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TO LIST Danja’s production credits and accolades would require an entire page in itself. STARTING OFF As a TIMBALAND protégé, Danja, a.k.a. Danjahandz, went on to BECOME a Grammy-winning producer himself, creating number ONE hits for names like Britney Spears, Pink, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Duran Duran, Madonna, T.I., AND Trey Songz. Danja is NOMINATED for two Grammy awards in 2010, including Keri Hilson’s “Knock You Down” written by Danja’s artist Kevin Cossom. With a proven chemistry, Danja has clearly found his next New Age Rock Star in Kevin Cossom. What does it feel like to have worked with some of the greatest pop and R&B acts of our generation? Man, I don’t know. I never think about it. I feel like there’s still a lot more I can do. Working with those people is always great, and I worked with them pretty early in my career. I think I’m just so much more focused on breaking acts and bringing new, quality acts into the business. I never really think about who I’ve worked with up to this point. Speaking of breaking acts, you actually have your own label. What is your focus with that? The label is called N.A.R.S. Records, which is an abbreviation for New Age Rock Stars. It basically speaks for itself, just to bring in a new evolution of artists, a new age of acts from Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, whatever. And the first act that’s signed to the record label is Kevin Cossom, through Jive. Was the record label already formed when you met him, or did you create the label specifically with Kevin Cossom in mind? It kinda happened at the same time. It never really was a major goal or dream of mine to have a record label. As I started coming across acts I felt were special, KC was one of the first, and the business became legitimate, it became something I had to do. As my goals started changing in the business, it seemed right for me to start my own label if I was trying to break new acts. It kinda just happened because of Kevin Cossom. Do you feel it’s important for a new artist to work with a specific producer and come up with a signature sound? Or should they work with a lot of different producers until they
get the right record? I definitely feel like working with everybody is the wrong thing to do. Whether it’s me, or The Runners, or Swizz Beatz, or whoever it may be, an artist should definitely hone in and figure out a style and sound. An album will feel more cohesive, rather than it being all over the place. Working with a lot of different producers just creates confusion to me. Out of everyone you’ve worked with, who are the people you’ve vibed with the most, like there was a natural chemistry? Definitely KC (Kevin Cossom). Aside from him, I’m able to really open up and be creative with Britney Spears. I feel like that with Tip too, he’s real accepting and we click well. Justin Timberlake is another one. With sales shifting in the music industry from record sales to now ringtones, has it personally impacted you? How have you adapted to that? It’s a major issue. Kids really have to buy into an artist to buy their album. I’m grateful I’m in a position where people come to me for their single, so I’m not missing an opportunity to make money. If it’s a hit, I receive money for the publishing. Making money off record sales, that’s really not happening. But I like to work on whole projects. I like to get in and do five to six records on an album. You know, everyone goes to whoever has a hit at the moment, so artists are going to get records from everybody and aren’t really interested in an album. Luckily I’m one of those producers people come to for a single. For those interested in the technical side of things, what equipment and tools do you use to make instrumentals? I have maybe thirteen various keyboards. I use MPC and I use Logic. Inside my Logic I have loads of virtual instruments. I have a massive sound library. At the end of the day, you can’t tell that I use just one thing. What’s coming up for you in the near future? I went in with the Weezer band not too long ago. We did a couple crazy tracks. I got some new things with Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Kevin Cossom. It’s a lot of opportunities right now. I’m just trying to get in and knock it out. It feels like it’s not enough time in the day for all the stuff I have on one plate, but I’m making it happen. //
OZONE MAG // 23