**Nona Hendryx (Labelle) Dubstep Remix Collaboration**
10/15/13 05:46 PM Filed in: Collaboration
About a year ago, I was introduced to Nona Hendryx. Some might recognize her from her great solo music career back in the 1980s. Others of you might remember her as one of the members of "Labelle" staring the one and only Patti LaBelle. But I met her through an opportunity while attending Berklee when she reached out to a group of Berklee EDM (Electronic Dance Music) Producers and asked if we'd like to remix a couple of her hit songs. I volunteered. After she listened to a couple demos that I sent her, she asked me to remix one of her hit singles from 1983 called "Transformation". I said yes and took the challenge but with 1 condition - that I could remix the song in my favorite EDM genre, Dubstep, and in the style of one of my favorite Dubstep producers, DJ Kdrew. She said yes. And so it began.
I admit, breaking away from the VERY anchored 1980s Funk/R&B feel was rough… especially since I wanted the remix to sound current and modern to 2013. But I wanted to satisfy both her original fan base as well as attract a new audience. So capturing the feel of the original recording while giving it the modern touch was important. The song was produced and recorded earlier this year but has never been released - until now! So below is a link to listen to the original 1983 hit single "Transformation" by Nona Hendryx and below that, if you should dare listen, is my remix of "Transformation - 2013"! (soundcloud link).
Gary Lazzara: “Transformation 2013”. Lazzara Productions.
Nona Hendryx: “Transformation”. 1983. RCA Records.
I admit, breaking away from the VERY anchored 1980s Funk/R&B feel was rough… especially since I wanted the remix to sound current and modern to 2013. But I wanted to satisfy both her original fan base as well as attract a new audience. So capturing the feel of the original recording while giving it the modern touch was important. The song was produced and recorded earlier this year but has never been released - until now! So below is a link to listen to the original 1983 hit single "Transformation" by Nona Hendryx and below that, if you should dare listen, is my remix of "Transformation - 2013"! (soundcloud link).
Gary Lazzara: “Transformation 2013”. Lazzara Productions.
Nona Hendryx: “Transformation”. 1983. RCA Records.
Back in March, I had the opportunity to see my EDM remix of Transformation performed on stage at the prestigious Berklee Performance Center in Boston, MA. It was a wonderful experience. A link to the press release announcing the performance and promoting the concert can be found here.
