Funk and Disco

re-arranged, added synth, drums, percussion, mastered

Support

Harvey Mason - Groovin' You (Funk Hunk edit)

PAC001.
Downloads and vinyl available here: https://palmsandcharms.bandcamp.com/album/this-time-around
Written, performed and produced by Barnaby Bruce.
Bass played by Samuel Bruce.

Barnaby Bruce - Feel The Wheel

http://www.facebook.com/blvd95

Original Electro Deluxe - Devil available on Itunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/ch/album/devil-deluxe-version-single/id690417908

Electro Deluxe - Devil (BLVD95 Remix)

Jesper Samuelson - Stockholm Hills (Instrumental)



This revamp remix was commissioned by Craig Kallman (who was then the CEO/President of Atlantic Records USA). He had signed me to a production deal with the label and I had to produce or remix whatever they asked me to do, whilst under contract. On this occasion, I was more than happy to run with a Brandy track. Mike City had written and produced the original, but the label explained that it was getting a lukewarm reception at radio and in the r&b clubs. What they wanted was 'hot'. Rodney Jerkins had produced her previous single "What About Us" with its fantastic clunky groove, in a fresh and new way. Unfortunately, "Full Moon" didn't lend itself very well to that or any modern style. So, it was my job to create new music to fit the original song 'naturally' - like it was meant to be. 

Michael Wycoff's "Looking Up To You" (produced masterfully by Webster Lewis) had been a big favourite on the soul and r&b circuit in the UK since 1982. So, it had never left my memory. It had also been sampled on Zhane's "Hey Mr DJ" - I loved that record, but man, didn't they sang badly out of tune?! I decided to revive the groove from "LUTY" - changing the key and tempo slightly to fit. Every bar was cut and spliced to play in metronomic time (the original had a live drummer who didn't play exactly in time). I added tougher drums, two synthesizers playing a top bassline and sub-harmonic one for 'boom'. Strings were added, along with a sprinkling of percussion. 

The initial production work was done in the UK. But, I wasn't completely happy with the mix that was done there. So, I made a call to an amazing mix engineer called Kevin 'KD' Davis, and asked if he'd help me mix it again. He's mixed Usher, Outkast, Rihanna, Ne-Yo, P!nk and too many to name here. KD was about to travel from L.A. to Miami, Florida where he had a bunch of mixes lined up to do. By this time, I was already in NYC. But, I agreed to fly down and we did it at Circle House Studios (owned by the reggae group Inner Circle). It's not like a regular corporate studio. It's a converted one floored house. In the pool house was Lil Jon, next door to me was Lenny Kravitz and across the TV room was Lauryn Hill. The kitchen chef is amazing. Everyone eats well there! KD got the vocals to sound so much better within a hour or two. 

Upon returning to the UK, on reflection, I felt the music was a bit lightweight. So, I used the Miami 'vocal' mix and created a new 'music' mix back in London; blended it together (one with Fat Joe's rap, one without) and Fed Ex'd it back to Craig @ Atlantic in NYC. Everyone loved it. But, before doing this version I had another idea that I wanted to investigate... C'est Chic :)

Follow me on Twitter: @DamienMendis

Funk and Disco

SirKoper