By: Staff
Mezz ColemanĀ and Champion Fever teamed up from opposite sides of the globe to give Mezz Coleman's pop-rock track "Much More Than This- Champion Fever remix"Ā a whole new life for the dance floor.Ā
Keep in mind both artists of this collaboration have been making music for decades and did this togetherā¦ but have never been in the same room together!! This song is about setting boundaries with toxic people, and Mezz's vocals soar over the 90s-inspired beats and synths that Champion Fever laced throughout. We loved the harrowing synth vocal effects. The win for any vocalist is range and being unique. We were introduced to Mezz for the first time with this track, and we were floored and felt this was a tremendous standout presentation. The result is an absolute anthem that'll get you pumped up and ready to stand your ground but also shines as emotional and full of intensity. These two killed it by blending Mezz's empowered lyrics with Champion's vibrant production touches. āYou set your ground on fire, I watched it slowly burnā was a particularly standout lyric for us, proving this is not just any bubble gum pop track.
The track was originally recorded in Melbourne, Australia, with Mezz and her band. Champion Fever put the flavor and recreation from his studio in the UK. It's the perfect combo of pop, rock, and dance vibes - much more than your average remix, that's for sure. The track's got this infectious energy that'll have you bouncing along from the first beat. Champion Fever cranked up the intensity, taking Mezz's already powerful message and amplifying it with pulsing rhythms and shimmering electronic elements. You can practically feel the liberation in every note as Mezz belts out those empowering lyrics over the amped-up instrumentation. What's cool is how they managed to keep the essence of the original while giving it this fresh, dancefloor-ready makeover. The remix doesn't just slap a new beat on top - it reimagines the whole vibe, creating something that's both familiar and totally new. You'll find yourself grooving along one minute and then hitting that air guitar the next. It's the kind of track that'll have you feeling like a total boss, ready to take on whatever drama life throws your way.
Whether you're prepping for a night out or need a confidence boost during your morning commute, this remix has got your back. Mezz and Champion Fever definitely struck gold with this collaboration. It's a banger that will be repeated for a while.
Playlist, stream, and share Mezz Coleman and Champion Feverās "Much More Than This- Champion Fever remix" on any major platform.Ā
Wait, there's more!Ā
We caught up with Mezz Coleman and Champion Fever for "The Cage"Ā Music Blog to talk about music and learn more about them and their journey.
Hereās how it went:
Begin Interview
When did you start making music?
Mezz: I was lucky enough to grow up in a very musical family where music and creativity was always nurtured, so I've been doing this since I was a little kid!
Champion Fever: Started as a kid on trombone in a brass band, then moved to guitar as a teenager, then I started messing about with recording and primitive production in my late teens. Been at it for over 30 years now. Yikes!
If you are a duo or a band, how did you form? Please tell us the band members' names, roles, and relevant instruments.
Mezz: Steve (Champion Fever) and I have actually never met in person- we live on opposite sides of the world! We "met" via our shared love of the UK comedy podcast Chatabix- I sent my song to their "Battle of the Bands" comp, and Steve was a judge on it- we then connected up online and decided to collaborate!
Champion Fever: Weāre not a band or a duo but I wanted this remix to feel like a proper collaboration as opposed to just doing a dance remix or taking bits of the vocal and putting a house beat or something. I treat my remixes like entirely new tracks. I think it succeeds in feeling like we could be a duo.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process and where the inspiration comes from for this latest project?
Mezz: The original song "Much More Than This" was written during lockdown when I was feeling quite sad and angry about a few things in my life. I wrote it for a band to play, and that's how I originally recorded and released it. Champion Fever has breathed so much new life into it with this electronic remix, I love where it has ended up. It's got such a strong and anthemic energy now!
Champion Fever: For this remix, I started with the vocal and piano chords, then created an entirely new groove, sped it up and then spent a lot of time layering sounds, experimenting with drums, synths, basslines & mashing up the original stems. Took a few detours but ended up taking inspiration from 90s, rave-tinged breakbeat dance-Pop. I made the chorus drum break from scratch and Iām really pleased with how it feels & sounds- like an actual drum break from an old vinyl.
If there was one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?
Mezz: I wish the industry wasn't so youth obsessed. It makes everyone feel as though there's a "time limit" to achieving success and I see it causing such unnecessary pressure in young artists today. I just turned 40 (which is practically ancient for a woman in music these days), and yet I'm making the strongest, boldest and best music I've ever made in my career. It feels like I'm just getting started!
Champion Fever: Less ego. More risk.
Where do you currently reside and what is the live music venue scene like there?
Mezz: Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne is full of artists making great music- it's an inspiring city to live in and I feel lucky to be part of such a vibrant music community. The downside I sometimes see is that there doesn't always seem to be a big enough audience for all the great acts- so getting bums on seats at shows can feel hard despite how high the talent is.
Champion Fever: Brighton, UK. I think itās pretty similar to Melbourne! Smaller and lots more rain, but a good scene. Venues are at risk all the time from new residential developments close by complaining about noise. It sucks! The community fights back but the developers are persistent. Rich people want to live in the center of town but donāt want the noise of a venue disturbing their peace.
Tell us about the last time you performed. Where was the show, and what was your experience like?
Mezz: The last show I played was at a well known folk club just outside of Melbourne. I'm not a traditional folk artist at all, but have often found folk audiences to be really lovely. They seem very interested in the stories behind the songs, listen to every single word, and couldn't give a shit about what you look like or whether you're "cool" or not. It's very refreshing!
Champion Fever: I rarely perform but I did put a live set together for a Brighton showcase in May at one of the Cityās most colourful venues called The Bees Mouth. Some other Aussie artists on the bill actually. It went great and all the music was entirely new, so Iām planning on doing more and making it even better.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Mezz: Gosh, so many things- but I do wish I could go back and tell 20 year old me that putting myself and my art out there won't be anywhere near as awkward and painful as I thought it would be- and to just GO FOR IT!
Champion Fever: If weāre talking going back to the 90s then Iād tell myself to buy up a bunch of vintage Fender guitars! Theyāve increased in value x10! Then again, so have housesā¦ so maybe Iād say to apply for a mortgage before the boom! Haha. TBH, I donāt think my younger self was asking for much advice. Just muddling through and learning from mistakes.
What is your favorite song to cover?
Mezz: At the moment, it's Lovesong by the Cure. I've arranged it for my live shows using lots of live vocal layers with my loop station. The lyrics are so beautiful.
Champion Fever: I donāt do covers.
What is the most inspirational thing a fan, or anyone, has told or shown you about your music?
Mezz: Every now and then I'll receive random messages from listeners who feel compelled to reach out and tell me that my music is helping them through a hard time. I'm so moved and inspired by that!
Champion Fever: Inspirational? I donāt know. I did my first remix in about 2012, for a friendās band (Moulettes). I made it really quickly on a long car journey (I was a passenger) as there was a tight deadline. Iāve since become friends with a wider community of Moulettes fans and a bunch of them really LOVE that remix and dance around to it at parties, so thatās cool. Apparently a DJ dropped it at a festival and people went mental. Itās a bit cheesy but very dancey!
End Interview
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Mezz Coleman and Champion Fever on Spotify & YouTube.
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