Jared Lee Gosselin: Humble Beginnings with Proof, Macy Gray, and Keyshia Cole

  These days,

it seems as if producers want to be everywhere but behind the boards,

but not Jared Lee Gosselin. All he wants to do is make dope music and

by touting production work with Proof, Macy Gray, Joell Ortiz, and Chino XL it looks like he’s doing just that. He’s also put

in work for the soundtracks to Deja Vu starring Denzel Washington and

Shrek 3. With a production company and a new studio in Los Angeles,  Jared strives to make  music that stands the test of time. Functioning as a producer,

mixer, engineer, and DJ you can be sure he’s putting in more work

than your favorite producer. Just because you haven’t seen him dancing

in a video doesn’t mean he’s not here in full effect. Peep the interview! 

AllHipHop.com: Now, Jared,

you’re a renaissance man. You’re an engineer, a producer, and a

cat that could pretty much get anything done in a music studio. Is that

something that’s lacking amongst producers? 

Jared: Yeah man. I mean you

hear everybody running around saying they’re a producer. Just because

you make a beat doesn’t mean you made a record. I think you need to

be an engineer and really be aware of the sound of your product. 

AllHipHop.com: You attended

school in Detroit for audio engineering? Did you learn a lot there? 

Jared: I learned signal flow

and a lot of basic stuff. A lot of the things I know I learned from

experience, like ProTools. I learned ProTools from using it so much

for so long. Everybody has a different formula to how they learn. 

AllHipHop.com: New technology

is popping up everyday in music? In your opinion how does it affect

the music? 

Jared: A lot of producers are

still using ASR-10s and the MPC and on the other hand a lot of producers

are using nothing but computers. I love the old drum machines and all

that. But everything is getting louder and cleaner. 

AllHipHop.com: What are some

of your most memorable experiences in the studio? 

Jared: I would have to say

Proof. I mean with Proof it was more than just recording, it was like

a spiritual thing. It was like I was getting to know him and know myself.

It was almost like going to church. 

AllHipHop.com: Were you and Proof  real close? How hard did his death hit you? 

Jared: Oh man, it hit me hard.

It still hits me sometimes like I’ll just think about it. He did so

much for so many people. All I can do is keep moving forward. 

AllHipHop.com: A lot of people

don’t realize Proof’s abilities. From somebody who worked with him

so much, school the fans a little bit on Proof’s skills. 

Jared: He was one of the illest

out of Detroit. I mean just walking with him, it was a constant freestyle.

He was one of the illest. 

AllHipHop.com: You’ve been

involved in the music for so many major movies. How is that different

from just making music in the studio for an artist? 

Jared:  Basically it’s

just more people telling you what to do. (Laughs) Movie producers and

everybody just telling you specifically what they want. Like this has

to fit here or this has to match that. 

AllHipHop.com: You started

in music at a real young age. When did you really get it poppin’? 

Jared: I would say I really,

really got into it at 16 when I got into deejaying. And when I was younger

I played guitar in school and singing in church and everything.  

AllHipHop.com: Your music

is diverse. Do you show any favoritism to one type? 

Jared: I love R&B. I love

rap. Right now, I’m actually looking for rock bands to sign. I’m really

excited about that.  

AllHipHop.com: You have all

the qualities to be the next “Super Producer.” Any thoughts on that?  

Jared: I’m excited man. I just wanna

work. I feel blessed and I want to keep other people working. I want

to create opportunities for other people to work.  

AllHipHop.com: Do you have

a wish list of people you want to work with? 

Jared: Number one is Sade.

I would like to work with Busta [Rhymes],  Dr.Dre and Rick Rubin. I guess those are the main

ones. I would like to work with Usher also.  

AllHipHop.com: One of the things

I love about the music that comes out of Detroit is that it can’t

be pigeonholed. People tend to classify records. They label it a West Coast record, or an East Coast, or down South record. How do you guys stay

neutral? 

Jared: If you listen you’ll

notice that the East Coast samples a lot of Motown stuff. The West Coast

samples a lot of George Clinton type stuff. In Detroit we just have

a lot of different sounds. We have so much untapped talent out here. 

AllHipHop.com: So what’s

your situation? Do you have your own label? 

Jared:  I have production

companies and I got a studio in L.A. I just want a full-fledged production

company. I have an artist in Detroit right now named Brilliance who’s

getting some spins. I don’t really want to run a label. 

AllHipHop.com: That’s interesting

because I hear you were an integral part of running Proof’s label. 

Jared: Basically at first it

was just Proof and me. I was in charge of engineering and music. I was

bringing people into the studio. I was making sure Proof was doing his

thing. I was never running the label or nothing though.  

AllHipHop.com: It’s no secret

that you’re trying to bring back that Motown vibe.  

Jared: Absolutely. I just want

a good team and bigger production. I want to sign that rock band. And

I really wanna take it outside of the box a little. 

AllHipHop.com: In today’s

music market we have producers that are bigger than artists? Do you

want to be that visible?  

Jared: Nah. I want to live

a regular life. I have a daughter and I want to be able to do regular

things. I know people who cant go to the store and stuff. I don’t

want that. I just want my music to be out there.  

AllHipHop.com: What is your

ultimate goal in music? 

Jared: I just want to make

timeless music. I want kids to be listening in 20 or 30 years. I want

to make my mark on society. 

AllHipHop.com: How important

is the DJ to a producer? 

Jared: Real important. The

DJs know what’s hot. I mean you have people who are sampling stuff

and don’t know what it is. There are some DJs that are still digging

in the crates. 

AllHipHop.com: So what’s

coming out in the future? 

Jared: I’ve been working with

Steph Jones from DTP, Joel Ortiz, Keyshia Cole, Nicole from the Pussycat

Dolls, Frank Zappa’s son on some movie stuff but we’re talking about

doing a rock solo album. Also some writing for Jennifer Hudson, and

Jordan [Sparks] from American Idol. I’m also looking for hot artists. 

AllHipHop.com: Anything you

want to say to your fans? 

Jared: Stay positive. God is

everywhere around you. And my fans can check me at www.jaredleegosselin.com.

There’s links on there. Look out for Brilliance and Macy Gray’s

album (Big), which is in stores now.