Alexandre Varela Da Veiga

Alexandre Varela Da Veiga (born June 6, 1979), also known as Diesel, is an award-nominated French record producer, songwriter, and artist. Born and raised in Toulouse, France, Varela began a rap career while in high school and is best known for his recordings with the group KDD, the first album of which came out when he was 15 years old. During the following years, KDD left its mark on French hip hop history after releasing a second album, “Resurrection”, considered by many rap fans a classic.

In 2000, at the age of 20 and after his third and last album with KDD, Varela shifted his focus to music production. He quickly gained recognition in the French music industry through his production work with French rapper Diam's on her album Brut de Femme. The album was awarded Best Rap Album in 2004 at the 2004 Victoires de la Musique ceremony. That same year, he also collaborated with artist and friend Oxmo Puccino by contributing to two of the album's titles, “L'amour est mort” and “Le Cactus de Siberie”.

In 2003, Varela moved to New York City to pursue his music production career. In a matter of a few months he started getting noticed by various music execs and landed his tracks on major artists’ projects. His big break came when he produced the song “Guess What” with songwriter Sean Garrett for the artist Keyshia Cole. In a few weeks the album sold more than one million records and become certified platinum by the RIAA.

In 2004, while riding the New York City subway Varela discovered a violinist duo, Nuttin' But Stringz. The two brothers find an artistic chemistry with Varela and decided to work with him as a producer. Upon releasing their first album “Struggle from the Subway to the Charts,” they gained exposure on TV shows and commercials aired on major US networks.

Varela kept collaborating with the group's youngest brother Damien Escobar after the duo parted ways, and released his solo album “Boundless” which was nominated for the NAACP Image Awards and held the number 1 position in the Billboard charts for the classical category in 2017.

In 2009, Varela produced an album for renowned French rapper and actor, Disiz. The album “Dans le ventre du Crocodile” received favorable reviews in the French press.

Varela is also a sound designer. His first experience in composing for movies occurred in 2003 when award-winning director Luc Besson selected some of his tracks for the movie Taxi 3. During the following years Varela will work on TV scores and eventually compose for fashion films and runway shows as a sound designer.

Early life Varela was born and raised in Toulouse, France. The son of a jazz musician, he will grow up in a musical environment that will provide the seed of his artistic inclinations. At the age of 11, he learned bass guitar after seeing his dad using the slap technique on a Fender Jazz Bass. At 13, Varela picked up piano after his sister brought him to a Prince concert, whose live performance impressed him so. A few years later he eventually picked up electric guitar after friend introduces him to the music of Led Zeppelin and Jeff Buckley. This multi-instrumentalist approach will define him and always remain a part of his sound.

KDD At just 12 years old, Varela joined the rap act created by his older cousin, Dadoo.

In 2006, the two brothers were invited to play in the White House for the US president where they will perform their title “Thunder,” which was produced by Varela. Later that year they will also win an Emmy Award for a segment about the group on MSG Network.

In 2009, after a live tour and being featured in several commercials, the duo decided to go their separate ways. Damien Escobar and Varela's relationship remained and proved to be instrumental in Damien's growing career. In late 2015, Varela and Escobar reconnected in the studio for a series of sessions that will provide the building blocks for Escobar's first solo album, titled “Boundless,” which released in 2017. Mayberry Music began with original compositions for the online broadcasts of major runway shows in Paris, Milan, and New York.

The sound design company has since grown to create original music compositions for fashion films and commercials for the luxury industry. It has provided original soundtracks for some of the world most celebrated houses, including Bottega Veneta, Estée Lauder, Mikimoto, and Tom Ford.

Discography Artist discography Album Year Group Record label Opte Pour Le K 1996 KDD Columbia Records Resurrection 1998 KDD Columbia Records Une Couleur De Plus Au Drapeau 2000 KDD Columbia Records

Production discography Album Year Group/Musician Songs Resurrection 1998 KDD 4. Galaxy de Glace 8. La Rhala 9. Aspect Suspect 12. Une Femme Tue Un Soldat 13. Double Détente Symphony 15. Orange M. Une Couleur De Plus Au Drapeau 2000 KDD 1. Une Couleur De Plus Au Drapeau 2. Qui Tu es? 10. Pousses Les Limites 11. Vie De Crev's Cause a Effet 2001 K Special 3. Ou Est La Difference 5. K d'Ecole 7. Vulgairement Votre 11. L'asphalte 14. Louzde Brut de femme 2003 Diam's 12. Amore 14. Parce que Cactus De Siberie 2004 Oxmo Puccino 15. Warriorz The Way It Is 2005 Keyshia Cole 5. Guess What (feat. Jadakiss) Gare Au Jaguar 2006 Joey Starr 5. Hot Hot 10. Chaque Seconde La France Des Couleurs 2007 Idir 3. Ce Choeur Venu D'ailleurs Struggle from the Subway to the Charts 2007 Nuttin' But Stringz 1. Broken Sorrow 3. Thunder 5. Beauty From afar 7. Suka 4 Her 10. Egyptian in the Night 11. A Nu Day Pressee de Vivre 2008 Léa Castel 1. Melancolie 2. Pressee De Vivre 3. Derniere Chance 4. Reviens moi 5. Adieu Les Soucis 6. Partout 7. Bistrot Du Coin (interlude) 8. On Se Releve 9. Quand l'amour Souffle 10. Histoire d'Une Absence 11. Tu verras, Tu verras 12. Je Vois 13. Melancolie Venus 2009 Sheryfa Luna 1. Ce Qu'ils Aiment 2. Si Tu n'etais Plus La 3. Dis Lui 4. Qu'est-ce Qu'on Attends 5. Je Reviendrai 6. Grandir Avec Toi 7. Ne T'en Vas Pas 8. Si Mal 9. Respirer 10. Interlude 11. J'ai Le Droit 12. On Progresse 13. J'ecris 14. Comme Une Blessure Dans le Ventre Du Crocodile 2010 Disiz 1. Mutation 2. Dans Le Ventre Du Crocodile 3. Rien Comme Les Autres 4. Yeah Yeah Yeah 5. Je t'aime Mais Je Te Quitte 6. Jolies Planetes 7. Faire La Mer 8. Trans-Mauritania 9. Problemes XXX 10. Les Monstres 11. Paradoxe 12. La Luciole 13. Les equilibristes Extra-Lucide 2012 Disiz 2. Combien de Temps 4. Best Day Single 2014 Damien Escobar Freedom Rap Machine 2015 Disiz En Réunion Un Jour J’ai fait un tag Les 10 Commandements du MC Boundless 2017 Damien Escobar Overture ‘15 Phoenix Mood Swings Night Drive Intermezzo Get Up And Dance Love Notes Reflections Lights Power Awaken A Winter Night In Boston