RS: What software do you use in the studio?
Mike Rizzo: We've been using Logic 8 and the Vanguard and Virus synths a lot,
still going back to the Juno stuff. I like the vintage software and
vintage synths, but kind of that's pretty much it.
RS: So I hear you're working with Miss US of A?
Mike Rizzo: Actually it's Sallie Toussaint, formerly Miss
Connecticut. We just did a record with her on NY2LondonEntertainment.
It's our own little label with Gary Salzman and Joe Koppie from Big
Management. We branded our own label and had a couple of releases –
Klubjumpers featuring Sharon T "He Told Me He Loved Me" and Dor Dekel
"Boys of Freedom." You wouldn't think some of these records would do
well and all of a sudden we do a simplistic record like "Boys of
Freedom" and its out there doing well right now. "Uncomplicated" is
the title of the Sallie Toussaint record and we're looking forward to
a September first release on that.
RS: And you also did a project with Lindsay Lohan?
Mike Rizzo: Yes, for Universal. Actually Gary Marella, Senior VP
of Universal is still undecided about the single on the album, but
Stargate and Ne-Yo co-wrote the song together for Lindsay. I liked
it, I heard it in his office, I'm like why don't we just put this out
for now and see how it does. We've got some cool mixes done for it
right now and we're hoping we do well with Billboard and we're going
to exploit that right now at the DJ Times Convention. We're not sure
it's the first single but we want to make some noise with Lindsay on
this.
RS: You say we're not sure, so are you A&R on this project or
what's your involvement with this?
Mike Rizzo: No, actually let me clarify, they're not sure. Because
again Gary just asked for my help, of course Sylvia Rhone over at
Universal Motown is the A&R executive over there. They just kind of
asked for my help on it, who's hot right now? They wear so many hats
over there they don't have time to look at who's hot in the remix game
right now. So I just gave her a couple of recommendations. We tried
to be diverse with the remixes with Soul Shakers from the UK, Josh
Harris who again is very talented, Escape and Capello, hopefully that
will do well with the tribal and circuit scene and Mr. Mig and I did a
mix.
