DRMAGDN Spills About Reworking Iconic Beatles Hit “Something”

Drummer and DJ, DRMAGDN, has resurfaced with his most compelling creation to date – a soaring homage/remix of the timeless Beatles hit, “Something.” Wanna know all the juicy details of this fantastic rework? Scroll down to read the full interview.

1. First of all, what motivated you to rework a legendary band like The Beatles?

I am just like the many millions of Beatles fans out there: I love their simplicity, their harmonies, and catchy hooks/melodies plus their overall evolution. The Beatles are one of, if not the best, band in the world and it was an honor remixing them. When I heard that BMG acquired George Harrison’s catalog (including his Beatles hits), I jumped at the chance to remix some of his iconic hits as both a fan and as an artist.

2. What led you to choose “Something” specifically, and not any other tracks?

“Something” is my favorite Beatles song ever. I love the song’s sparseness since it’s a love ballad that is subtle and not overly sentimental. When I searched online, I was surprised no one remixed “Something” in the modern EDM Pop vibe using today’s radio-ready production techniques. Then when I found out BMG acquired the rights to “Something” after I signed with them, it came together very quickly from there.

3. How do you think your reworked version adds something new to the original?

When it comes to remixes, I love to flip the gender of the vocalist straight away to give the ear something different so you know you are not listening to the original. So I got Michelle Ray from The Voice and she crushed the vocals on the track. From there, I re-recorded the strings from scratch & concentrated heavily on the orchestral aspect of the track then I just added my explosive drums & elaborate production.

4. What qualities in Michelle Ray’s vocal style made you choose her for this collaboration?

Michelle and I worked together years ago on her own music so I knew her voice well. She has a deep and emotional fundamental texture & has the chops to sing improvised runs like Christina Aguilera when needed. She doesn’t overdo the embellishments and instead leans on the main melody and lyrics. Many modern singers are a bit too self-indulgent, but Michelle’s voice is the perfect balance of impressive & emotional.

5. What aspects of the original song did you want to preserve?

I happened to find isolated original Beatles strings from “Something” and teared up a bit when I heard how beautiful they were. So absolutely had to focus on the strings by the amazing Dave Eggar (“Viva La Vida” – Coldplay) and horns by Danny Flam (“All Of The Lights” by Kanye West/Rihanna). The lyrics are the same as the original but the remix’s focus is more cinematic and grand while still reverent to the classic Beatles hit.

6. Did you feel any pressure when reworking such a famous hit song?

Filling George Harrison and The Beatles’ shoes is literally the biggest in the industry. So I had to make sure the remix was as good as the original but also filled the need of having an updated version. With Michelle Ray’s voice, strings by Dave Eggar, horns by Danny Flam, and guitar/bass by Oscar Albis Rodriguez (A Great Big World), I feel like it was knocked out of the park for a new version celebrating George Harrison.

7. What do you hope listeners will take away from your music?

I always try to start with the initial raw emotion and intention of a song and build it up from there lyrically and musically. I hope that each song in my song library connects with people on a deep enough level that they not only take notice but also come see me perform live and be a part of the DRMAGDN community. Being able to reach people both digitally and in the real world is an opportunity that I feel lucky to be able to have.

8. In terms of creative satisfaction, do you find it more fulfilling to rework a classic or produce a new one from scratch?

I enjoy both processes equally. There is the recognition of successfully remixing a classic tune. But there is also a lot of excitement in creating a new hit from scratch based on all my influences and my musical background. One of the coolest parts about being an EDM Pop artist today is that I am able to use different singers per song. That really ensures my musical inspiration is executed to the highest level per track.

9. Will you be scheduling any live shows or performances during the course of this year?

I just got off a big Europe Tour at the end of 2022 and hit South America in 2023 already. Plus I was able to perform on the final day of the King Charles’ Coronation in London at a huge sold-out show at Royal Albert Hall. I have a show in Zurich Switzerland planned for the fall and am building out another Europe tour plus single-release shows in NYC & LA now. But I regularly play in New York City, so check the tour calendar.

10. What can fans expect from your upcoming projects?

I have some pretty epic tracks planned every 2.5 months at this point onward. I am looking at remixing my hit song “Get Tough” featuring Manny Cabo from The Voice/La Voz. Plus, I have some big plans for other BMG remixes in addition to a barrage of original tunes with big collaborations that I am unable to share yet. If you see the DRMAGDN name on the track or the marquee, you know it’s going to be epic.

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