How an Unreleased Sean Paul Remix Led to Iakopo’s “What I Need”
Updated: Aug 25
My collaboration with Iakopo began with a remix that was never officially released.
In 2020, a member of Iakopo’s management team approached me about remixing “Closer to You”, his collaboration with R2Bees, Drei Ros and Sean Paul. I completed the remix, but the release did not move forward after the necessary rights and release arrangements could not be finalized.
The work still achieved something important: Iakopo heard the finished production and liked my approach. He then contacted me directly and asked me to remix his solo track “What I Need.”
Bringing Iakopo’s Sound to the Dance Floor
Iakopo’s music is rooted in reggae and island culture, but it has never belonged to only one genre. Born in California and raised in Samoa, he built an international career spanning the United States, Japan and Jamaica. His previous collaborations included Shaggy, Sean Paul, Gramps Morgan and Jah Cure. “Touch Down,” his single with Shaggy, reached No. 31 on the US Billboard Dance Chart. His background and international career have also been covered by VoyageLA and Reggaeville.
For “What I Need,” I was not trying to replace that identity. The goal was simply to create a more dance-oriented version of the song: new electronic production, a stronger club rhythm and an arrangement built around Iakopo’s vocal.
I produced the remix from start to finish. Alex Sate recorded the guitar part, adding a live element to the electronic arrangement, while Phillipo Blake was credited as co-producer.
Iakopo approved the result, and I felt the track was a natural fit for my label. That is how “What I Need (Nevelskiy, Alex Sate & Phillipo Blake Remix)” became a LOONY HOUSE MAJOR release.
The single was released on November 13, 2020, in both standard and extended versions. It is available on Spotify and other major music platforms.
This project was not built around a large promotional campaign. Its value was creative: an unreleased remix opened the door to direct collaboration with an established international artist—and the next production became an official release.
Comments