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Finding Love in Stereo 'Right Here' with Carmen Reece
by Troy Rogers
Riding high on the charts with her debut single,
"Right Here" at #3 on the Billboard Top 40 Dance
Chart and #10 on the Billboard Club Chart, London
singer, songwriter Carmen Reese has moved to Los
Angeles to take her career to even bigger heights
with top selling producer Mark J. Feist who has
worked with everyone from the legendary Patti
LaBelle, Wyclef Jean, Mya and Joss Stone to John
Legend, Beyonce and Celine Dion. Now Feist has
taken Carmen Reece under his studio wing to help
Reese realize her true potential as a raw talent
while perfecting the upcoming Carmen Reece debut
album, "Love in Stereo."
With "Right Here" still burning up the Billboard charts, we scored some exclusive one-on-one time with the beautifully awesome and vocally sexy Carmen Reece to get the score on coming to America, the success of "Right Here," working with Mark J. Feist, her upcoming tour, and when fans can expect "Love in Stereo".
THE DEADBOLT: How did you get hooked up with Mark Feist?
CARMEN REECE: We actually met about three or four years ago. I came out to L.A. with a company at that time to write for a couple of weeks with a couple of songwriting producers, with Mark being one of them. We did a couple of days and it was really great. It was just last year that we reconnected on Myspace, actually, and he flew me out to L.A. to do some demo work. I took my computer with me because I've got studio stuff at home and I've got some stuff on there that I wanted to show someone and wait for the right person. I did and he was like, "Wow, let's not do the demo sessions. Let's start working together." It was pretty unexpected and amazing at the same time.
THE DEADBOLT: Since you first met Mark, what have you learned about studio recording, or are you still learning?
 REECE:
I mean, I think I'll continue to learn always.
But I had a pretty good experience back in England,
because I've been writing and recording a lot,
and I've got myself to a point where I've been
recording stuff. When I met Mark, that was one
of the things that I think he was impressed
by: what I've done on my own [laughs]. But I
continue to learn new techniques and I'd never
say that I'll stop learning ever.
THE DEADBOLT: When you were working on "Right Here," did you guys know you had a hit on your hands?
REECE: Well, it was incredible because we both worked on it in London. Mark flew over and went to a friend of mine, an amazing songwriter, Wayne Hecter. He's had success with Pussycat Dolls and he's written for Britney and a lot of others. When we started writing that, it was really an amazing process. We all literally did like a party and we all looked at each other like, "Okay, this is it, this is the first one." It was instant. We knew straight away, which is great.
THE DEADBOLT: So what's it like hearing yourself on the radio for the first time?
REECE: It's crazy. It's an amazing feeling. You can't describe it, to put into words. It doesn't seem real. I've wanted it for so long and I've really waited for the moment and to be making music that I always wanted and working with Mark. It's all come together and I'm so grateful for everything. So to hear it on the radio is just so exciting.
THE DEADBOLT: What's the biggest difference to building your career in the U.K. as compared to the U.S.?
 REECE:
I don't know. I mean, I've kind of moved out
to L.A. and I'm living here now, and luckily
I've come straight into working with Mark. It's
all happening really fast and it's been really
positive. I was finding myself as an artist
and learning and perfecting my craft and I've
had the opportunity to work with a lot of talented
producers. It's different for everyone, I suppose,
and I had a great start there. But I feel this
is for me and coming over to the U.S. is great.
I can't wait to share my music with everyone
over here and hopefully that will trickle back
to England, too. That would be great.
THE DEADBOLT: "Right Here" is a great track, but what's the rest of "Love in Stereo" like?
REECE: It's very song based. I always believe in being able to strip every song down to just a piano and it still comes across as strong as when the drums are in or the strings are in, or anything. It takes you on a journey and it's very heartfelt. I hope that I give hope to people or it affects them in a positive way; make them laugh, cry. I really do feel the music and I hope that people feel it as I do.
THE DEADBOLT: When will we get our hands on the album?
REECE: We haven't got a release date just yet. But with the success of "Right Here" on the Billboard charts at the moment, we're planning on trying to get it out so it fits in well with what's going on at the moment. So it shouldn't be too long. The album is actually finished and Mark is just fixing some things. So watch MySpace, it shouldn't be long. I can't wait to hear the finished product, too. So trust me, I'm going to be pushing that one [laughs].
THE DEADBOLT: How is the current radio tour going, and what are your touring plans after the album comes out?
 REECE:
The tour, what we've been doing has been great.
I'm really enjoying seeing America and meeting
new people and performing in front of crowds.
It's a really good learning experience. My next
performance is actually in New Jersey opening
up for Pitbull. So we're preparing for that
and I can't wait. Then from there we release
the next single, then the album, and I'm looking
forward to touring.
THE DEADBOLT: How much of an advantage was it for you to attend performing art school?
REECE: For me that time was the best time ever, because I'd come out of a young girl's school and I was doing certain subjects you have to do and I didn't want to do that. I knew what I wanted to do. So it was harder for me to focus on like an English essay or science experiments, I just wanted to sing and write. So going to that school where the moment you walk in you get to play music until the moment you go home, and to be surrounded by students that are all so passionate about music and so talented, I was just in dreamland. I can't believe I couldn't stay there for longer, it was the best experience ever.
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