We all knew that we would celebrate out 10-year anniversary in a meaningful way. There were couple of ideas that were floating around, we wanted to make a best of Madonna Remixers United compilation, just re-release fan favorite remixes. The other idea was to bring back all the fan favorite remixers and make a new grandiose release, like back in the old days. However, this would be more difficult to pull off than we initially thought. CELEBRAT10N should have been the highlight of our 10 years of remixing. It’s supposed to be an eventful milestone, something to celebrate. But the road to that anniversary was more difficult than anything we faced in the past.

We must start with January of 2020. Due to global pandemic we all had to be locked in our homes, with just our technology to keep us company. We all felt isolated and somewhat depressed. “Lonely Hunter” was already in development and a lot of remixers couldn’t finish their works. So, things were starting to fall apart already then. Our big international project became a relatively small international project. Something had to be done about it. The system that we have built over the years, was showing cracks. Not every creator was eager to participate in MRU release, they could do anything they wanted and release on their own social media page. No need for external promotion from MRU. We had to figure out how we can motivate our team members and keep our fans excited & happy. That is why, after the release of “Lonely Hunter”, we decided to concentrate on a smaller individual releases, like “WHO'S THAT GIRL? - ODM remix EP”, or “D&S CONJUNCTION – Marco Sartori & Dubtronic Collaboration Remixes”. Less pressure on the creators and new content for Madonna Remixers United fans. Over the years we released several projects like: "M-TRANCE - RisingSun Remixes", "Cravings - DJ Tenzen Remix EP", "CLOSER TO YOU - Mission Groove Remixes", "CONFESSIONS ON A DANCEFLOOR - Lukesavant Remixes", "Who Needs The Sky? - ARIHLIS Remixes", "Like A Prayer - Maxi Single", "EROTICA - Lukesavant Remixes." CELEBRAT10N in a way a return to form for us. In hindsight it was a good strategy to wait and see how a small remix project would be received by general audience and only then release something major.

We sat down with Mary, one of co-producers of CELEBRAT10N to discuss the release of this compilation.

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Hi, Mary, I’m sure not everyone knows who you are and why we’re doing this interview. So, can you tell our readers and M fans, a little about yourself? How had you got to know M? What made you become a fan?
Hi, you are right not everyone knows me. Some do from my involvement with many Madonna Facebook groups and pages… and friends. But not everyone.
Madonna came into my life in 1985. She was already making a mark in USA but in England, it was this year she hit us big.
Her “Like A Virgin” song and video were played at my friend's house on MTV (my family were poorer then, so I didn't have MTV at home). I was mesmerized by her; her clothes (the lace gloves, leggings, crucifixes, bows, red lipstick) gave her a fusing punk attitude look with sexuality and confidence. She was rebellious; I just couldn't take my eyes off this beautiful girl with striking looks, energy, and appeal. I was obsessed by her belly button too being on show. She was a new breed of 80's female artists.
Soon after that year, “Into the Groove”, “Desperately Seeking Susan” and “Crazy For You” were in the charts. I had joined the mountain of Madonna Wannabes dressing up like her during this time.
Over the next year's and to date, she has brought so much more to me and all of us. Always testing boundaries and having an opinion. I am really looking forward to seeing her Celebration Tour at the opening night in London on 14 October. A real party of her greatest work and eras. No one can ever replace her.

 

Jumping ahead, tell us how you got involved with MRU? What led to you becoming one of the executive producers?
This is a very long story; I will keep it to a minimum.
I had always followed MRU and their remixes for years on Facebook and SoundCloud.  In Madonna’s Empire and numerous Facebook groups I was sharing their works and loving their remix projects.
I met Channing (Lukesavant) because of him commenting on an artwork I did around the time of the Project 3 Series.  He asked if he could use it as part of the Classic Part of the release. At this point, I didn’t know Channing was “Lukesavant” and after talking to him then I realized, I dropped my phone in shock! I couldn’t believe it was Lukesavant. I was extremely nervous but also flattered.
Fast forward a year or so, I had started to be involved with Madonna Club Volante releases in Madonna's Empire with Tommy. Those early releases were mainly just remixes that were already accessible made into a compilation, but I was starting to get “recognized” by some remixers for my support and some sent me new remix demos.
Channing approached me and asked if I would be interested in making a NEW remix project for MRU.  I thought about it and said I would like to work with Roman for it; it was a big job on my own and I felt I wasn’t confident enough. We worked well together, and that project was called “SAVE MY SOUL”.
With Channing’s guidance I started to approach existing MRU remixers and I was overjoyed when some contacted me back. In no time at all I found myself also being bold enough to go one step further and introduce myself to “new remixers". Off the top of my head, I managed to get Peter and the Blue, Chris “RisingSun” and plenty of others to come on board. Roman also was doing the same and speaking to Russian remixers. Plus, Roman's artworks were exceptional! Channing taught a lot about how everything comes together and was an amazing teacher.  After that project, I went on to do more for MRU (some with Roman) and my own projects. To this day I cannot thank Channing enough! I learnt so much and I am forever grateful. I've met the most fabulous Remixers and built a rapport. They are always my friends. I love them!

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On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in an escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War which began in 2014. The invasion has killed tens of thousands on both sides. By June 2022, about 8 million Ukrainians had been internally displaced. More than 8.2 million had fled the country by May 2023, becoming Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. When we worked previously with Russian & Ukrainian remixers and producers (both on “Save My Soul” & “Raison D'être”), now Ukrainian creators could not participate, and Russian creators were apathetic working with us. We lost a lot of creators because of that war, the political divide (our “Raison D'être” promotional videos). Those people that we relied in the past, those that we promoted & loved their contributions, just stopped all of communication with MRU. We can’t blame anyone for making a choice not to collaborate with MRU anymore, but the fact that our team was losing so many talented people was a devastating though.

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This year, MRU turned 10 years, it’s obviously a huge milestone for everyone involved. Tell us how this latest project came about? Were you excited to participate and to co-produce this compilation?
I know… 10 years! Time has flown. What a huge achievement for MRU.
Well, CELEBRAT10N has coincidentally fallen in line with Madonna's own Tour Celebration and her “Finally Enough Love” release of 50 remixes. Channing spoke with me just before Christmas, following my successful Club Volante “M-TROPICA” about the idea of celebrating the Anniversary of MRU and celebrating the Queen herself. We wanted to make it special, new, and fresh involving also celebrating "old" and "new current Remixers". We both had a list of Remixers in mind and decided to do "half and half".... I would approach and co-ordinate half and Channing would work the other half. We didn't have a track list as such, we let them pick their own and some we suggested to them. We took our time, there was no stress at all, and I can honestly say it was one of the most relaxed I've ever been working with him. I've had a habit in the past of being a little "stressed" with projects, but I found myself in control and happy. The Remixers were just as excited as us. I didn't need to bother him with demos or ask if something was right or not. He trusted my judgment and I was so grateful for that. I also loved Roman's idea of calling the anniversary "CELEBRAT10N" and it was great that he too brought some additional Remixers for it as well. I'm very happy with the overall result.

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I think MRU managed quite nicely, putting together 30 brand new remixes. What do you think?
Oh I totally agree, it’s very special. All 30 remixes are new, genius, full of energy and capture everything we wanted to celebrate, not just for MRU, but for Madonna and for the very talent of our community of Remixers. They are MRU Family after all. It’s an impressive collection of new works.

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MRU community has seen a significant growth over the years, we’ve seen a lot of old-time favorite remixers moved on to different endeavors, a lot of new and talented people took their places. What was the most difficult rejection that you had to deal with? Was it hard to let go of some of our long-time contributors?
Yes it was hard to let go of some who had moved onto other things.  People such as Cleo Nasser and Paul Andrews. I was gutted when Cleo chose to stop remixing, but I know if she ever does decide to work again, she will work with Channing and only for MRU.
The hardest for me was Dens54; he hadn’t been involved in a project for MRU since the project remix. 

(I did, however, manage to get an excellent track from him for my Madonna Lounge release). Dens was busy with his work and hadn’t been well. Understandably, he couldn’t remix for CELEBRAT10N. It felt that he was meant to be a part of it. Sadly, he’s no longer with us.

Bill Pardue (Mission Groove) was in a truly awful struggle with his illness. I had talked to him loads as he was still determined to remix something for CELEBRAT10N. The news of his passing shortly after was devastating. To all of us. Everybody loved Bill and it's so sad… I just can't believe it.

God bless you, Bill.

 

Obviously, you were the one to approach remixers to do something for this latest project. Who impressed you the most? Which remix blew you away?

They all impressed me, but Guyom’s “Who’s That Girl” totally wowed me the most. He hadn't done a remix for so long and when he was more than delighted to come back for this project, I was overjoyed.

His “Who’s That Girl” is wonderful. A favorite of mine from 1986. He kept it retro style but modern and used cool techniques to put it together. I'm obsessed with it.

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With MRU still growing and expanding, what do you think you will be doing in the near future?
Well, I've produced some amazing projects with MRU over the years. I've been so privileged to have been involved! I doubt I will do anymore because I am really taking time to concentrate on my personal life. I have had a lot to deal with and often put projects above my family. I'm moving to a new house. I find for the past year or so that I have changed into a much calmer person which is a change for the better. I think Channing would agree with me on that. I will still be here in MRU supporting & promoting, I would stop doing that. But I will be focusing on me…. it's time and I am ready.
Thank you, MRU, for everything you have brought and done to me. I love you with all my heart.

We are always #trulyunited.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​