

FC/Kahuna is an electronic duo from Leeds, formed by Jon Kahuna and Dan Kahuna. The group is active from 1997 to 2003 and works across big beat, downtempo and electronica, releasing music on City Rockers, Kahuna Cuts, Nettwerk and Skint Records.

Career and releases

The duo releases Machine Says Yes in spring 2002 and receives wide critical attention. The album appears after an early run of support from Jo Whiley, who plays Hayling several times from a limited-edition 7-inch before the album is released. FC/Kahuna later records a live session for Jo Whiley on Radio One and performs a Colin Murray Evening Session.

Radio support follows for several tracks, including Machine Says Yes and Hayling, while Glitterball and Nothing Is Wrong also receive support. The album sells more than 50,000 copies worldwide.

Live work and touring

Although FC/Kahuna begin as a DJ duo, they assemble a live band with Hafdis Huld on vocals and John Thompson on bass. In 2002 they tour the UK in support of Röyksopp, ending with a sold-out show at Brixton Academy before 4,000 people.

The band also appears at Coachella in Los Angeles, T in the Park in Scotland, Roskilde in Denmark, Reading/Leeds in the UK and Benicassim in Spain.

Mixes, remixes and club nights

FC/Kahuna release the mix album Another Fine Mess, an offshoot of the Another Late Night series. The compilation includes music by Blur and The Polyphonic Spree alongside electronic tracks by Green Velvet and Josh Wink, and helps establish the duo as both DJs and album artists.

They also run 21st Century Bodyrockers, a series of nine monthly parties featuring DJs including Erol Alkan, Soulwax, Ellen Allien, Damian Lazarus, Andrew Weatherall and DJ Hell. The nights are described as Club of the Year by The Face.

The duo remixes artists including New Order, Felix Da Housecat, French act Mellow and US band The Faint, and they continue to DJ widely in the UK and internationally, including in Japan, South America, Russia, Serbia, Mexico, Holland, Germany and France. They also support Zero 7 on a US tour.

Media use and recognition

FC/Kahuna appear on the cover of Jockeyslut magazine. Their music later features in television series and films including Six Feet Under, CSI: Miami, Nip/Tuck, Domino, Layer Cake and Riding Giants.