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CHANCE'S ARE THAT IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO A CLUB ANYWHERE IN THE
WORLD YOU HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE BEST DANCE MIXES AROUND.
MANY OF THOSE MIXES COME FROM ONE OF THE BEST DJ / MIXERS IN
THE WORLD MIKE RIZZO. RIZZO IS WELL KNOW IN THE INDUSTRY AS
THE GO TO GUY FOR TOP ARTIST INCLUDING JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND
BRITNEY SPEARS. FOR ROUGHLY 15 YEARS NOW HE HAS BEEN
SPINNING IN CLUBS AROUND THE WORLD AS WELL AS PRODUCING
SOME OF THE HOTTEST MIXES ON ALBUMS. AFTER TAKING A 2 YEAR
LEAVE FROM THE SCENE TO CARE FOR AND BE WITH HIS WIFE AND
NEW BORN CHILD HE RE-ENTERS STRONGER THAN HE LEFT. WITH
TITLES SUCH AS DJ,MIXER,AND PRODUCER YOU CAN NOW ADD ONE
MORE TAG TO HIS NAME RECORD LABEL OWNER. THAT IS RIGHT
RIZZO ALONG WITH TWO PARTNERS HAVE STARTED UP A NEW LABEL
CALLED NY2LONDON ENTERTAINMENT. AS IF HE DOESN'T ALREADY
TAKE THE INDUSTRY BY STORM YOU CAN CATCH HIM ON XM RADIO
CHANNEL BPM 81 AS WELL AS 88.9 WBZC AND ON AOL RADIO. YOU
CAN VIEW SOME OF THESE LINKS BELOW THE INTERVIEW.
WORLD YOU HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE BEST DANCE MIXES AROUND.
MANY OF THOSE MIXES COME FROM ONE OF THE BEST DJ / MIXERS IN
THE WORLD MIKE RIZZO. RIZZO IS WELL KNOW IN THE INDUSTRY AS
THE GO TO GUY FOR TOP ARTIST INCLUDING JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND
BRITNEY SPEARS. FOR ROUGHLY 15 YEARS NOW HE HAS BEEN
SPINNING IN CLUBS AROUND THE WORLD AS WELL AS PRODUCING
SOME OF THE HOTTEST MIXES ON ALBUMS. AFTER TAKING A 2 YEAR
LEAVE FROM THE SCENE TO CARE FOR AND BE WITH HIS WIFE AND
NEW BORN CHILD HE RE-ENTERS STRONGER THAN HE LEFT. WITH
TITLES SUCH AS DJ,MIXER,AND PRODUCER YOU CAN NOW ADD ONE
MORE TAG TO HIS NAME RECORD LABEL OWNER. THAT IS RIGHT
RIZZO ALONG WITH TWO PARTNERS HAVE STARTED UP A NEW LABEL
CALLED NY2LONDON ENTERTAINMENT. AS IF HE DOESN'T ALREADY
TAKE THE INDUSTRY BY STORM YOU CAN CATCH HIM ON XM RADIO
CHANNEL BPM 81 AS WELL AS 88.9 WBZC AND ON AOL RADIO. YOU
CAN VIEW SOME OF THESE LINKS BELOW THE INTERVIEW.
M4M: HEY MIKE THANKS FOR TAKING A BREAK TO HOOK UP WITH US! MAN THIS HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY YEAR FOR YOU. WE HEAR
YOU ARE GETTING A NEW LABEL UP AND RUNNING. WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SUCH A PROCESS?
MIKE: I’M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE LABEL (NY2LONDON ENT). I’M PARTNERED WITH TWO GREAT PEOPLE GARY SALZMAN AND
JOE KOPPIE FROM BIG MANAGEMENT. IT INVOLVES PICKING THE RIGHT MUSIC FROM HUNDREDS OF DEMOS.
M4M: NOW WHAT WILL NY2LONDON ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE?
MIKE: WE ARE TARGETING DANCE/MAINSTREAM ARTISTS THAT WILL DO WELL AT RADIO AND PERFORM TO THE HIGHEST
EXPECTATIONS IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE. WE ARE GOING TO SELL PRODUCT MAINLY THROUGH DIGITAL COMPANIES SUCH
AS I-TUNES AND MASTERBEAT.
M4M: THIS IS JUST THE LATEST INSTALLMENT OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS THE GUY TO GO
TO FOR MIXING AND BEAT. HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH SO MANY GREAT MIXES? IS THE MUSIC SOMETHING YOU FEEL AND JUST
HAPPENS FOR YOU OR IS IT MORE INVOLVED?
MIKE: I LIKE STICKING TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE ORIGINAL VERSION I’M REMIXING. IT KEEPS THE ARTIST, LABEL AND
MANAGEMENT HAPPY. IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE MOOD I’M FEELING WHEN I’M IN THE STUDIO.
M4M: YOU HAVE BEEN DOING WHAT YOU DO FOR YEARS NOW. LOOKING BACK WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE A DJ? WERE THERE
ANY DJ’S BACK THEN THAT YOU LOOKED UP TO OR WANTED TO BE LIKE?
MIKE: FROM AGE TWELVE I WOULD REMEMBER LISTENING TO THE ORIGINAL KTU IN NEW YORK AND WAS INTRIGUED BY DJ’S
SUCH AS TONY HUMPHRIES, LITTLE LOUIE VEGA AND SHEP PETTIBONE. THEIR MIXES WERE SEAMLESS. I WAS ALSO BLOWN AWAY
HOW THE CLUB DJ WOULD PUT THE CROWD IN THE PALM OF THEIR HANDS WITH MUSIC ARRANGEMENTS. THEY WOULD TAKE
THEM ON A MUSICAL JOURNEY!
M4M: FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REMIXING AND DJING? IS THERE ONE THAT IS
HARDER THAN THE OTHER?
MIKE: REMIXING IS TAKING AN ACAPELLA OF A SONG OR AN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION AND ADDING YOUR MUSIC ELEMENTS IN THE
STUDIO FROM SCRATCH. DJING IS PLAYING MUSIC COMPOSITIONS AND MIXING THEM TOGETHER
M4M: YOU ARE A VERY WELL TRAVELED MAN GOING ALL OVER THE WORLD TO SPIN YOUR BEATS. DO YOU FIND THE REST OF THE
WORLD IS INTO THE CLUB SCENE AS MUCH AS OVER HERE IN THE U.S? WHAT HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?
MIKE: THE REST OF THE WORLD IS TOTALLY INTO THE CLUB SCENE MAINLY GEARING TOWARD THE ELECTRONICA SOUND. I’VE
PLAYED CLUBS IN CHINA TO IBIZA AND THE CROWDS ARE JUST AMAZING. THEY GET INTO THE DJ AND CLUB EXPERIENCE AS IF
THEY WERE AT A SPORTING EVENT.
M4M: BESIDES THE CLUB SCENE YOU ALSO OFFER A RADIO PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTING SOME OF THE WORLDS GREAT DANCE
MUSIC. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST OUT OF THE BROADCAST? NOW THE MUSIC PLAYED ON THE BROADCAST IS SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU OFFER IN THE CLUB’S RIGHT?
MIKE: I LOVE THE FACT THAT I CAN BREAK NEW MUSIC FROM THE STATES AND OVERSEAS AND ALSO IMPLEMENT THE HOTTEST
CURRENT SONGS IN MY SETS. MY CLUB SETS DIFFER FROM WHAT I PLAY ON RADIO, AS I LIKE TO ADD A PROGRESSIVE EDGE.
M4M: NOW YOU HAVE BEEN GETTING AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL HOUSE REMIXES IT SEEMS. WHAT DO YOU TRY TO
ACCOMPLISH WITH EACH MIX AND DO YOU SEE CLUBBERS NOTICING A DIFFERENCE IN THE STYLE?
MIKE: I TOOK A BIT OF A BREAK IN 2006-2007 TO SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND WANTED TO REINVENT MY SOUND TO BE A BIT
MORE EDGY. I ALWAYS WILL DO MY RADIO FRIENDLY MIXES BUT IN THE CLUB VERSION’S I TRY TO PUT A BIT OF AN ELECTRONIC
TWIST TO IT.
M4M: A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS IN CANCUN AT A CLUB CALLED COCO BONGO AND I HEARD NINE INCH NAILS “CLOSER” TURNED
TECHNO. IS THIS A GROWING TREND IN THE CLUB SCENE? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? IS IT A GOOD THING?
MIKE:I LOVE IT. IT BRINGS A DIFFERENT DIMENSION TO THESE SONGS IN OTHER GENRES. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY ROCK REMAKE IN
THE DANCE SCENE IS HUGE.
M4M: WE KNOW YOU CAN DROP A BEAT BUT HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO GO INTO PRODUCING? WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU
FACE IN THAT ASPECT OF YOUR CAREER?
MIKE: I WANTED TO TAKE MY GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL AFTER DJING FOR EIGHT YEARS. I GOT INTO PRODUCING IN 1995. I KNEW
FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN THE CLUBS THAT I WANTED TO EVENTUALLY MAKE THESE RECORDS NOT JUST PLAY THEM. THE
TOUGHEST THING IS TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE AND KEEP YOUR SOUND FRESH. I’M ALWAYS LISTENING TO RADIO 1 AND
PETE TONG’S SHOW TO KEEP IN THE LOOP.
M4M: WILL YOU BE FOCUSING ON THE LABEL FOR RIGHT NOW OR DO YOU PLAN ON DOING A CLUB TOUR?
MIKE: I PLAN ON DOING BOTH. I LOVE WEARING A LOT OF HATS. THE LABEL THING IS JUST GETTING OFF THE GROUND AND WE
HAVE A GREAT STAFF OVER AT BIG MANAGEMENT THAT IS ON TOP OF THE GAME. I’M ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT TOURING AGAIN.
YOU CAN ONLY KEEP A PLAYER OFF THE FIELD FOR SO LONG.
M4M: WHAT CAN WE LOOK FOR IN THE FUTURE FROM YOU? ARE THERE ANY PROJECTS IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW?
MIKE: I’D LOVE FOR THE LABEL TO TAKE OFF MORE THAN ANYTHING. THERE ARE LOTS OF GREAT PROJECTS COMING DOWN THE
PIPE LIKE SALLIE TOUSSAINT WHO WAS MISS CONNECTICUT/MODEL AND NOW HAS TAKEN ON A MUSIC CAREER AND PUT HER
TRUST IN NY2LONDON ENT.
M4M: WELL MAN IT IS GREAT HAVING YOU BACK ON THE SCENE AND CONGRATS ON THE NEW ADDITION TO THE FAMILY. THANKS
AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING AND HOPE TO CATCH YOU AT A CLUB SOON!
MIKE: THANK YOU!!!
YOU ARE GETTING A NEW LABEL UP AND RUNNING. WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SUCH A PROCESS?
MIKE: I’M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE LABEL (NY2LONDON ENT). I’M PARTNERED WITH TWO GREAT PEOPLE GARY SALZMAN AND
JOE KOPPIE FROM BIG MANAGEMENT. IT INVOLVES PICKING THE RIGHT MUSIC FROM HUNDREDS OF DEMOS.
M4M: NOW WHAT WILL NY2LONDON ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE?
MIKE: WE ARE TARGETING DANCE/MAINSTREAM ARTISTS THAT WILL DO WELL AT RADIO AND PERFORM TO THE HIGHEST
EXPECTATIONS IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE. WE ARE GOING TO SELL PRODUCT MAINLY THROUGH DIGITAL COMPANIES SUCH
AS I-TUNES AND MASTERBEAT.
M4M: THIS IS JUST THE LATEST INSTALLMENT OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS THE GUY TO GO
TO FOR MIXING AND BEAT. HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH SO MANY GREAT MIXES? IS THE MUSIC SOMETHING YOU FEEL AND JUST
HAPPENS FOR YOU OR IS IT MORE INVOLVED?
MIKE: I LIKE STICKING TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE ORIGINAL VERSION I’M REMIXING. IT KEEPS THE ARTIST, LABEL AND
MANAGEMENT HAPPY. IT ALSO DEPENDS ON THE MOOD I’M FEELING WHEN I’M IN THE STUDIO.
M4M: YOU HAVE BEEN DOING WHAT YOU DO FOR YEARS NOW. LOOKING BACK WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE A DJ? WERE THERE
ANY DJ’S BACK THEN THAT YOU LOOKED UP TO OR WANTED TO BE LIKE?
MIKE: FROM AGE TWELVE I WOULD REMEMBER LISTENING TO THE ORIGINAL KTU IN NEW YORK AND WAS INTRIGUED BY DJ’S
SUCH AS TONY HUMPHRIES, LITTLE LOUIE VEGA AND SHEP PETTIBONE. THEIR MIXES WERE SEAMLESS. I WAS ALSO BLOWN AWAY
HOW THE CLUB DJ WOULD PUT THE CROWD IN THE PALM OF THEIR HANDS WITH MUSIC ARRANGEMENTS. THEY WOULD TAKE
THEM ON A MUSICAL JOURNEY!
M4M: FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REMIXING AND DJING? IS THERE ONE THAT IS
HARDER THAN THE OTHER?
MIKE: REMIXING IS TAKING AN ACAPELLA OF A SONG OR AN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION AND ADDING YOUR MUSIC ELEMENTS IN THE
STUDIO FROM SCRATCH. DJING IS PLAYING MUSIC COMPOSITIONS AND MIXING THEM TOGETHER
M4M: YOU ARE A VERY WELL TRAVELED MAN GOING ALL OVER THE WORLD TO SPIN YOUR BEATS. DO YOU FIND THE REST OF THE
WORLD IS INTO THE CLUB SCENE AS MUCH AS OVER HERE IN THE U.S? WHAT HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?
MIKE: THE REST OF THE WORLD IS TOTALLY INTO THE CLUB SCENE MAINLY GEARING TOWARD THE ELECTRONICA SOUND. I’VE
PLAYED CLUBS IN CHINA TO IBIZA AND THE CROWDS ARE JUST AMAZING. THEY GET INTO THE DJ AND CLUB EXPERIENCE AS IF
THEY WERE AT A SPORTING EVENT.
M4M: BESIDES THE CLUB SCENE YOU ALSO OFFER A RADIO PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTING SOME OF THE WORLDS GREAT DANCE
MUSIC. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST OUT OF THE BROADCAST? NOW THE MUSIC PLAYED ON THE BROADCAST IS SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU OFFER IN THE CLUB’S RIGHT?
MIKE: I LOVE THE FACT THAT I CAN BREAK NEW MUSIC FROM THE STATES AND OVERSEAS AND ALSO IMPLEMENT THE HOTTEST
CURRENT SONGS IN MY SETS. MY CLUB SETS DIFFER FROM WHAT I PLAY ON RADIO, AS I LIKE TO ADD A PROGRESSIVE EDGE.
M4M: NOW YOU HAVE BEEN GETTING AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL HOUSE REMIXES IT SEEMS. WHAT DO YOU TRY TO
ACCOMPLISH WITH EACH MIX AND DO YOU SEE CLUBBERS NOTICING A DIFFERENCE IN THE STYLE?
MIKE: I TOOK A BIT OF A BREAK IN 2006-2007 TO SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND WANTED TO REINVENT MY SOUND TO BE A BIT
MORE EDGY. I ALWAYS WILL DO MY RADIO FRIENDLY MIXES BUT IN THE CLUB VERSION’S I TRY TO PUT A BIT OF AN ELECTRONIC
TWIST TO IT.
M4M: A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS IN CANCUN AT A CLUB CALLED COCO BONGO AND I HEARD NINE INCH NAILS “CLOSER” TURNED
TECHNO. IS THIS A GROWING TREND IN THE CLUB SCENE? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? IS IT A GOOD THING?
MIKE:I LOVE IT. IT BRINGS A DIFFERENT DIMENSION TO THESE SONGS IN OTHER GENRES. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY ROCK REMAKE IN
THE DANCE SCENE IS HUGE.
M4M: WE KNOW YOU CAN DROP A BEAT BUT HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO GO INTO PRODUCING? WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU
FACE IN THAT ASPECT OF YOUR CAREER?
MIKE: I WANTED TO TAKE MY GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL AFTER DJING FOR EIGHT YEARS. I GOT INTO PRODUCING IN 1995. I KNEW
FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN THE CLUBS THAT I WANTED TO EVENTUALLY MAKE THESE RECORDS NOT JUST PLAY THEM. THE
TOUGHEST THING IS TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE AND KEEP YOUR SOUND FRESH. I’M ALWAYS LISTENING TO RADIO 1 AND
PETE TONG’S SHOW TO KEEP IN THE LOOP.
M4M: WILL YOU BE FOCUSING ON THE LABEL FOR RIGHT NOW OR DO YOU PLAN ON DOING A CLUB TOUR?
MIKE: I PLAN ON DOING BOTH. I LOVE WEARING A LOT OF HATS. THE LABEL THING IS JUST GETTING OFF THE GROUND AND WE
HAVE A GREAT STAFF OVER AT BIG MANAGEMENT THAT IS ON TOP OF THE GAME. I’M ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT TOURING AGAIN.
YOU CAN ONLY KEEP A PLAYER OFF THE FIELD FOR SO LONG.
M4M: WHAT CAN WE LOOK FOR IN THE FUTURE FROM YOU? ARE THERE ANY PROJECTS IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW?
MIKE: I’D LOVE FOR THE LABEL TO TAKE OFF MORE THAN ANYTHING. THERE ARE LOTS OF GREAT PROJECTS COMING DOWN THE
PIPE LIKE SALLIE TOUSSAINT WHO WAS MISS CONNECTICUT/MODEL AND NOW HAS TAKEN ON A MUSIC CAREER AND PUT HER
TRUST IN NY2LONDON ENT.
M4M: WELL MAN IT IS GREAT HAVING YOU BACK ON THE SCENE AND CONGRATS ON THE NEW ADDITION TO THE FAMILY. THANKS
AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING AND HOPE TO CATCH YOU AT A CLUB SOON!
MIKE: THANK YOU!!!
| CHECK OUT THESE MIKE RIZZO LINK'S |
| MIKE RIZZO MIXES ON YOUTUBE ! |