Behind the machine: Jerry Wonda.
You started playing bass at an early age. Who inspired you early on as some of your influences in music?
As a bass player early on, I would have to say Bob Marley. A lot of Bob Marley’s music is where a lot of my bass playing came from. As far as an influence as a musician, I would say Quincy Jones. I loved what he was doing, producing records with Michael Jackson and the work he put in. As for hip-hop, I’m more of a Premo (DJ Premier) and Dr. Dre fan. That was always my thing…feel me?
As a co-producer for the Fugees alongside your cousin Wyclef Jean, did you recognize just how gifted each individual in the group was early on? What were the early years like in the Booga Basement?
Well you know, Booga Basement was a studio me, Wyclef and my brother Renel built. We didn’t know what we were doing, but we all knew we loved music and we wanted to have a studio. You had Lauryn Hill who would come by the house all the time because of the group to work. You would also have Pras coming through doing his own thing, believe or not “Killing me softly” was a Pras pick. Clef was a genius with the guitar, keyboards, production, etc. To me, everyone had their own special talents. Lauren would come up with the melodies and just bring her talents with getting all the classics together that I would chop up in the machine. Pras would add on to make it complete. I was always called Fugee #4, but I was just that kid in the studio creating beats, playing the bass and building the studio which was in my Father’s house. That was just the vibe at the time.
Did you ever imagine “The Score” album would become the extraordinary success in sales it became? What did that album do for your drive as a producer?
Man real talk…when I was doing “The Score”, it was about the love for the music!!! I didn’t really know you could make money out of it…real talk. I was just going to school, making tracks in the studio and had a part time job as a bus boy making my little tape money and buying equipment for the studio. At the time, I didn’t know I was going to be a part of a classic album. I was just like “Let’s make some great music!”. That experience was the best thing that ever happened to me. This is why I’m here now with Platinum Sounds. I never feel like I’m done because I have so much more to do! Between the new Keisha Cole single, Akon, Justin Bieber, Estelle, etc. I feel I have so much more to contribute with my team Wonda Music. It’s still a new beginning!
Between Santana, Destiny’s Child, Shakira, Lionel Richie, Canibus, T.I., Estelle and countless other amazing artists you’ve worked with in the past and now, who do you feel brought out the best in Jerry Wonda?
I gotta tell you, Estelle pushed me a lot and while working together, we had great chemistry. “Hips don’t lie” with Shakira was really a great record where we felt the beat first, put it together and it became a #1 record on the charts. Shakira was a good one when Wyclef and I did that track with her. I would never forget that experience.
We recently saw you on the season finale episode of VH1’s “Love & Hip-Hop” helping female recording artist Olivia navigate through a track about her Mother. How important is it for an artist to get in touch with their inner most deep feelings and project that into a song?
Man I’ll tell you like this, if an artist doesn’t do that, taking it back to their roots and get deep, you may end up with one number one song in your career…but that’ll be it! What I love about Olivia is she came and checked me out and the vibe I loved is she really wanted to do something for her Moms and that was one of the things that slowed her down. In life, no matter what’s going on with you and you have issues with your parents, it will slow you down. I love the fact that she came in and I was part of that. For her to come to me like “this is what I’m thinking”, I was like let’s do a song about it. Now from that, we’ll be working together. I love her spirit man, so I’m going to make sure I do everything within my power to ensure Olivia has hit records.
Are you working with artists of your own? How do you feel about the current state of the music industry?
Labels call me and say “Jerry I want you to work with this act and that act, etc.” I’ll work with any acts that have talent and it’s the right situation, I’m going in. I do the Mary J’s, the Lupe’s, T.I.’s, Justin Bieber’s, but I’ve been there with these new artists. Sometimes you sign a new act and they get too comfortable and that don’t want to work anymore. It’s always important to pick the right artist. I have an artist named YFame. He’s really dope and we’re working on his album. If you’re in a hurry to come out in two weeks, this isn’t the spot for you!
Do you have any advice for new producers looking to make it big in the business?
You want to be a producer, stop acting like you know everything. Learn from everyone! Learn from the best. Learn from the person that you think is not the best, because you never know what you’ll learn from them because everyone has something to teach you. Learn to play an instrument. Stop just trying to jump on the laptop to make beats and calling yourself a producer. Learn to play some chords and focus on your craft to the fullest.
What does the Source magazine legacy & brand right now mean to you?
I’ll tell you right now…the Source is Hip-Hop! Without the Source, I don’t know what would happen to Hip-Hop. I’ve been getting copies of the Source magazine forever! You’ll always get the best info from the Source…real talk! My team and I will have a copy in the studio while the music is playing just vibing off the content..the whole Wonda music team. You want to know the truth? Get a copy of the Source magazine. On the streets, inside the music industry, etc….cop the Source.
Derryck “Nes”Johnson