RS: So at this point you left The Passengerz and did you also quit working with Mike Rizzo about this time?
Josh: Yes, I just sort of took a big step and decided I don’t really want to remix anymore. You have to understand that I was doing all the engineering. So, when you're engineering two records a week sometimes over the course of like six weeks, you get very tired and it becomes a task and you don’t get a chance to really step back and enjoy the music because it’s all about staying on schedule. That’s just the way it is, you have to multitask in this business and I got very burned out and tired. I just really wanted to work on the kind of music I wanted to work on, I guess that’s the best way to put it.

RS: Which is…?
Josh: Which is really getting back to doing more pop and rock music. I really enjoy remixing occasionally, but my sound as a remixer is not what The Passengerz sound is. My sound is more of a commercial soulful house vibe, that’s really what I like because I get to be musical and play lot of parts, guitar and so on. I’m getting back to pop songwriting. I am doing remixing but focusing more on doing pop remixes or remixes that are solely geared for radio. Not rhythm mixes but pop mixes, like mixes that might be at the same tempo as the original that, but slightly different than the original and gain some more spins in different markets and hopefully translate into more CD single sales.

RS: Right now, in addition to what you're doing with the original music, you're still remixing. I’ve seen where you've done a track with Joe Bermudez, and so you're still doing projects here and there with other people?
Josh: Yes, I am. It’s basically a situation where I have to feel like I’m into the song and into the project. That kind of stuff is hit or miss. I’ve been in New York a little over three years and this is year number one of me being able to work on dong my own thing and growing my own production company and just doing what makes me happy. I’ve always enjoyed doing pop and commercial music, and I do believe that there is a way to incorporate what I have learned as a remixer into that. I don’t see a lot of people doing it and I think that it’s going to be the next thing in remixing. With vinyl and sales being what they are, the labels are very interested in getting market share on radio stations and so I think they're going to start turning to guys that can produce in more of a pop style. When Paul Oakenfold did that Justin Timberlake remix of “Rock Your Body,” I was very excited. I thought that was one of the best remixes I’ve heard in a long time simply because it was a really great old school sort of approach on a current song. It was sort of like mixing recurrent music with current music.

RS: OK, I hear what you're saying. So not putting everything at 130 beats per minute because that’s what the clubs want. You are also remixing under your own name, Josh Harris.
Josh: I did felt like it was time to be out there by myself and you're going to see some things come out soon. I did a pop mix of “Push” by Ghostface and Missy Elliot which is around 112 or 115. I also did an old school disco mix on Patti Labelle.

Continue to part 2 of the Josh Harris Interview by clicking here.