Q&A: Get Up Close and Personal with HEX HECTOR

One of the reasons MUZOPHILE even exists is because of this man right here: Hex Hector. Over the years, if I could count the hours I’ve spent listening to his stuff and dancing to his beats….well, it’s a lot of hours. My addiction to club music began in my teens – then in my 20s, this man was on the mixmaking front line – and he hasn’t slowed up!

The first time I realized in black and white how much I really was a fan of his work was last year when I did the MUZOPHILE Decade Collection: 100 Greatest Club Hits of the 2000s. Once it was finished, I tallied up which remixer appeared the most, and it was Hex.

Hex, very grateful for you and your work – and big thanks to mah boi Mikey for taking the time to talk with the mixmaster. Lets see what up:

Hex, thanks so much for talking to me! How’d you originally get started spinning records?

Watching my late uncle Joey spinning records in his bedroom in the late 70′s.

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Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart” was the point in your career that many people started to take notice of the legend that would one day be Hex Hector! How did it feel to become such a major player in the remix world so suddenly?

At that point, I had been spinning records for over 16 years. It really did not seem so sudden to me. LOL. I have to say, I never noticed I was a major player at any point in my career. I worked so hard that it never really sunk in.

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While Deborah Cox was a successful R&B singer, you literally transformed her into a major gay/dance floor icon with your mixes of “It’s Over Now” and “Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here.” How does it feel to have made such an impact on one person’s career?

I loved working with Deborah! We always had fun in the studio re-cutting vocals and goofing around. The woman is a major talent and the sweetest thing you’d ever met; We definitely had musical chemistry!  I got her and she got me. I guess that was the secret our success.

Muzo Note: Hex’s mix of Deborah Cox’s ‘Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here‘ is – dare I say!? – arguably the greatest club remix of all time – just sayin’!

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From Anastacia (“One Day In Your Life”) to Kina (“Girl From The Gutter”), you’ve taken smaller-known artists and turned them into dance floor legends. How do you choose the artists that you decide to work with?

9 times out of 10 the artist and/or the record labels chose me. I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked with some crazy talented people. There were some clunkers though.

Muzo Note: A personal Hex addiction of mine: Anastacia’s ‘I’m Outta Love’

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Some of your biggest hits were as part of “HQ2″ with Mac Quayle. How did the partnership come about?

Jellybean Benitez introduced me to Mac a few years before we became partners. It was during that one session when I knew that I’d be doing great things with this dude. Turns out I was right!  Mac is one of the most talented keyboard players and engineers I’ve ever worked with.

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Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston-you have worked with some legendary names! Who is on Hex Hector’s “wish list” to remix?

I’m pretty much done with the remixing game. How much further can I go with it? I think I’ve taken it as far as it can go for me, personally.

Muzo Note: While that literally breaks my heart, passion is passion – one of my personal mantras is to really embrace something you love while you have it…you never know when it’s gonna be gone…and that is the absolute truth. I miss U already. Oh the hell with that, NO!!!! You can’t stop! lol

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You seem to have done it all & worked with everyone. What possibly could be next for Hex Hector? Any top-secret mixes coming up that you can give us a hint on?

I’ve just scored my first film. It’s called “GWB” That is my primary focus today. I’ve moved to Los Angeles to pursue my dream of becoming a composer. That’s where my head is at. I’m still not done with House Music. Not by a long shot. I just dropped a mix CD on Nervous Called “Allura” It’s a sexy, chill and soulful set. Something you can groove to at home or in the car. It’s on iTunes and Amazon. (Muzo Note: Hey guys, U can preview the album at either of those links.)

I’m also working with some talented new singers on new music strictly for the dancefloor! No crossover radio garbage! Deep, dirty-ass House Music!

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Muzo Note: Man, it’s not often I get starstruck, but wow – big love to you, Hex!  I know you’ve heard it a million times, but truly, thank you for all you’ve done for our dance community – and best to you on your future ventures. Without you, there prob would’ve never been a Muzo, so big thx!!

And with that said…I’ve already included some links above to my personal Hex faves, but this one right here  - well, it’s my personal topper…

Lets just say…right when the remix in this vid below was about to blow up in the early 2000s, I remember walking down Santa Monica Blvd. in WeHo with my friends saying to them, ‘ There’s this new mix you HAVE to hear…oh wait! Listen! That song playing in Micky’s, that’s it, that’s the song I’m talking about!’ …Kept on walking… ‘Oh wait, Rage is playing it, too!’ …Kept walking, ‘Holy shit, Perfect Beat [RIP] is playing it, too!’ …Crossed the street, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if Abbey was playing….holy shit!’ You get the drift lol!