We were first introduced to actor Kevin Chacon as Chris Rodriguez in the second season of Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and the young star has had a pretty busy year in the time since.
Most recently, he’s appeared in Season 2 of Apple TV’s hit series Dark Matter, which is currently underway. He stars as Eduardo, the son of Amanda Lucas—or at one version of Amanda, at least.
At the same time, Kevin’s been making a name for himself under the musical moniker NYV3K, releasing bilingual tracks that reflect his Costa Rican heritage. He released his latest song, “TENSION” featuring Nathalia Lares, in May.
We caught up with Kevin to dive deeper into the complicated multiverse of Dark Matter and learn more about his acting experiences, as well as his passion for music. Discover it all in our full interview below.
(Photo credit: Guido Venitucci)
Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About Percy Jackson and the Olympians Star Charlie Bushnell
SH: Tell us about your role in Dark Matter. What has it meant to you to join the cast of the acclaimed series?
Kevin Chacon: Being part of Dark Matter has honestly been such a blessing and an honor.
Joining the cast for Season 2, especially for a story created by Blake Crouch, was such a special experience. Since the second season expands beyond the original book, it was really exciting to watch this new chapter and these characters come to life.
I’m incredibly grateful to have worked alongside such a talented and welcoming cast and to be part of something I’m so proud of.
SH: What role does your character, Eduardo, play in the show? How would you say you’re most similar to Eduardo, and how are you most different?
KC: Eduardo is Amanda Lucas’s son, played by Alice Braga, in one of the worlds Jason, Daniela and Charlie enter. He becomes Charlie’s best friend and really serves as a support system for him, almost like his right-hand man and an escape from everything Charlie has been going through.
I feel really connected to Eduardo because we’re both loving, hardworking and incredibly loyal to the people we care about.
Honestly, if I lived in that universe, I feel like I definitely would have been Eduardo. The biggest difference between us is probably the way we dress!
(Photo credit: Guido Venitucci)
Also read about: Everything We Know About Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3
SH: Between being an actor and a musical artist, is there a role you love best?
KC: It’s honestly hard to choose because acting and music give me two completely different creative outlets.
With acting, I get to step into someone else’s world and tell their story. With music, I get to tell my own story and express myself in a much more personal way.
One of my favorite acting roles has definitely been Chris Rodriguez in Percy Jackson. He was so much fun to play, especially because of the action and getting to explore a darker side of a character. I also think Chris is incredibly misunderstood. There’s so much more to his story than what we’ve gotten to see, and the more you understand him, the more you can empathize with him. I love being able to explore characters with those kinds of layers.
SH: What does the name NYV3K mean to you? How does it represent you as an artist?
KC: NYV3K means the world to me because it’s incredibly personal.
“NY” represents New York, where I grew up and got my start as an actor. New York has given me so much, and I’ll always be grateful for that.
“V3K” comes from “Kev,” from Kevin, spelled backwards with the E replaced by a 3. So the name represents both where I come from and who I am, which makes it really personal to me as an artist.
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SH: Tell us about your latest single, “TENSION.” What does the track mean to you, and what do you hope it’ll mean to your listeners?
KC: “TENSION” is one of my favorite songs I’ve released so far, especially because I got to share it with one of my dearest friends, actress and artist Natalia Lares.
I absolutely loved what her voice brought to the song, so having her be part of it made the collaboration even more special.
At its core, “TENSION” is about perseverance, communication and being willing to go after what you want without forcing it. I hope listeners take away the idea that being hurt in the past doesn’t mean you have to be afraid of something new. Sometimes you have to keep an open mind, communicate honestly, and allow yourself to connect with someone.
SH: Is it meaningful to you to release music in Spanish as well as English and reflect your heritage?
KC: Absolutely. That’s one of the biggest reasons I make music. I’m incredibly proud to be Costa Rican, and I want my music to represent both my Latino and American roots.
Spanish was actually my first language, so being able to express myself through Spanish, English and bilingual music feels very natural to me.
I also love incorporating Costa Rican slang and different elements of my culture into my music. It’s important to me that people can listen to my work and hear a little bit of where I come from and who I am.
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SH: Is there anything you can tease about what’s next?
KC: I have a new song called “MUEVELO” coming soon, and I’m honestly so proud of it. I really think it’s my best song yet.
It’s an upbeat, Latino-inspired reggaeton party song that I think people are going to have a lot of fun with. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it, so definitely stay tuned to my socials!
SH: What else should we know about your work, and you as a person?
KC: I’m extremely dedicated and definitely a bit of a workaholic. I have a hard time sitting still because I’m always trying to learn something new or find another way to challenge and improve myself. Whether it’s acting, music, MMA, playing an instrument, investing or even learning a new language, I genuinely love learning and pushing myself.
I’m also very family-oriented. Whenever I get the chance, I love going back to Costa Rica, disconnecting from social media and everything else going on, and spending time with my family. It gives me a chance to reconnect with my roots, reset and appreciate the things that really matter.
(Photo credit: Guido Venitucci)
For even more from Kevin Chacon, click HERE to revisit our 2025 interview with the star on his role in Percy Jackson and the OIympians.
