CJ: THE INTERVIEW

Clare Din has a myriad of aliases, including CJ,  BKLYN SLICE, Gorgeous Girl, Divinity Lee, Talisman, and UDM. She has television and commercial credits and was one of MP3.com's most popular artists. Her fusion of trance, techno, and house music embodies the spirit of clubland. This exclusive interview with Clare captures the essence of her work ethic and her never-ending desire to be the best artist that she can be.

How did you get started in music?

When I was four, my father gave me his old Honeytone portable reel to reel recorder that I used to record my own original songs. Like many elementary school kids, I learned how to play and sing music. I listened to a lot of music growing up, everything from classical to rock, country to pop. My mother loved Elvis. My two younger brothers both learned sax and my mother sang Chinese opera and recorded a number of songs, so I came from a very musical family. I auditioned and joined a number of bands as a vocalist and even got booted off of one for being too much like Madonna.

When did you first start writing dance music?

I studied electronic music in college. In 1988, I helped set up the first electronic music lab in the New England area, beating even the Berklee College of Music with that accomplishment! My friends and I composed music in that lab day and night. A few of us were really interested in Ray Lynch, Barbara Dennerlein, and synth bands like Erasure, Depeche Mode, and New Order. Many of the songs I record today have been lurking in the back of my mind for years.

How long does it take you to write a song?

Vince Clarke once said, "a song can be created in 20 minutes." It's what you do in the next three or four hours that can mean the difference between a keeper and a throwaway. Some people have a knack for writing and producing songs quickly. In the end, a song should never be judged by the time it took to produce, but by the quality of it. If a song came from your heart and you gave it your best effort, people will hear it in your work whether it took you 20 minutes or 20 years.

Do you use samples in your music? Do you believe in sampling?

When there's a great vocal hook or clip, you'd be out of your mind not to use it, but in terms of beat loops, you can only get so far with samples. By creating your own, you have absolute control over every inch of the production. With samples, you can add, but not cut out portions easily. Any production where you use self-crafted beat loops will sound cleaner than one with samples.

Do you perform live?

Yes, I DJ for shows and parties. Music producers makes great DJs.

How did you come about producing your song, Techno World?

My goal was to produce a techno anthem. Techno World underwent about two dozen revisions before it was released. I concentrated heavily on buildups and breakdowns, which good anthems have. When I thought about Techno World as a song title, I felt that it embodied everything the song was about.

Tell us about some of the production that went into Techno World.

It took about a day and a half to get the initial melodies and sounds right and several days to tweak all the parts to create a good story that a listener can follow. Songs tell stories, but anthems tell awesome stories, so in order to create a great story, I had to get down to the tick level and adjust notes to fall exactly in the right place. How certain notes fall and where they fall can create such dramatic effects in the listener's mind. A song can be mellow and slow, but an anthem has to be upbeat and fast. Techno World developed on its own over time and became its own force of nature.

What's it like to get your music heard on MTV's "The Osbournes"?

It was a dream come true. My song "Planet Rave" was used in season one, episode four of The Osbournes. Getting your music heard by millions of people is always exciting.

Why did you choose the name "Gorgeous Girl"?

Years ago, a producer friend called me that, so the name kind of stuck. It's a little embarrassing, actually, as I always have to put my best face forward. While not everyone may agree that I'm gorgeous, I feel that the name gives me a high standard that I have to live by. Like anything in life, if you set lofty goals for yourself and work hard every day, you will be successful. People cannot fault you for putting out your best effort. I'd like to think of Gorgeous Girl as a concept and not just an artist name. These days I go by "CJ" which is short for Clare Jasmine. When I'm editing and remixing, I call myself BKLYN SLICE.

How did you come up with your image?

I figured that a "gorgeous girl" had better look pretty gorgeous, so that's where my side job as a makeup artist came into play. I do a lot of dramatic makeup for men and women. I wanted to create a larger-than-life image for Gorgeous Girl, yet I still wanted to remain true to my music. People like to associate a face with a song. It adds a personal touch to the musical experience.

How do you see your image developing over time?

Unlike most pop stars, I'm not a singer or a dancer. I'm the woman behind the controls making the music. DJs and dance music producers are now placed in the same high regard as pop stars. Producers like Tiesto and Paul Oakenfeld can play in a club or a stadium and draw tens of thousands of people. I aspire to be like them.

Who was involved in producing your albums?

I produced everything you see and hear on all six CDs, except for the fantasy art cover on Wild Ride. I subcontracted the work out to Dan Burke, a graphic artist who has worked for NVIDIA and Blizzard Entertainment. He does fantastic work. Nowadays, indie artists have to get involved with all aspects of album production, from writing and producing songs to album cover artwork. Thankfully, I had a head start in all of this. I've been producing singles and albums on a mass scale (1,000 copies or more) since 1993. Check out Wild Ride Limited Edition, published right here on Catwalk Records.

What advice can you give to artists who are just starting in the music business?

If you stick with your vision and write good music, you will eventually be heard and your fan base will grow. Promotion is every bit as important as your music. Without promotion, you may be super-talented, but may never get heard.

Any closing remarks?

Don't be afraid to be different. If everyone wanted to make music "just like Madonna" or "just like the Chemical Brothers," the world would be so boring! Don't be afraid to integrate your own unique experiences into your music. When you can do that successfully, you will have elevated yourself to the status of an artist rather than a copycat.

Thanks, CJ! You're an awesome person and an inspiration to us all.

You're very welcome and thank you!