Volume 3, Issue 13 |
| Clarence Jey |
2011 kicked off with a bang for LA based producer/songwriter, Clarence Jey. The aussie-born
musician woke up one day and learned that a song he produced for an independent artist named
Rebecca Black had gone viral.
Here, CJ talks about the 2011 viral hit song, FRIDAY, that not only made the artist singing it an
instant celebrity, it also helped this young producer gain some valuable exposure and
opportunities.
IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what influenced you to pursue a career in music
production and songwriting?
CJ: I’m from Australia with Sri Lankan Tamil origins. My mother taught me classical piano and my
grandfather used to play the organ at the church, so I was always around music. The idea of writing melodies
and lyrics to beats that I would program, really intrigued and challenged me. I promised my parents that I would
complete a non-music related degree, and I graduated as a Civil Engineer. However, my heart was always in
music and therefore, it was an automatic transition without having to look back.
Listening and understanding music by great artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Bob Marley, Yanni,
Michael Jackson and Abba influenced me a lot. Also, the production abilities of geniuses like Quincy Jones,
Johnny ‘Mutt’ Lange, Klaus Schultz, Brian Eno and Jam & Lewis got me working on Synth fused pop music. I
also really enjoy listening to world fusion music by composers like AR Rahman, as well as classical music.
IAE: What made you decide to leave Australia and move to Los Angeles?
CJ: I had written and produced music for an LA based Nickelodeon animation TV show called “Growing
up Creepie”, while I was living in Australia. Hence, I strongly felt that Los Angeles would be a great base for me
to try and establish my career as a writer-producer-composer. The move was somewhat of a calculated risk,
and I felt the timing was right in my life to do so. The weather in LA also influenced my decision. [laughs] I
gathered that I had nothing to lose, but potentially something of value to gain by placing myself in one of
the entertainment capitals of the world, so I packed up and came to LA in 2007. When I got here I built my own
studio in Sherman Oaks, and that helped me in securing work and meetings with industry folks.
IAE: So you’re the producer behind 2011’s viral song of the year, Rebecca Black’s “FRIDAY”.
How did you meet Rebecca and how did that song come about?
CJ: I met Rebecca through Ark, a company I was a part of. FRIDAY came about in a few sections, but
generally, the majority of the song was collectively done in a day, while the rap section was recorded
a few days later. All the music, recording and mixing was done at my studio. From a technical stand point, the
vocal chain was a Sony C800G/Neve 1073/Tube Tech CL1B combination, which was recorded in Cubase 5.
There were some analog gear used (Oberheim/Se1X), but mostly virtual instruments.
IAE: How did that song change things for you as a producer? Did you realize a lot of
opportunities as a result of that song’s success?
CJ: It showed to me the power of viral internet based marketing and the potential results that can be
achieved by that for a unique product with a creative angle behind it. As a record producer, it showed
me that it’s all about fun music that makes one want to move. It also showed me the clear difference between
old and new media and how they influence one another.
The amount of great relationships I have been able to form has been incredible. The fact that GLEE decided
to cover it, really opened up the Film and TV aspect, as well as relationships that came through the song
publishing end.
IAE: What are you working on now?
CJ: I am working on various projects at the moment - some pop and some film and TV related. One is an
incredible artist from Buffalo, New York by the name of Kenny James. I’m currently working toward completing
his record. He will be doing some touring next year, along with his releases which I am very excited about.
I have my own production entity, Music Intersection and a new entertainment label Popular Media Group, so I’m
actively looking for new artists I can help develop.
I am also submitting material to major recording artists, which I really enjoy doing. From a publishing aspect, I
am continuing to build my catalogue and trying to secure as many placements as possible for songs such as
“Friday”, which I administer.
musician woke up one day and learned that a song he produced for an independent artist named
Rebecca Black had gone viral.
Here, CJ talks about the 2011 viral hit song, FRIDAY, that not only made the artist singing it an
instant celebrity, it also helped this young producer gain some valuable exposure and
opportunities.
IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what influenced you to pursue a career in music
production and songwriting?
CJ: I’m from Australia with Sri Lankan Tamil origins. My mother taught me classical piano and my
grandfather used to play the organ at the church, so I was always around music. The idea of writing melodies
and lyrics to beats that I would program, really intrigued and challenged me. I promised my parents that I would
complete a non-music related degree, and I graduated as a Civil Engineer. However, my heart was always in
music and therefore, it was an automatic transition without having to look back.
Listening and understanding music by great artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Bob Marley, Yanni,
Michael Jackson and Abba influenced me a lot. Also, the production abilities of geniuses like Quincy Jones,
Johnny ‘Mutt’ Lange, Klaus Schultz, Brian Eno and Jam & Lewis got me working on Synth fused pop music. I
also really enjoy listening to world fusion music by composers like AR Rahman, as well as classical music.
IAE: What made you decide to leave Australia and move to Los Angeles?
CJ: I had written and produced music for an LA based Nickelodeon animation TV show called “Growing
up Creepie”, while I was living in Australia. Hence, I strongly felt that Los Angeles would be a great base for me
to try and establish my career as a writer-producer-composer. The move was somewhat of a calculated risk,
and I felt the timing was right in my life to do so. The weather in LA also influenced my decision. [laughs] I
gathered that I had nothing to lose, but potentially something of value to gain by placing myself in one of
the entertainment capitals of the world, so I packed up and came to LA in 2007. When I got here I built my own
studio in Sherman Oaks, and that helped me in securing work and meetings with industry folks.
IAE: So you’re the producer behind 2011’s viral song of the year, Rebecca Black’s “FRIDAY”.
How did you meet Rebecca and how did that song come about?
CJ: I met Rebecca through Ark, a company I was a part of. FRIDAY came about in a few sections, but
generally, the majority of the song was collectively done in a day, while the rap section was recorded
a few days later. All the music, recording and mixing was done at my studio. From a technical stand point, the
vocal chain was a Sony C800G/Neve 1073/Tube Tech CL1B combination, which was recorded in Cubase 5.
There were some analog gear used (Oberheim/Se1X), but mostly virtual instruments.
IAE: How did that song change things for you as a producer? Did you realize a lot of
opportunities as a result of that song’s success?
CJ: It showed to me the power of viral internet based marketing and the potential results that can be
achieved by that for a unique product with a creative angle behind it. As a record producer, it showed
me that it’s all about fun music that makes one want to move. It also showed me the clear difference between
old and new media and how they influence one another.
The amount of great relationships I have been able to form has been incredible. The fact that GLEE decided
to cover it, really opened up the Film and TV aspect, as well as relationships that came through the song
publishing end.
IAE: What are you working on now?
CJ: I am working on various projects at the moment - some pop and some film and TV related. One is an
incredible artist from Buffalo, New York by the name of Kenny James. I’m currently working toward completing
his record. He will be doing some touring next year, along with his releases which I am very excited about.
I have my own production entity, Music Intersection and a new entertainment label Popular Media Group, so I’m
actively looking for new artists I can help develop.
I am also submitting material to major recording artists, which I really enjoy doing. From a publishing aspect, I
am continuing to build my catalogue and trying to secure as many placements as possible for songs such as
“Friday”, which I administer.
| Clarence Jey - Producer behind Rebecca Black's Friday |
Copyright © 2009-2011 I Am Entertainment Magazine, a publication of NFluential Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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