5 Roger Sanchez Remixes of Music Superstars
Roger Sanchez might have the Midas touch. The Grammy-winning Dominican-American DJ and producer helped make Strictly Rhythm one of the premier labels for quality electronic music. And his influence has only grown as the decades roll by.
While attending school at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn as an architecture student, Sanchez DJed at several underground New York hotspots. On his father’s advice, he dropped out to pursue music full-time. In the early days, he sold his mixtapes on the streets of Broadway to finance his early gigs.
He stumbled into his gift for remixing pop hits by accident. In the early 90s, after sharing a bad review of a popular single, he was enlisted to rework it. As word got out about his production magic, he went on to remix an array of stars like Diana Ross, Kylie Minogue, Daft Punk, Madonna, The Police, and No Doubt.
Here are just a few of our favorite superstar remixes from Roger Sanchez.
1. No Doubt - Hella Good
No Doubt’s 2001 album Rock Steady epitomized punk ska coolness. When Roger Sanchez remixed the album’s opening banger Hella Good, he flipped the track’s infectious guitar lick and Gwen Stefani’s seductive vocals into a seven-minute dance floor igniter. The track would eventually win Sanchez a Grammy for Best Remixed Recording.
2. Daft Punk - Revolution 909
When called upon to remix one of the most iconic acts in dance music, you have to bring your A-game. In 1998, Sanchez collaborated with fellow producer Junior Sanchez–no relation–on the rework of Daft Punk’s “Revolution 909.” The track was later added to the 25th-anniversary edition of Daft Punk’s first full-length album, Homework.
3. Michael Jackson - Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
In 1992, MJJ Productions released a 12” of club remixes for popular Michael Jackson tracks. Roger was a recurring name among them. His Underground Solution Mix of the 1979 record “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” puts a classic piano house spin on the already dance-happy track by the King of Pop.
4. Depeche Mode - Perfect
Depeche Mode is a popular subject for house producers. The pioneering English group from the early 80s took underground electro-pop to stadium-sized proportions. On Sanchez’s ode to 2009’s “Perfect,” sinister synths and gloomy lyrics are given a jolt of deep house beats and danceable breakdowns.
5. Maroon 5 - Give A Little More
Sure, taking disco hits and reworking them for an all-night rave is fab, but Sanchez doesn’t stop there. On the extended mix of “Give A Little More,” he takes the Maroon 5 bubblegum pop sound and makes it fit for even the most pretentious dance floors. It shows how fine-tuned Roger’s ear is for a great dance track.
