We caught up with Remy R.E.D in this exclusive interview about his new Single, and what inspired him to add a cultural Indian touch to it.
Watch Hookup by Remy R.E.D Official Video
What is your single “Hookup” about?
Remy R.E.D – It’s a story about a girl who likes to go out, party and travel around the world, but says she wants love. And a guy who would gladly give her all of his love, and the world, but just can’t afford the latter.
Who came up with the concept for the song?
Remy R.E.D – My friend Arcade Jackson; who’s a phenomenal singer/songwriter was the first artist on this song. A very talented producer friend of mine known as DJ Nicar had given me a few beats he produced, and there was one I really liked, which I played for Arcade Jackson at my studio. He wrote his part of the chorus and recorded it, and from there I spent a few months creating a story around it.
What inspired you to highlight India in your song and music video?
Remy R.E.D – I have many Indian friends and supporters. I like to write songs that are somehow related to my real life. I mention the Taj Mahal as one of the places the character I play would like to take his girlfriend to, because it’s such a beautiful and captivating place. I’ve always wanted to travel also, and India would definitely be in the top 10 places to visit.
What can you tell us about the Indian scene and dancer in your video?
Remy R.E.D – We actually built/created our sets in California. I, and my director Anthony Lew decided to just find a fitting location which already had some vibrant traditional Indian colors, like gold and vintage red. And luckily we found one. Special thanks to my friends at SAVOR – Contemporary Indian Restaurant and Bar in Livermore California for allowing us to utilize their location for that scene.
Our dancer is California based Indian Model/Dancer Mitsu, who has extensive experience in Bollywood fusion dance, as well as traditional Indian style dance. Our sets were totally reliant on our talents, being that each was a representation of a different place around the world. And as far as attire and traditional Indian vibes, Mitsu delivered. Special thanks to her for being a part of our production. Special thanks to Anthony Lew for directing and shooting the video, and Juan Del Rio for assisting in shooting the video also.
Compared to other songs and productions you’ve worked on, what would you say was different about “Hookup”?
Remy R.E.D – For most of my career I’ve worked with other artists, and the majority of my work was collaborative. “Hookup” really started when I heard DJ Nicar’s beat, which is nothing like other beats I’ve worked on. Although Arcade Jackson was the first artist on this song and really set the topic boundaries, I was in complete control of what the story surrounding his chorus would be about in detail. I feel like I was free to take this song in any direction I wanted. I also really enjoyed working on this uptempo club/Afrobeat style production. This was my first, but hopefully won’t be my last. Special thanks to DJ Nicar for the inspiration, and Arcade Jackson for helping give birth to this song.
What can we expect from Remy R.E.D in the near future?
Remy R.E.D – I’m currently working on a follow-up single/music video, and several other songs for my last album. I would like to experiment more with production in the same genre as “Hookup”. I feel like it’s just a phase in my career, but I like it, and want it to last a little longer.
Lastly, anything you would like to say to your viewers, supporters, and fans?
Remy R.E.D – First I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to share more about my new Single/Music Video with your audience. I also like to thank 24Hip-Hop for featuring me on their platform and amplifying my reach. And to everyone watching from India, thank you. I hope we represented you well.
You can find the latest from Remy R.E.D on his official website www.remyred.com
