Remixer JARED JONES aka VIBELICIOUS Talks Up New Track ‘Dreams,’ His Ideal Date, What He Likes in a Guy, more

Originally published May 17, 2009

Jared Jones aka Vibelicious takes a track and gives it his signature infectious club floor spin that makes you wanna get up and dance – I’ve been a fan for sometime. (And how cute is he!? I’m just sayin’ … lol)

And now the producer is releasing his very first original track, a re-do of Johnny Hates Jazz‘s ’80s classic ‘Shattered Dreams,’ featuring vocals by Dean Bourdeau. Track has a ton of remixes already available, and it just came out on iTunes – so click here to check it out now.

(Jared also just did a killer remix of NIKKI 16′s ‘Eye on U.’ Click here for the FREE DOWNLOAD.)

Now, the Vibelicious man talks up everything from the inspiration for his new track to his ideal date, craziest place he’s had sex, what he likes in a man and more. Let’s go…

Muzo: Congratulations on your new single ‘Shattered Dreams,’ ft. Dean Bourdeau. What made you decide to re-do the classic ’80s hit, originally performed by Johnny Hates Jazz?

JJ: The idea of covering ‘Shattered Dreams’ started with Dean actually. He and I were trying to find tracks that we both had always loved and thought would work well as a cover.

Once I started working on the idea it all just fell into place. Dean and I both agreed that what I had come up with was sounding pretty good to us.

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Muzo: How did you decide to work with Dean for this particular track?

JJ: Dean had previously worked with Joey C., and I enjoyed his vocals on those tracks. I also wanted to collaborate with Dean because his vocals reminded me of one of my all time favorite singers, Darren Hayes. There isn’t a big story to how we ran into each other, it was just me sending an email saying basically “hey, wanna work together.”

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Muzo: The ‘Dreams’ single, which is available now, features a ton of remixes – when putting together remixes for a single, how do you decide who you want to work with?

JJ: If anyone has followed my long journey in producing remixes you will see that almost all of the producers who did remixes on “Shattered” are people who I have collaborated with previously.

I felt like this was a time to call upon the people’s talents who I knew could deliver strong quality works; I think it paid off in the end. The one exception to this was QUBIQ, my good friend DJ Jeremy Martorano recommended him for the project and I’m sure glad he did!

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Muzo:  And you have been mixing for quite sometime now. When did you first start remixing, and when did you know that producing was your calling?

JJ: I started toying around with remixing when I was in highschool. It grew from there as my skills grew, the people I met helped me progress and technology allowed a boy in his bedroom to produce some hot club jams. Producing has only recently become my calling. The “Shattered Dreams” single is my first solo release and I’ve done a few original productions for some artists. So I guess I’m coming into my own.

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Muzo: Which DJs/mixers do you most admire?

JJ: I could list so many people, but by far and above I love David Morales. I remember shopping for CD and 12″ singles and always buying any that had a David Morales or Def Mix included.

Some of my other favorites are Todd Terry, Eric Miller (aka E-smoove), Mark Picciotto, the Basement Boys and Frankie Knuckles.

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Muzo: If you could work with any artist, who would it be?

JJ: I didn’t even have to think about this one, Michael Jackson! I love me some Michael, I don’t care what anyone says or thinks, he is the King of Pop!

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Muzo: And your mix of NIKKI 16′s ‘Eye on U’ is SO damn hot…first off, thank you for doing that remix, and secondly, I’ve always been really curious about this process. When you sit down to remix a track, all you have are the vocals…how do you decide what direction to go in when creating the actual mix?

JJ: You’re welcome! I’m glad that you and the girls enjoyed the mix that I did. It’s always an awesome feeling when the actual artist and people involved like what you do.

I never quite know where the song is going to take me. I always listen to it, try to get ideas, maybe think this style would fit this song well. But really I just sit down and play with everything until I can really feel that it’s got a nice groove and that it’s working in every aspect for that track.

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Muzo: And now for the really good stuff I know you got a man, but describe your ideal date.

JJ: Justin Timberlake, Kris Allen (from ‘Idol’), Blake Lewis, David Beckham … oh and then there is always the just-turned-18-year-old high school boys from Craigslist … wait, don’t print that! ha ha ha

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Muzo: What is your biggest turn on in another guy?

JJ: Straight boys … they seem hotter.

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Muzo: Favorite part of your body?

JJ: My smile / teeth, they are the only thing that came out straight and perfect on me.

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Muzo: Most interesting place you’ve had sex?

JJ: Either a friend’s parents bed or on a picnic table in the park.

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Muzo: Complete the sentence: ‘When in bed, the guy should…’

JJ: Be hot!

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Muzo: Advice to new guys who want to become remixers/producers?

JJ: Just work at it. It’s not something you should do for the money, but for the love of just creating your work and sharing it with others.

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Muzo: And what’s next for Vibelicious?

JJ: Hopefully another single soon. I hope that everyone will rally and support the current single “Shattered Dreams.”

I’ve also done a remix for RuPaul‘s next single “Jealous Of My Boogie,” so keep a look out for that one. And I should have a few things coming out with Adam Joseph in the future.

As a last note I wanted to say thank you to Muzo for your support and also thank you to everyone who has supported me in the past, the DJs, the fans, the A&R people, the singers, everyone!