Chicane

Chicane is an electronic music project by British musician, composer, and producer Nicholas “Nick” Bracegirdle, born on 28 February 1971 in Chalfont St Giles.

Trained in piano and classical guitar, his first electronic influences came from melodic composers such as Jean Michel Jarre and Vangelis, synthpop pioneer Vince Clarke, and the house hit “Anthem” by N-Joi. These inspirations led him to start making melodic dance music at the age of 12.

His career began in partnership with Leo Elstob under the name Disco Citizens, an alias under which Bracegirdle produced progressive house tracks that were less suited to radio. Their first single, “Right Here Right Now”, entered the UK Top 40 in 1995.

The Chicane project launched in 1996 with the single “Offshore“, initially released in an ambient version. A more dancefloor-oriented remix, issued under the Disco Citizens alias, brought huge commercial success, reaching number 14 on the UK charts in late 1996 and entering the Top 40 in several European countries. Reissued in 1997, it even reached number 5 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and became an essential Ibiza compilation anthem.

After Leo Elstob’s departure, Bracegirdle continued Chicane as a solo project. His debut album *Far from the Maddening Crowds* (1997) is considered a foundational release within the trance community. His second album, *Behind the Sun*, was certified gold in the UK.

Chicane achieved international success with the single “Saltwater“, a reworking of “Theme From Harry's Game” performed by Clannad singer Moya Brennan. The track entered the UK Top 10 and became one of the most popular trance singles.

In March 2000, Chicane scored his first UK number one with “Don't Give Up“, featuring Bryan Adams, which also became a Top 10 hit across Europe. To date, Chicane has totaled 11 UK Top 40 singles, five of them with guest artists.

After a period marked by work on an album that ultimately went unreleased, Bracegirdle founded his own independent label, Modena Records, which holds the rights to all of his songs. He released the album *Somersault* there in 2007, followed by a reissue of *Far From The Maddening Crowds* that included a new mix of “Offshore”.

Other aliases include “Rebel Transcanner” for a remix of Tomski, and “Sitvac” for the single “Wishful Thinking”. He also took part in the project Mr. Joshua Presents Espiritu with singer Vanessa St. James and producer Mr. Joshua, known for the track “In Praise of the Sun”.