Their remix credits read like a who's who of
dance and pop music Kym Mazelle, Cissy
Houston, Jason Walker, Amuka, to name a few.
No strangers to the top spots on the US and
UK dance charts, the Mahjong Music remixing
team (including Mister Gone – Mahjong –
Federico Conti – Sun & Soul Shades and Co.)
are one of the hottest remix production team
on the scene. Let’s have a chat with the
Mahjong team during their busy schedule to
talk about studio techniques and breaking
into the remix act.
WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP TO REMIXING A TRACK
SUCH AS "I WANT MORE" FROM AMUKA? Mahjong
Team: Step one is determining the tempo of
the original vocal track, and then
determining where we can take it tempo wise
from there. After that comes
time-compressing and cutting vocals into
phrases, then putting these over basic
beats. From there we build up the elements
of the chord progression and other rhythm
parts.
HOW DO YOU TREAT THE VOCALS TO ACCOMMODATE
THE EXTREME DIFFERENCES OF TEMPOS BETWEEN
ORIGINAL AND REMIXED TRACKS? Mahjong Team:
Some vocals have to be sped up and some
slowed down. We experiment with both. The
chorus might be slowed down for a half-time
feel, while the verses are sped up-all to
match a danceable tempo.
ARE YOUR PRODUCTIONS PRIMARILY MIDI OR AUDIO
BASED? Mahjong Team: Generally speaking,
everything we do is AUDIO. We do everything,
including the vocal processing, in Cubase SX
3. Typically, we spend time equalizing to
get the right drum sound. We generally don't
use any stock sounds out of modules. We'll
go to a club and hear a kick drum that we
really like, so we'll get the record and
sample just that kick drum. I mean, if we
like the way it sounded in the club, it's
probably going to work in our remix.
ANY ADVICE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GROW THEIR
STUDIO AND START MAKING MUSIC INSTEAD OF
JUST PLAYING VINYL? Mahjong Team: I think,
on the business side of remixing, there are
two things to do: try to have your own
sound, and don't copy anyone else. Start by
making your own record-don't try to be a
remixer first. If a record company wants a
remix that sounds like us, then they go to
the source they're looking for a particular
sound. The record industry gets inundated
with so many remixers and DJs, and the ones
who are getting the work at some point broke
out with their own record. It's typically
someone who had an underground record that
was huge that's what got them noticed in the
first place.
You have to follow your gut and your
instincts, and don't listen to anybody else.
