by Ruslan Batykov

Interview — C&C Music Factory  

[7M] Robert, your creative life is many-sided and interesting due to a great variety of different projects you have. Could you single out some projects and say what makes them so important for you?

Robert, your creative life is many-sided and interesting due to a great variety of different projects you have. Could you single out some projects and say what makes them so important for you? Clivilles Reply: Gonna make you Sweat (C&C) because it was a song & DJ command anthem that I created by myself as an individual within the Clivilles & Cole partnership. Robi-robs Boriqua Anthem (C&C) another song that I created by myself as an individual within the Clivilles & Cole partnership that represented my Latin heritage. Pride a deeper love C&C feat Debra Cooper & also Aretha Franklin) — a song both david and I worked on together that represented our positive view and message.

Do you wanna get funky (C&C) and Let the beat Hit’em (lisa lisa) two other songs I started within the partnership and brought to David to work on after I created the grooves to write with me, these 2 represented my urban background growing up. Emotions and Make it happen also were 2 music grooves I started and brought to David and Mariah to write lyrics on and were fun, because they were going to become Mariah’s very first upbeat songs. I’m every woman simply because it was Whitney and I was able to come up with the ballad intro on my own to make it different than the original. Notice me — «the House version» because it reminded me of the Paradise garage, David, Sandee and I had fun with this one. Do it properly (2 puerto ricans, a black man and a dominican) because I had an idea to make a DJ medley and I was able to put a few of my friends together, help them and have some fun and it worked Jump Back (Dhar Braxton) This was a few years before I met David Cole, I knew I could make hit records and the producer and songwriter John Fair took a shot on me and I hit a home run. Your my one and only (Seduction) because it was the first full lyric song I was able to write all by myself. A lot of fans or music industry people don’t really know that I worked on or came up with some these songs by myself as an individual within my C&C partnership and then I brought David in to help on some, that is why some of these are so special to me.

[7M] Hit of the 90s «Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)» made by project «C+C music Factory» has become very famous in Russia and can be called the visiting card of the project. And up to now there are a lot of fans of this work, leaving aside different remixes, bootlegs, mashups, etc. The first track of the first album took the first place at Billboard’s Hot 100. Is it possible to name definite “factors of success” and does fame have any rates?

C&C Music Factory —  Hit of the 90s «Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)» made by project «C+C music Factory» has become very famous in Russia and can be called the visiting card of the project. And up to now there are a lot of fans of this work, leaving aside different remixes, bootlegs, mashups, etc. The first track of the first album took the first place at Billboard’s Hot 100. Is it possible to name definite “factors of success” and does fame have any rates? Clivilles Reply: The factors of success regarding Gonna Make you Sweat is that the song was simple, yet powerful, energetic and fun but unique, and the Lyrics of the song defined my life as a D.J.

Where ever I played, I wanted the Dance floor to go crazy from beginning to end I was blessed to have made the World all dance together as One with Gonna make you Sweat, and keep dancing to this song up to now 22 years later. A secret only a few know is that David Cole really never liked the song, when I first created it and played it for him, I asked him what did he think? And he told me, it okay, not really my style,but it sounds like a song that was made to be a hit, and I looked at him and said, yes I made it because I wanted to make a great song and also for it to be a hit, ha ha ha. And then I told him smile because this record is going to change our lives. And he said really? you think so? ok??? And the rest was history. Success bring financial rewards, but happiness is for the one that keeps life in balance with a simple eye on things like keeping God «Jehovah»& Family first always.

[7M] How has your life changed after you became popular? Were there any changes in your social environment, among your friends and colleagues? Have you changed your attitude to life and its value?

C&C Music Factory —  How has your life changed after you became popular? Were there any changes in your social environment, among your friends and colleagues? Have you changed your attitude to life and its value? Clivilles Reply: At first I was young and had a long party that lasted a few years, ha ha ha.. But as an individual I never changed, the person who I was poor, I was rich, always helped those around me.

I was a demanding boss, but I was a loyal boss and gave opportunities to everyone. I also helped fellow DJ’s such as Little Louie Vega, David Morales, Harry Cho-Cho, Hex Hector and many others start off their studio careers, I always made myself available to help, encourage and share the knowledge with all my colleagues and people around the world who inbox me on Face book now. I always kept the popularity out the door, because I knew one day it would end, so there was no need to develop a habit and addiction for it. My environment is simple, I am a Baptized Christian Jehovah’s Witness along with my wife and kids. My values are Jehovah our Creator first, Family, Fun living, then Music

[7M] “Rolling Stone” Magazine in its issue of 7th November, 2013 published an article named “20 artists who stayed in the 1990s forever “. The article rates project «C+C music Factory» to be the ninth in the list. Is it pity for you to realize that it is impossible to return to the glory of the 90s?

C&C Music Factory —  «Rolling Stone» Magazine in its issue of 7th November, 2013 published an article named “20 artists who stayed in the 1990s forever “. The article rates project «C+C music Factory» to be the ninth in the list. Is it pity for you to realize that it is impossible to return to the glory of the 90s? Clivilles Reply: We should have been number one, ha ha ha, we ruled 89, 90, 91, 92, 93 and 94.

It’s not a pity, it could be like the 90’s again if radio and record companies allowed it. If one of the Major labels would hire me as their president and let me operate, I could easily bring back the success in artistry and sales back again. All it takes is a great team and leader that just wants to make it work and has the passion and energy to make it work with no politics at the table but simply rolling up our sleeves and having fun finding the new great artists,new classic hit songs and working them the right way. There is so much room for growth and success, I majored in business before I made music, so I can see what needs to be fixed and then nurtured.

[7M] What do you think of the fact that many DJs make remixes on your hits, e.g. Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)? What remixes can you call the most successful ones?

C&C Music Factory  What do you think of the fact that many DJs make remixes on your hits, e.g. Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)? What remixes can you call the most successful ones? Clivilles Reply: I think it’s okay when others make remixes on the C&C classics. Bob Sinclair’s was the most successful one, it was a good one.

[7M] You and Eric Kupper have presented project «C + C Music Factory» since 2010. We can also call successful your cooperation with young talented singer Scarlett Santana which resulted in tracks «Live Your Life» in 2010 and «Rain» in 2011. They immediately gained recognition among the leading DJs and musicians. What are you working at now and what can you fans wait from you in the nearest future?

C&C Music Factory —  You and Eric Kupper have presented project «C + C Music Factory» since 2010. We can also call successful your cooperation with young talented singer Scarlett Santana which resulted in tracks «Live Your Life» in 2010 and «Rain» in 2011. They immediately gained recognition among the leading DJs and musicians.

Clivilles Reply: Live your life and rain were 2 very good pop singles, radio should have supported them. 6b. What are you working at now and what can you fans wait from you in the nearest future? Clivilles Reply: Right now we are selling on iTunes our new single: The Swag Geeks feat. Brook Penning — Love me right! Great song!

[7M]Robert, you are in a good shape. Do you do any sport?

C&C Music Factory —  Robert, you are in a good shape. Do you do any sport? Clivilles Reply: I’m in very good shape. I exercise in many different ways. I run, swim and play all different types of sports (baseball, hand ball, paddle ball and many other things)

[7M] Knowing your attitude to family can we say that the real purpose of life is keeping family bonds, mutual support, love and peace in a family?

C&C Music Factory —  Knowing your attitude to family can we say that the real purpose of life is keeping family bonds, mutual support, love and peace in a family? Clivilles Reply: Always — Love and Peace should be on every bodies top list, sharing true spiritual education about our Creator Jehovah is most important, supporting and encouraging each other to be better people and staying positive is also important.

[7M] Is it possible to define your musical successors in your children? Do any of them have a wish to follow your steps and tie their lives with music?

C&C Music Factory — Is it possible to define your musical successors in your children? Clivilles Reply: My kids all love music so we will see, but they have other interests in life. Do any of them have a wish to follow your steps and tie their lives with music? Clivilles Reply: They all have a talent and would like to, but they have other goals.

[7M] What do you associate Russia with? What musicians and artists would you like to single out?

C&C Music Factory —  What do you associate Russia with? Clivilles Reply: Great people, everywhere in the world there are great people right? To Russia I send my Love What musicians and artists would you like to single out? Clivilles Reply: All who love music and give it their 100% passion in making great music and writing positive clean creative songs.

[7M] Wishes to young musicians and DJs from Robert Clivilles C&C Music Factory

C&C Music Factory —  Wishes to young musicians and DJs from Robert Clivilles Clivilles Replyy: I wish you well in your endeavor to create, create and write with passion but also have fun while your creating, and I give all the young ones my best advice that i took myself personally, please go to school and study to have a back up career, I went to school for business management just in case and it ended up helping me run my music business when it became successful. So go to college and create a back up plan for a 2nd career just in case, fact is only 1% make it in music, so be intelligent about it. Do it properly!

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