Regular Columnists

Artist: Jhay C (Hiend Productions)
CD Review: Genre: R&B/Pop
Sounds Like: ?
Technical Grade: 8
Production/Musicianship Grade: 8
Commercial Value: 7
Overall Talent Level: 8
Songwriting Skills: 8
Performance Skill: 8
Best Songs: Deeper, Fresh, Extraordinary, I'm Blown, Caught Up In U
Weakness: Production needs to be contemporized
CD Review: Jhay C, a producer/songwriter from Melbourne, Australia, sent me a production reel that contains a wide array of tracks (some mastered, some demos) that showcase his strengths and diversity as an up-and-coming producer to be reckoned with.

With help from some of his musical friends (Szilva, Ysh, Four Wunder, and Catherine Chamoun), Jhay C aptly demonstrates that he has a strong command of vocal arrangements and melodies - which are the main ingredients in his production formula as evidenced in the Pop flavored songs "I'm Blown," and "Fresh," which have mass appeal and a catchiness that will serve him well in catering to the teen demographic.

Record executives may want to call particular attention to his expertise in creating tightly structured, radio ready tracks that are complete with a beginning, a middle, and an end that never takes too long to arrive. In fact, his two most commercially viable tracks, "Deeper" and "Extraordinary" are listed as demos and barely exceed 3 and 1/2 minutes. While Jhay C may not possess some of the innovativenes of Timbaland or the avante garde tendencies of Pharrell, he certainly has production skill and expertise that will add value to a vocally driven project.

Advice: Update sounds and reduce the amount of songs on your demo reel. Make sure that everything you put on it can compete with the producers like Sean Garrett, Bryan Michael Cox , Scott Storch, and Johnta Austin, who as of this writing, are the hottest producers/songwriters in the game.

www.myspace.com/jhayc