Jared Lee Gosselin / DVRKO
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Jared Lee Gosselin At the time of this writing, Latin Grammy-winning American producer, composer, engineer, and artist Jared Lee Gosselin has had an illustrious career spanning four decades. Having roots in Detroit Hip Hop working with the likes of Eminem and D-12, he has since moved to Los Angeles and had major success contributing to releases from artists like Beyoncé, India Arie, Macy Gray, Kane Brown, and a wide variety of other artists. On top of that, he has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world, had his music featured in major motion pictures and TV, and launched his own EDM alias DVRKO. FL Studio has long been an important part of his creative process, and we were thrilled to get the chance to learn more about his unique story. DVRKO – Wasted on You Tell us about yourself and how you got into music. A native of Detroit, Michigan, I enrolled part-time at the Recording Institute of Detroit (RID) during my senior year of high school. After graduating from high school, I pursued a full-time education at RID, where I obtained my record engineering certification two years later. In 1999, an RID professor recommended me for an internship with Barrett Strong and Robert Bateman, prominent figures in the Motown Sound, known for their hit songs like Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and the Marvelettes’ “Please Mr. Postman.” During that internship, My responsibilities varied widely. I handled tasks such as electrically wiring rooms and converting them into functional studios, synchronizing MIDI keyboards, editing and recording, and mixing records. I exceeded expectations and gained recognition for my talent, with Barrett Strong simply telling me, “Work your magic!” I got my start in the entertainment industry at a time when Detroit was at its Hip Hop height. I produced tracks for former Eminem affiliate, the late Proof of D12. Through that relationship, I met and worked with a number of Michigan Hip Hop artists before turning my sights on the west coast. After a chance meeting with actor/director Forest Whitaker, I began to contribute music to a number of films, soundtracks, and more. I was then introduced to Macy Gray and officially moved to Los Angeles to produce Gray’s “Big” album in 2003. A dedicated music fan since childhood, I attribute much of my success to a small piece of advice that I got as a teenager stepping behind my first set of turntables: “If you’re going to do something, you’re going to have to do it all the way.” I’ve been going hard in my career ever since. Tell us about your production environment and the gear you use. I am a total gearhead — I love finding weird and interesting vintage pieces of gear and melding the sonics with the modern DAW-based workflow. Some of my favorite pieces of outboard gear currently: Esoteric Compressor Limiter, Vintage Neve 1083’s and 1073’s, AMS RMX16’s, Bricasti Model 7’s, Empirical Labs Distressors, Retro STA Level I’ve been using the Antelope Galaxy 32 as my primary interface. I use all my outboard gear as I/O inserts in my DAW, so I have the flexibility to commit the tweaks I do in the mix and have the ability to use my outboard gear on multiple different tracks over and over the same way you would use a plugin. I’m also a big fan of the Universal Audio plugins. I’m currently using 3 PCIE cards in my Mac tower, along with an additional satellite. In my opinion, the UA plugins are some of the best sounding out, along with the Acoustica plugins. |
Netflix – Carmen Sandiego – Theme Song (prod. by Jared Lee Gosselin) How did you start using FL Studio & what does it mean to your productions? FL Studio has been a game-changer for me in my production journey. When I first started using it, I was blown away by its versatility and user-friendly interface. It opened up a whole new world of possibilities for my music. FL Studio’s intuitive workflow allowed me to quickly translate my creative ideas into reality. Its extensive library of sounds, samples, and plugins gave me the freedom to experiment and craft unique and innovative tracks. The software’s powerful sequencing capabilities and flexible arrangement options have been instrumental in shaping the infectious rhythms and hooks that define my signature sound. Tell us about your work and some of the artists you have worked with. Between 1998 and 2003, I worked with many esteemed artists from Detroit, including Proof (D-12), Obie Trice (D-12), Slum Village, MC Breed, Juvenile, and Bizzy Bone. I became a prominent figure in the local Detroit Hip Hop scene, regularly producing mixtapes for Green Lantern, D-12, and DJ House Shoes. I also programmed show sets for Eminem and D-12, and was even chosen by Proof to run his label, Iron Fist, alongside Ty Manica, a Detroit-based concert promoter and owner of Merc Records. Later that year, I was selected as a DJ by Motown Records for a radio tour featuring their R&B artist Dina Rae. During the tour, I visited Los Angeles, where I crossed paths with the renowned writer/producer Phillip “Whitey” White. Recognizing our combined talents, we decided to join forces and establish Whiteleaf. Immediately, we began working together at the prestigious Enterprise Studios. Through a production deal we secured with Damon Elliot, a songwriter/producer for artists such as Kelly Rowland, Mya, Jessica Simpson, and Beyoncé Knowles, we wrote and produced tracks for movies like “Shark Tale,” “1st Daughter,” and “Fat Albert.” My abilities as a producer and engineer have led me to collaborate with notable artists and brands, including The ESPN X Games, Under Armour, GoPro, India Arie, Macy Gray, Young Jeezy, Keyshia Cole, Nicole Scherzinger (lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls), Floetry, Cheri Dennis, The Game, Proof, Obie Trice, Kane Brown, Swae Lee, Khalid, Neon Trees, Matt Sorum and Velvet Revolver, Frank Zappa and Corinne Bailey Rae, among others. I also contributed to the soundtrack of the film “De Ja Vu” starring Denzel Washington, received a Grammy nomination in 2006 for my work on India Arie’s album “Testimony: Vol.1, Life & Relationships.” I produced and wrote the theme song for the Netflix original “Carmen Sandiego” which aired 2019-2021, and won my first Grammy for producing and engineering the album “Transformacion” by Beto Cuevas with the lead single “Quiero Creer” feat. Flo Rida.
Jared Lee Gosselin in the Studio Is there anything else you would like to tell us? I would love to share my new album under the alias DVRKO with you guys so you can witness the incredible power of FL Studio. I have experienced its transformative capabilities, and I can’t wait for you to hear the innovative compositions and infectious beats that we have created using FL Studio. This album showcases the limitless possibilities that FL Studio offers to artists. It is a testament to the software’s ability to empower musicians to realize their creative visions and push the boundaries of what is possible in music production. Jared Lee Gosselin Links:
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