About Me
The musical journey of Sandy Chila (pronounced “key-laâ€) has taken him around the world and back again.
Born in Monaco against the lush backdrop of the reign of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace Kelly, the Princess herself personally wrote a letter of congratulations on the birth of Chila to his French/Italian parents. It was an auspicious beginning with a royal touch.
After several years, Chila left Monaco to find a family fortune in Cairo , Egypt , and quickly immersed himself in the native Egyptian pursuits of music, Arabian horses and smoking copious amounts of Turkish cigarettes.
Another turn of fate brought Chila from Cairo to southern California , where his first home was empty – except for a piano. It was a guiding pathway for Chila, who soon became a gifted pianist with a classical bent, devouring the likes of Mozart and Chopin.
Translating his percussive instincts on the piano into his own unique rhythms, Chila moved from the piano to create innovative drumming techniques.
On an early audition with folk-legend Peter Case (of the Plimsouls), Chila showed up to audition not with a traditional drum set, but rather, with a vintage burlap suitcase on which he beat by hand. With his unique sound and sensibility, Chila went on to record three albums and tour with the Grammy-nominated Case.
Chila also found success in the rock world, touring and recording as a drummer for Gilby Clarke (of Guns N’ Roses) at the precocious age of 19, working with singer/songwriter Glen Philips (of Toad The Wet Sprocket) on his first solo album Abulum, as well as backing up Scott Thomas on the LA and NY indie scenes with his own vocals, percussion, on piano and as producer.
As Chila cemented his producing talents, he was approached by the South African anthemic rock band, Just Jinjer. With Chila’s talented production instincts and capabilities, the eponymous album he produced for Just Jinjer was certified “Gold†in South Africa . The chemistry of the recording sessions with Just Jinjer was so powerful, Chila soon found himself touring the African continent for two years as Just Jinjer’s guitarist and playing with (and for) the esteemed likes of U2, former President Nelson Mandela, Annie Lennox, Ludacris, and more.
Chila’s latest efforts have earned him ambience and guitar credits on the feature film score to TRAITOR, which he recorded in South Africa with celebrated composer Mark Kilian (who also composed for the academy-award nominated film HOTEL RWANDA).
From Monaco , to Cairo , to California and South Africa , today, Chila primarily resides in the southern California artist colony of Venice Beach . He is currently collaborating with French heat-making producer Laurent Proneur to synthesize Chila’s distinct voice and lyricism and his natural fluidity with guitar, drums, and piano.
