Heather M Talks About Her Hit Single, “Wanna Have Fun”, Spinning Records for Justin Timberlake and A Lot More!

Following the release of her electric progressive house track “Break Your Dub”, NYC based producer Heather M released a sparkling dance floor knock-out “Wanna Have Fun”. The track began as a melodic dance track without vocals. Knowing she was on to something catchy and original, she knew the track still needed something. While trying to find a simple hook for the track, she was introduced to MayK. Together, they came up with a catchy vocal that made the track go from fun to memorable.

The song is incredibly playful with fast-moving beats coupled with smooth and seductive vocals. So, whether you wanna jump around or you just wanna groove and move, one thing is for sure…you wanna have fun.

Now, who exactly is Heather M? Well, she is an electronic artist who started her career in New York. Under the influence of such a relentlessly diverse city, her music is a reflection of everything that surrounds her. Heather M is quickly moving up in the dance scene being booked around the globe.

She is best known for working along-side strong global campaign events and well known celebrity artists like Justin Timberlake. Since 2012, she has had several hit releases and continues to produce mega club hits as well as gain radio exposure.

Here in my interview with this very talented woman:

When was the first moment that you both realized that you wanted to work together?

I met May through her manager at the time. He thought my track needed a vocal to be a hit and I kind of disagreed. He suggested I meet May and try to work on a vocal to see what we could come up with. I went to May’s apartment the next day and clicked instantly with her. We bounced ideas off each other for the day and by that evening we had the hook.

How have you both grown as musicians since you started?

For me, this journey of being a DJ/producer has increasingly made me very humble. There are no short cuts to making this a career. It takes a lot of work and passion and is definitely a process. My music is always evolving. I’m not the same artist I was last week. I’m always working on new ideas and try to think outside the box of what everyone else is doing. This is the first release we’ve both had that wasn’t just a song, but a video as well to go along with it. I didn’t realize how much work goes into making a music video esp a fun to watch video. May has had her share of success and let downs as well. She shares the same drive and passion as I do and has definitely overcome several of her own hurdles.

Heather, how did you get involved with Justin Timberlake and what global campaign was it exactly?

This question has 2 answers. My agent at the time called me up and said Heather, I need you to make a 10 min mix of Frank Sinatra themed remixes. At first, I thought he was crazy and asked why, what for? He said for now that’s all I can say and that he needed the mix by the next day. I seriously almost blew it off. I was thinking to myself, how would this benefit me, I’m a house deejay, I don’t spin that type of music. A few hours went by and I decided to just do the mix and see what happens. My agent called back the next day telling me who it was for and that they loved the mix. I was hired on the spot to spin for Justin’s live performance release of the 20/20 experience in LA on CW (sponsored by Target). The campaign was not for Justin Timberlake, it was for Targets beauty line.

I would of course agree with you, that music transcends all boundaries. Can you explain that a little further?

Sure, music comes from it’s creator. It’s all emotion, there are no limitations to how we express ourselves. Look at all the genre and sub genre’s these days. there are no guidelines to making music. You could create a new genre called folk trap tomorrow and I’m sure someone would dig it.

“I Wanna Have Fun” is an incredibly catchy track. Where did the inspiration for it come from? And what songs can’t you two get out of your heads now?

It came to life last year when I was brainstorming a new track idea with a buddy of mine. I had mentioned that I needed to think of a simple catchy idea, that most people like simple. My friend replied saying “well, you almost want to say something like I wanna have fun”. I said OMG that’s it! That’s what it’s going to be. And from there “Wanna Have Fun” was born. After I had made the track, I was introduced to MayK and from there we came up with the hook that completed the track. May and I both can’t get this track out of our heads. I’ve listened to it WAY more than anyone else has for the past year and I am still not sick of it.

Since you both reside in New York right now, can you describe the music scene there? Do you think it’s easier or harder to break into it there or in Los Angeles?

NY has a heavy underground scene. I think my production is def influenced by some of the darker styles of music. Not on “Wanna Have Fun” per se, but in general it does. I don’t think it’s easy to “break” in to this scene anywhere. Being a female DJ or singer does NOT help you get into clubs or on labels. You have to network a lot and show your face out as often as possible and get to know people. Like every business, you get gigs by having personal relationships with people. You can’t just email your mix to random people expecting to get booked. It doesn’t work like that. You have to do the ground work and actually get to know the people that do the bookings. I am not sure how the scene in LA is, but I would imagine it’s the same circumstances as here.

How are you both using social media networks and sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram to interact with your fans?

Social media these days is out of control. There are SO many outlets to keep up with. Twitter & Facebook seem to be both our main focus for updates. We constantly update daily. I am the worst at Instagram but trying to be better at it.

What is your approach to songwriting? How do you two capture the inspiration when it comes?

I write music all the time. I also record weird sounds on my phone when I have a new beat or song idea. I’m always writing down phrases or words I think are cool. Inspiration always comes to me when I’m not forcing myself to be creative. I could be at the dentist getting my teeth cleaned and have some randomly cool idea. There is no method to how it comes to me

If you had the opportunity to work with any artist/band from the past, present or future, who would it be and why?

If I could work with any artist it would be Florence from Florence and the Machine or Robyn. I’m a HUGE fan of both and haven’t disliked a single track of either. They both heavily inspire me as they are very powerful women in the music business who do their own thing and are not fabricated. I actually daydream about working with them in the future. May would like to work with Pharrell Williams. She’s always been a fan and thinks he’s amazing.

What is your favorite song to perform live and why?

Well first it’s “Wanna Have Fun” of course! 🙂 It has a SUPER catchy dance to it as well that will catch on. Other fave songs to perform live… Wow, there are SO many depending on my mood but I will say 2 of my all time fave dance tracks are “Cool Summer” by Stefani Noferini and “Understand” by Trent Cantrelle. “Cool Summer” is a very high energy uplifting summer track that gets inside you and makes you feel happy. I play it at all my daytime pool party gigs usually near the end of my set. “Understand” is a very sick underground tune with one of the sickest bass lines I’ve ever heard. It just gets in your face and you can’t help but dance to it.

When you both aren’t performing and writing new material, what do you like to do in your spare time?

We LOVE to relax and do nothing when we can. I (Heather) do enjoy mindless television from time to time. Some of my guilty pleasures involve watching the Bachelor on ABC or TLC’s The Little Couple. We both love fashion, art, and yoga too.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making? Who are some new bands that you are loving? Who are some other duo musicians that you two look up to?

I really grab inspiration from deejay duo’s such as Plastik Funk and My Digital Enemy. These guys are currently on fire producing hit after hit. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are also very cool influential guys right now. We both are strong human rights supporters and we love the message they are spreading.

Thus far, what’s a favorite memory or something quirky that’s taken place with the band (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)?

For me, the very first track I ever produced called “U Make Me Wanna “ was a very hot and heavy sexual track. The vocalist Sophia Urista was going off on the mic in the studio making crazy sexual noises for the track. I turned completely red recording her and didn’t take more than 1 cut. I was like we’re good, def good on that! Lol

May had a hasidic guy approach her once trying to convince her he had signed Madonna and that she should come on board as well.