DJ/Producer Clinton Sparks sits down with CraveOnline's Nash Herrington before his exclusive after-Grammy's party to talk about his work on Lady Gaga's Grammy-Nominated album.
Also, before you look at the full interview, be sure to check out this video from Clinton's after-Grammy's party at Drai's Hollywood. Is that Samuel L. Jackson doing the voiceover? I think it is…
(via Drai's Hollywood Vimeo page)
CraveOnline: So how was it at the Grammy's this year?
Clinton Sparks: The Grammy's were awesome. It was amazing to be a part of it, it was my first time being at the Grammy's, and my first nomination.
This nomination was for your work with Lady Gaga. What was it like working with an artist like Lady Gaga?
Yeah, I was one of the producers on her album. DJ Whiteshadow was working with her, who is a friend of mine, and when he got involved with the project he called me up and asked me to get involved and I worked on the music with him via iChat or passed things through E-mail. They would give me feedback so I'd send him back more stuff and then him and Gaga would take it from there, add a little magic to it, and then we got the songs.
I know Adele took home the award this year, but obviously the work you guys did on Gaga's album turned out pretty well for her.
Yeah, I think like 8 Million people liked it.
Ehh well that's a decent number, that's about the same number of people who follow my daily work.
Totally… wait, that's it? I thought it was more than that?
Well, that's an off day, maybe like a Monday afternoon.
Oh yeah, of course cool.
You've worked with a lot of different artists. When you collaborate is it more about you adapting yourself to what they do, or more about bringing what you do to them?
It's a little bit of both, but it's also about what feeling we're trying to get across. I think I think about it a little deeper than the average person would, you know most people are trying to get whats working NOW, like we need this radio song or we need this club record, but the thing that was exciting about working with Gaga was that I have a lot of extravagant big ideas that would probably go over the average artists head. And that's what excited me about working with Gaga, is because I know that she has big extravagant ideas as well and that she would probably get it. So when I started working on production for her I would think theatrically, and I would think about "how could she perform this", what the light show would be during the songs, and stuff like that as opposed to, "oh is this song going to get on the radio" or "are people going to dance to it in the club." You know, that wasn't really a concern, because Gaga's music is so awesome, it can just be a great song and it will live in both of those arenas anyway. So we just get to thing creatively and artistically working with her.
Is there an artist that you haven't had the opportunity to work with yet that you were really hoping to at some point in time?
Um no. And that's a common question that gets asked. I like everybody… (clears throat) Whoa, what just happened to my voice?
Uhh, something that has to do with puberty.
Oh is that what it is? (sung)When it's time to change… You know what I'm talkin' about?
I honestly have no idea…
Brady Bunch, get familiar! What was the question again?
Who haven't you worked with yet that you want to?
No, there isn't really anyone that I'm sittin' here thinking, "oh, I really want to work with that person". I'm always just excited about every opportunity that comes my way. Of course when I sit here and I make music I say "Ahh, man…" Wait, I take that back, yeah I'd love to work with Coldplay, and U2. Meaning the the band U2, not… Nathan…
Oh wow… My name is Nash…
But I'm gonna call you Nathan on this show.
Alright, ok that's fine.
Hey, I'm stickin' to it.
I mean, if you want to work with me sometime that's cool.
Only if we can talk about Balls.
We CAN talk about Balls.
(Awkward Silence)
The show, the show Balls.
Yes, the show Balls.
I think we're confusing people a lot.
Yeah, the show that's on our Web site.
Yes, the awesome show, Balls.
Clinton, thank you so much for your time tonight, definitely looking forward to the music you have coming up.
Is this the stuff that you guys CRAVE?
Yes it is.
Well, I'm bringing it, CRAVE no more.
