One of our favorite DJs/Producers is Denise Gurney aka Twisted Dee. Recently she has remixed the Kat Danson track ‘Sugarfree’ for PRO MOTION that is doing brilliantly on the Billboard Dance Charts!

We took a little time to speak with Dee and find out more about the woman behind those stomping tribal mixes! Check out the interview below!

INTERVIEW (PART ONE)

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INTERVIEW (PART TWO)

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SUGARFREE (TWISTED DEE MIX CLIP)

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What was the origin of the name ‘Twisted Dee’?

Well what a lot people don’t know is that I’ve been playing for the last, well almost thirty years that I’ve actually been playing and you know back in the day when I was playing on Long Island which is my home stomping ground there was a period where it was really in to have a DJ name, you couldn’t just go by your regular name you had to have a DJ name. I’ve always had a bit of a twisted perspective on life, so one day one of my friends was like ‘You’re so twisted Dee’ and everybody just started calling me Twisted Dee and it just stuck. Later on down the road when I started production, and started a production company, it was just like what better name for the company than Twisted Dee Productions and it just stuck. It works well ya know within production to  have a name that catches people’s eye and generates curiosity rather than just using your regular name so its kinda worked for me over the years.

So how did you get your start DJing what inspired you to take that up?

Well back when I was a teenager my dad and my uncle opened one of the first disco’s ever on Long Island, well it was the first disco ever on Long Island. It was when disco music was just breaking and they had the first club and as a teenager 15 or 16 years old my father would occasionally let me come down to the club when we as big acts playing like The Tramps, Gloria Gaynor and thinks like that, all those early disco artists. During the day I would  go into the bar and I had a job of setting up the bar for the bartenders and cutting all the fruit and things like that, and after I was done with my work I would always go up into the DJ booth and play around. I was just extremely fascinated with the music and the DJ there, he was a resident DJ and a very good friend of the family and he really showed me how to work the equipment, how to mix and stuff like that, really showing me the art of mixing music and it just never left me. Its something I was always fascinated with at a very early age. At a very early age, at like 16/17 I was DJing high school functions and I had my own little set up,  I would play wherever I could.  I actually got my first gig at a club in Long Island when I was 17, I actually had to have my fathers permission to work there as I was under age. I’ve never not worked since then, I’ve worked as a DJ consistently since then.

As you were just saying, you have had a very long career in the music industry, and its a very male dominated industry there aren’t to many successful female DJ’s. How do you feel about working in that environment?

I have to be completely honest and say there have been many, many times where I have just wanted to bang my head against the wall, because if I was a boy – like Beyonce’s song ‘If I Were A Boy’ – if I was a boy I think I would have been much further ahead than I am now, but ya know it hasn’t been easy, its been very hard to get people to take me seriously and its been a struggle. You know its funny, people will call me ‘up and coming’ now because I’m starting to get some recognition, so all of a sudden I’m this up and coming DJ. They don’t know that I’ve been around for thirty years.

So why do you think it is a male dominated industry? any ideas why you think its that way?

You know, I’m not really sure why it is such a male dominated industry, I mean I work predominantly in the gay community and  99.9% of the time I play for gay men, so that goes without saying that it would be a male dominated field, but as a whole straight and gay, I’m really not sure why it is male dominated. It shouldn’t be ’cause being a woman, I just feel that women can sometimes be so much more creative than men. I guess  there is an aspect of it, you know the late nights and the crazy people that you hang out with sometimes (laughs.) Not all woman really fit into that mold, I happen to fit in there really well being a night bird – I’m like one of these machines that never sleeps.

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Fritz Helder & The Phantoms are a funky foursome from Toronto, who were the first act signed to Nelly Furtado’s record label Nelstar, after she saw the band play live and was fascinated by them.  The band have just released their debut single ‘Largerfield Lady’ from their cheekily titled first album ‘Greatest Hits: Platinum Edition.’ The single features PRO MOTION remixes by Eric Kupper, Coup Digital, The Angry Kids and Sellout.

Last week we got a chance to video chat with the gang and talk about everything from their music and fashion influences such as Karl Lagerfield, (obviously referenced on their debut single,) to what we can expect to see from their live shows and their hopes for the future. From the PRO MOTION offices to a kitchen in Canada, we bring you Fritz Helder & The Phantoms!

CELLOUT MIX (CLIP)

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ANGRY KIDS MIX (CLIP)

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ERIC KUPPER ELECTRIVOGUE MIX (CLIP)

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COUP DIGITAL MIX (CLIP)

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Jessie James is an exciting new artist breaking onto the music scene with the determination to break the mold of what is expected from most young singers entering the music business.

The PRO MOTION team is working with her on the release of her debut single ‘Wanted,’  featuring remixes from Wideboys and Jason Phats. Wanted is a hot summer track taken from her soon to be released self titled album.  We just did an interview with Jessie about her inspirations, musical tastes and hopes for her career. Check it out below!

WIDEBOYS REMIX (CLIP)

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JASON PHATS REMIX (CLIP)

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I realize that you’ve been really interested in singing since you were a little girl.  You wrote you’re first song at age 9, I think it was.  How does it feel to now be realizing your dream?

It feels amazing.  It’s so—it’s not surprising, but it’s surprising at the same time to see how far that it’s actually been going.  I’m really, really excited about it.  It’s a wonderful feeling.

What music did you grow up listening to?

I grew up listening to a lot of older artists.  I was really inspired by Bobbie Gentry and Janis Joplin and Eva Cassidy growing up.  I loved how soulful they were and you can just tell they sang with conviction and they were old souls, you know?  I also listened to people that were newer.  I really loved LeAnn Rimes growing up and I really loved, obviously, Christina Aguilera.

Your debut album has been described as having a mix of styles.  So where did the inspiration come from to make such a diverse album to start with?

Well, I love so many different kinds of songs and I love so many different artists and I had a lot of influences I didn’t want to feel like I had to put it in one box.  I love country music- I’m a Southern girl, I grew up in the South- but I really love pop music and I also love rock and roll so I just wanted to be able to put it in one album and I really feel like I was able to do that.

What was the experience of working on “Wanted” with Kara DioGuardi, one of the American Idol judges like?

She’s exactly the way you see her on TV.  She’s very feisty, very intelligent, knows what she’s doing.  Inspiring Italian woman, I loved her.

If you could collaborate with one person, either dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Can I pick two?  Alive, I would probably work with Kid Rock and dead I would probably work with Janis Joplin.

You’re a new artist and you’re just starting out in the business.  What would your hopes be for your career?

Just to have longevity, I don’t want to be a one-hit wonder, I don’t want to be just that singer girl who had that one song.  I mean I really want to make records for the rest of my life.  I want to be touring, I don’t really care about being famous and all that, I just want to be able to live comfortably and make enough money to continue touring and continue to play my music and write songs.

Do you think that’s one of the most important parts for you, the live experience?  Putting shows together and all that?

Yes, absolutely.  It’s a very important part to me.  I’m a live artist.  I sing live and I love having a band.  It’s a big deal to me.  I don’t really like doing a lot of the singing through the track, I really like it natural and organic.

Who are some of your favorite artists and favorite albums at the moment- who have you been listening to? And what has been inspiring you right now?

Right now?  I’ve been listening to the Nickelback album recently.  I love their new record.  I love Mutt Lange and I love that he was a part of the record and that he produced a really great album.  I love their song called “Burn It To the Ground”, it’s amazing.

Have you seen any good live shows recently?

Yeah!  I did.  Two nights ago I went to the Nickelback and Hinder show.  My manager manages them too and so we’re all good friends.  I saw the show and we had a great time, they really kick butt out there.

In terms of dance music, what’s one song that would be guaranteed to have you on the floor at the end of the night?

I have a few of those, I think.  Obviously, one of them would be “Bullets” and another would probably be a song called “Big Mouth”.  Those are more dancey tracks.  I also have more rodeo dance songs, like “My Cowboy”, that you dance to at a rodeo or honky tonk, but as far as dance and remixes, the remix to “Wanted” you can definitely dance to that and “Bullet” and “Big Mouth” are really dancey songs.

What do you think the world should know about you?

That I’m in this for the music and the music only.  I’m not in this to be famous or to be a superstar.  I really love music with all my heart and I love to sing.  I love to make people happy and I love to write songs that inspire people.  That’s what I’d want people to know- that I’m in this for the music only.

Thanks Jessie!

For more information about PRO MOTION please visit  http://www.promotion-us.com

‘Wanted -- Wideboys Extended Remix’

The PRO MOTION team is currently working with Vanessa Williams on the release of her single ‘The Real Thing.’  The single, which features remixes by Maurice Joshua and the Soulseekerz, is taken from the album ‘The Real Thing‘ released June 2nd on Concord Jazz. We had the opportunity to speak with Vanessa and we are excited to bring you the interview which you can listen to below.

MAURICE JOSHUA REMIX (CLIP)

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SOULSEEKERZ REMIX (CLIP)

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RALPHI ROSARIO REMIX (CLIP)

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INTERVIEW

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You are a multi-talented performer, what is your first love music or acting?

I would have to say Broadway, because I get a chance to do both at the same time.

Tell us about the new record ‘The Real Thing,’ which celebrates your love of Latin and Jazz music, what are your favorite tracks from it?

The new record is the combination of some Latin rhythms, some Jazz, some R&B. ‘The Real Thing’ is the title track, which is an old Sergio Mendes from Brazil ’77 song that I covered.  I’ve always loved Latin music as a dancer, as a performer, when I do my show I have a Brazilian section so it was great to be able to do more than one speciality tune on the CD. I would have to say that my favorite song to perform and to listen to is ‘The Real Thing’ just because its indicative of where I am at this moment in my life. I’m 46 and having experienced a lot in life I’m happy to be back in the game and singing songs that I wanna do.

How was working with Babyface, I know that you have had a long history working with him throughout your career?

Babyface is consistent, one of those bankable people you can always count on, not only is he a great friend but he’s such as consummate artist and songwriter. I called him when I was looking for music and I said I was on Concord Jazz and he said ‘What are you listening to and what are you looking for?’, so I said ‘What do you think?’ and he said ‘Let me think about it’ and came back with two brilliant hits (‘Loving You’ and ‘Just Friends’) He’s just such a talented artist and writer and I got a chance to have him sing in the background on ‘Just Friends” and it was nice and tasty as he’s got his trademark sound as well.

Who are you current favorite Latin and Jazz artists?

Current I don’t know, my ipod is full with a  load of old hits and stuff that reminds me of the past. In terms of the Latin stuff, probably on the Salsa side I listen to a lot of Humberto Santarosa who is a Puerto Rican salsero, who I got a chance to meet back in ’98  or so. I’m a big fan of his but also his arrangements are fantastic. Babel Gilberto who actually did ‘Close To You’ on my album, I covered her song and butchered my Portuguese but attempted it, which made me happy. On the Jazz side, Bill Withers ‘Hello Like Before’ is another song that reminded me of a great point in my life, back in the 70′s he was huge and it’s very comforting to me.

Are you excited about the return to club culture with the remixes of  ‘The Real Thing’ by Maurice Joshua and the Soulseekerz?  We love them over here at PRO MOTION!

Oh good! I’m absolutely excited, I know that this album does not lend itself to dance music, but they fact that the remix is out and it brings me back into the club is great. I’d love to return and kind of focus a little more on dance music in the future, but in the meantime this is a great transition.

What are some of your favorite remixes of your songs that artists have done for you in past?

Probably the most successful was ‘Running Back To You’ and there were a myriad of them and getting a chance to do the video and choreography and edit it and cut to the fascinating rhythms of that was probably my favorite.

I was actually going to ask you which one of you music videos was your favorite to make, would it be that one?

Yeah, ‘Running Back To You,’  it was actually our second go around. The first one we did for ‘Running Back To You’ was kind of dark and a little depressing and made people frankly kind of nervous. The second one was just constant lighting and more retro pop. I got a chance to be involved in the editing and I really put my fingerprint all over that. I was really happy with the way it came out.

Who directed that video again?

Um, Ralph Ziman, I have no idea if he is still around, that was a long time ago.

You have had a really strong chart history since  1988 with ‘The Right Stuff.’ If you could rework one of your old dance hits what would it be and who would produce it for you?

Well ‘ The Right Stuff’ was remixed by Hank Shocklee and that was fantastic because he added all the James Brown ‘Get On Up’ and all that stuff, and really took it from an R&B hit to something that crossed a lot of different lines. Um, ‘Work To Do’ was done again by two young guys that were discovered by Ed Ecktine back in the day and took that Isley Brothers track and added the flute and made it a loping hip hop song so that was great. ‘He’s Got The Look’ was one of the ones that I would have loved to have a fresh take on. That was back in the day when everyone was sampling James Brown, so it did have the horns but I would love to get another go at that.

We hear that you won the Human Right Campaign ‘Ally for Equality Award’ last year. How did you get involved with Gay Rights?

Well I don’t remember ever having not being involved, it is just something that has always been a part of my celebrityhood, but also my personal  relationships so it was wonderful to be honored. It’s certainly been part of my life, growing up in the theatre and as a dancer I’ve been definitely influenced, but also surrounded by being progressive and being a modern open thing and also living in New York, so I was really happy.

What was the the first dance record you ever owned?

Well it would probably have to be ‘ABC’ by the Jackson 5, even though its not really considered a dance record it was huge in pop. I remember carving my little heart around Michael’s face on the back of the album.  It’s such a tragic loss that he’s gone but when you look at the body of work that he’s done its extraordinary.

Thanks Vanessa!

For more information about PRO MOTION please visit our website at  http://www.promolift.com

‘Just Friends’ taken from the album ‘The Real Thing’