Young Carl Emil Johansen was recently offered a golden ticket to the big-time after being contacted by Beyonce KnowlesÂ’s management team to remix the pop starÂ’s latest hit.
Columbia Records came a-knockinÂ’ after JohansenÂ’s dad Jacob went a-callinÂ’, sending a copy of CarlÂ’s remix of ‘CountdownÂ’ to a contact of his in Brooklyn, New York. “They really liked ‘CountdownÂ’ so they asked me to do another remix of ‘Love on TopÂ’, which I just finished last week … I actually think itÂ’s better than the original,” said the teenager, who goes by the name Carl Tio.
It then came as no surprise to Johansen that the record company also fell crazy in love with ‘Love on Top’. “I think my remix stood out because it’s more melodic, I don’t just sit at a computer and bang out something … learning piano for ten years has given me a the ear for creating great tunes,” he said.
And if Columbia Records keep that lovinÂ’ feelinÂ’, JohansenÂ’s remix will be featured on an EP due to be released next month.
So the chase to nab a piece of the up-and-comer has begun … and it’s not just the girls making the moves. “Lenny Kravitz, Chris Willis and Peaches’ management team have contacted me after hearing the Beyonce remix … they want me to do something with their material too,” said Johansen, who seems unphased by the offers.
While he’s becoming known abroad for his remixes, locally he’s known as a member of the seven-piece group ‘Point Blank’. Describing their sounds as old jazz records meet soul meets ‘90s hip-hop, their tunes seem to have stood him in good stead.
And we all know that when fame is on your back doorstep, it’s important to keep your head screwed on and stick with your education. But Johansen has dropped the books in favour of something a little more to his liking. “I dropped out of gymnasium three weeks ago, but I’ve started at frontloberne – a cultural institution where I can focus on music.”
So does he see a future rubbing shoulders with P Diddy and binging with Britney? Perhaps, but “if I don’t end up as a musician I want to be a booker for bands.”
Who runs the (music) world? Carl Tio soon might. But hey, if he doesnÂ’t make it, he can always look back and say that was the best thing I never had.
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