Aaron Carter: Remembering a friend, a collaborator, a brother.
Aaron Carter and Jon Asher arriving to the single release party for Aarons comeback single “Fool’s Gold” in Hollywood, California (April 1, 2016)
It is with a heavy heart to mention the passing of my friend Aaron Carter. We shared some beautiful times together over the years that I will truly cherish for a lifetime. Some of those memories include co-executive producing his artist project, writing and recording his amazing studio album, “LØVË” (LOVE) which we later signed to Sony Music / ZENT - he told me that was an absolute dream of his to accomplish. I remember Aaron also mentioning he never had a radio hit, even with all his successes and that “Sooner or Later” was his first radio smash (now garnering almost 100 million Spotify streams alone). We shared many fond memories of late nights in the studio, Co-directing music videos, mastering records and traveling the country on tour. I will miss the Aaron I was lucky to know, the one the world was never able to fully embrace. Aaron was kind to everyone, thoughtful, a believer in God & family and a truly, truly talented artist. Rest in peace AC, my brother.
Listen to the “LOVE” album:
[POP] - K-pop supergroup bugAboo release Lead single "POP"!
NEW RELEASE
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FIFA 21 x JON ASHER | co-writes "SHE DI KING"
BILLBOARD: "....the Rebirth of Britney Spears' 'Mood Ring'"
MOOD RING #1 ON iTUNES!
Grab Mood Ring (On Demand) on iTunes
https://music.apple.com/us/album/mood-ring-by-demand/1515545010?i=1515545746
BRITNEY SPEARS RELEASES "MOOD RING" WORLDWIDE!
RocNation Grammy Brunch 2020
(Interview) Britney’s “Mood Ring” Producer, Jon Asher, Reflects On The Song’s Creation
Click Here to read full interview on BREATHEHEAVY.COM
Britney’s colorful GlorY track, “Mood Ring,” is an otherworldly ray of light.
Britney’s ninth studio album has a vibe, and if there’s one song to set the overall tone, it’s “Mood Ring.” The haunting electro track finds Britney reflecting an array of moods while singing over a sinister beat crafted by DJ Mustard and Twice As Nice (Rihanna’s “Needed Me”). The song wasn’t featured on Britney’s U.S. release of Glory, but landed on the Japanese edition.
BreatheHeavy caught up with one of the song’s producers / co-writers, Jon Asher, who is currently working on demo pitches for B10. He says creating “Mood Ring” was one of the best works he’s ever taken part in.
How did the concept for “Mood Ring” come about?
In February 2015, one of my close friends Melanie Fontana and I were writing in my Los Angeles studio. Our sessions usually consist of cooking, making coffee, dreamin’ (out loud) and recording. You have to understand, when Mel and I write songs, it’s always a hang-out, never anything I’d consider “work”. So, here we are chatting about our lives, just throwing around any melody and word ideas, literally just like “oooooooooo eeeeeee” etc. Melanie began to sing “moooooood swingssss.. you give me moooood swings”. I’d say maybe a half of a second passed before I replied, “or like mood ring”. Continuing, I sang “up and down emotions”. The rest of the words came effortlessly to us from there. It hit both of us immediately that we had something special.
How does it relate to Britney?
I won’t speak for Britney or anyone else, but when we were writing the song I was going through my own up-and-down’s in life. Ironically, “Mood Ring” (for me) is a representation of the different eras in my own transformation and ascension to Glory. We all experience a spectrum of emotions daily, with some days where I don’t even know what I’m feeling anymore. I think anyone can relate to that.
Why did she decide to record it?
I don’t know why an artist chooses to record a song unless they share that bit of info with me, but typically there’s a personal connection to the lyrics. I’ve only ever heard that she loves the record. The day of the session, when I got to the studio, the energy was electric between all parties. To me it was obvious that she gave her all, vocally, on Mood Ring.
As far as how it happened, I can tell you there were several amazing people who took “Mood Ring” seriously enough to really make it reality. At that time, it was just a demo in a pile of new songs I had written, but we always felt that it was different. Late one evening in a Hollywood living room I played the Mel Fontana vocal demo we had cut for Nick Jarjour at Maverick. By now, Nick had been a friend and managerial partner of mine for years, he gets my vision. To him, Mood Ring was a no-brainer. Almost parallel in timing, he had been facilitating records like (Rihanna’s “Needed Me”) with Roc Nation and DJ Mustard’s camp. I sent out the demo vocal stems that night and he sent it off into what I call the ‘music industry machine.’ Fast forward to early April, we found ourselves meeting with Omar Grant and the Roc Nation team. To our astonishment, Britney had put our “Mood” demo on a “hold.”
What was the inspiration?
Britney’s vibrant life was our sole inspiration for writing the song. Mix that in with our own real life experiences that both Melanie and I pull from and Voila, we had the song written pretty fast. I think having a goal in mind made it somewhat effortless for two close friends, who’ve bonded over Britney albums through the years, to be inspired for the writing session.
298 Likes, 38 Comments - Jon Asher (@jonasher) on Instagram: ""Mood Ring" by Britney Spears. 🇯🇵 9/14 Lyrics by Jon Asher and Melanie Fontana #moodring..."
Standout lyric?
“True colors will show, baby just put me on display” or the payoff line before the drop “My love is a Mood Ring, you change me”.
What are your thoughts on the song landing on the Japanese edition of Glory only?
Writing Mood Ring for Britney was never about where or how it would come out. Oddly, I never put too much thought into that. For me, it was always about when the song was coming out. From my understanding, Glory had started taking a more solidified shape after Britney had recorded Mood Ring in June 2015… We are living in a renaissance era for music where all artists and audiences are subject to the Internet. In an industry where Mike Posner’s “Pill in Ibiza” remix can become more popular than the original, or Katy Perry’s “Wide Awake” can be included in a complete confection repackage, then hit Top 40 at #1, why should anyone worry? If audiences attach to it, the song will find its way to the top of the pile, yet again. A hit is a hit be it released on a standard edition, Japan deluxe, or a repackage. I am blessed and thankful to have experienced a lifelong dream, come true.
Tell us something we may not know about it, something personalney.
The opening line “Look in the mirror” actually took place in the session. It is funny to me because I have this extra large full body mirror in my studio that literally every artist or co-writer I have over (including myself) stands, sings and performs in. Melanie was dancing in the mirror and sang “I look in the mirror”, which ultimately opened the verse. I came in behind her and sang “who do I see, who will I be today?”, later turning into “Who do I wanna be today?” fueling our “Mood Ring” title and concept. I feel like everyday we are lucky to wake up, look in the mirror and individually decide what kind of trajectory we’d like to take that day regardless of where our emotions may try to pull us.
As far as vocal production, Mustard and Britney gave me complete freedom to do my thing! I was at the studio late one night editing one-on-one with Mustard himself, he is very involved and was loving my vocal production techniques. When you hear the record, it’s clear that Britney feels very comfortable singing it which made every aspect of vocal producing enjoyable. Britney recorded Mood Ring during my Birthday week of June 2015, so I got to spend my entire actual birthday finalizing the vocal production at my own studio. That felt like a god-wink and I couldn’t have asked for a better gift.
What are some other songs you wrote for Britney?
We wrote so many good songs for her! Mood Ring was the only song of ours that she recorded, maybe even personally heard. We wrote a song for the fans that Jordan, I feel like you’d especially appreciate. All of our songs will find a great home.
How do you feel about the song now versus when it was first created?
The final version of Mood Ring is gorgeous. Her voice the entire time gives me those 2001ney goosebumps I grew up remembering. The music had to change several times and thankfully so, because we wanted to give Britney and her fans an iconic sound that will stand the test of time. I’m very, very thankful with how it came out.
Click Here to read full interview on BREATHEHEAVY.COM
SHINEE’S KEY RELEASES “HONEST” FROM NEW ALBUM: “FACE”
Key of the K-POP supergroup SHINEE, releases solo album “Faces” featuring Jon Asher, Dylan Bernard and R!OT co-written song:
“HONEST”
SETTING FIRES - CERTIFIED RIAA GOLD
“Setting Fires” from The Chainsmokers EP “Collage” now RIAA certified Gold! Co written with Melanie Fontana
BP RANIA release single “Breathe Heavy”
KPOP girl group BP Rania release their comeback single “Breathe Heavy” off the new EP “Refresh 7th”!
Co written by Jon Asher, Melanie Fontana and Michel Schulz.
2NE1's MINZY makes solo debut with "NINANO"
#NEWMUSICFRIDAY AARON CARTER: "SOONER OR LATER"
1/20/17 - Aaron Carter's new EP off Sony Records / Z Entertainment, "LøVë", available for pre order now with an instant download of "Sooner Or Later".
"LøVë" is Executive produced by Aaron Carter & Jon Asher and will be released Feb. 10 2017 exclusively on Sony Music / Z Entertainment.
"Sooner or Later" was recorded in October 2015 at Jon Asher's Los Angeles based ARC Studios and was co-written by Jon Asher, Aaron Carter, Melanie Fontana, Michel Schulz and Taylor Helgeson with additional production by Michel Schulz.
ONWARD: 2017
The Chainsmokers release "Setting Fires (feat. XYLØ) [Remixes] - EP"
The Chainsmokers release the Setting Fires official [Remixes] E.P. featuring works from Blasterjaxx, Vanic, Sigma, Qulinez, Boxinbox & Lionsize.
SETTING FIRES lyric video out now!
The Chainsmokers ft. XYLØ - written by Andrew Taggart, Jon Asher and Melanie Fontana.
Setting Fires - The Chainsmokers ft. XYLØ lyric video
THE CHAINSMOKERS: "COLLAGE" NOW ON ITUNES!
Setting 🔥Fires 🔥@iTunes 🔥 link:
https://itun.es/us/2t3Xfb
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
SETTING FIRES (feat. XYLØ) out now!
Setting Fires by The Chainsmokers featuring new artists XYLØ released today Nov. 4, 2016! Written by Jon Asher and Melanie Fontana.
Setting Fires (feat. XYLØ) The Chainsmokers
INCOMING:The Chainsmokers - "SETTING FIRES" (feat. XYLØ) ignites NOV. 4!
The Chainsmokers have announced their new single "SETTING FIRES" (feat. XYLØ) written by Jon Asher and Melanie Fontana! The single is Track 1 off their new EP <b><I>"COLLAGE"</b></I> Setting the world on 🔥 fire, NOV 4!
The Chainsmokers - "Collage" out 11/4/16
Track 1: "Setting Fires" (feat. XYLØ) written by Jon Asher & Melanie Fontana