RS So "Can't Get Enough" is almost like your greatest hits.
Stonebridge: It is, and I think it was a good idea to use different singers because it keeps the thing varied. I sometimes find that albums with the same singer, it's very hard to vary the thing, you know, it kind of sounds the same.
RS We've talked about DaYeene; you remixed And It Hurts. How did you get involved with that song?
Stonebridge: Acutely DaYeene, it's my girlfriend and her sister, and that's how we met. I recorded albums for them in the early 90s and, you know, us tired and sad studio guys, we don't meet a lot of people, so I met her and then we fell in love and we've been working on and off all the time, and she helps me with backing vocals sometimes and she does a bit of writing. But I felt that I wanted them on the album, so they're singing on two tracks.
RS How involved are you with the remixes in a project?
Stonebridge: When we started I was very involved, but then I realized that it's got to be the label that does it, you know, because they have the plan and they're going to release the single, they know their market better.
RS I know when I got the third CD single with the Sharp Mix and the Dancing Divas, it was like, wow, this is completely different…
Stonebridge: Yes.
RS How important do you think it is for DJs to do production and for producers to be DJs?
Stonebridge: I think that if you're doing dance stuff, you need to DJ, it's very important. I messed up there, I did Robin S and I got offers from everywhere, the phone was off the hook and I decided I didn't need to DJ now, I'm too busy with remixes. So I remixed back-to-back for about five years, just remix after remix after remix. And when I came out of the dungeon I had a gig actually, I accepted a gig at Ministry of Sound in London, and I brought my own mixes, played a few things and it didn't work, you know, it was too soft, too mellow, no energy, and I realized, oh dear, I've been away. So I went back heavily into DJing, maybe overdid it a little bit then. Now I have a perfect balance, I think thirty-three percent remixing, thirty-three percent production and thirty-three percent DJing, that's the perfect balance for me.
RS Sleep?
Stonebridge: No sleep. I wish I had two days every day actually.
RS Who would you like to remix that you have not remixed?
Stonebridge: Madonna used to be on my list but she doesn't feel that relevant anymore for some reason, you know. And if Michael Jackson would have done a good record, I would have loved to do one of those. But it's the same thing, it's kind of mid-90s wishes.
RS I heard you just signed with Ultra for the US.
Stonebridge: That's right.
RS What made you choose them as your US label?
Stonebridge: It was actually this girl, Karry Miller, who is the Licensing Manager at Hed Kandi. She's been very good, she hasn't signed any deals with people who are not interested in the album, because we've got to push the album here. We wanted a label that could release the album because we think it's important, especially in America, it's a big country and there's a lot of radio records on there.
RS Are you planning to come over to the US touring?
Stonebridge: Absolutely. My kids, they love New York, so we can't wait. It does take a long time in America to break a record. It can be as soon as January, but it could well be March, so it might coincide with Miami and maybe I'll do a week before and a week after in America.
RS Very cool. I've got to ask you about an old record you did, one of my old-time favorite songs, Rob 'n Raz featuring Leila K – Got To Get.
Stonebridge: Oh, you like that mix?
RS It's one of my favorite all-time records. What was your situation with that record?
Stonebridge: That was back in the day when we were confused kids, you know, making records, and they had a deal with Arista all of a sudden, wow, what's going on here. Because Arista in the UK, they were looking at Sweden and they were out there every week, you know, checking out talent. I did the thing in a day or something. Everything was very easy then, you know, no deals, no big checks, it was just a couple of guys running around, do you want to do a mix? I remember that mix, I really like it as well.
RS Is there anything you want to say to your fans and people out there?
Stonebridge: Hang in there, you know, I'm coming soon.
