If you've ever wanted to work with pop diva Mariah Carey, well, here's your chance. Starting tomorrow, Indaba Music, an online community for aspiring and established producers and artists, will make available the complete stems of her third E=MC2 single, "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time," for those willing to take on the challenge of remixing the track. Members of the site will vote for their favorites, and the winner — chosen by a three-judge panel — will walk away with $5,000 and the possibility of having the track released. The winner will also earn the distinction of being Mariah's top MySpace friend for four whole weeks.
To enter, fans and aspiring producers need create a profile on Indaba, so they can download the song stems; all entries must be submitted no later than August 26.
"Mariah is the queen of the remix," the singer's manager, Mark Sudack, told Billboard. "This contest is a way for her to continue being a pioneer in the remix world, potentially finding a new sound, a new power, a new energy in the online space, as opposed to just the go-to producers of the moment."
But the remix challenge is more than just a contest, Sudack confessed. "It's a marketing tool as much as it is a contest," he told the magazine. "But nowadays all you need is a laptop and a drum machine, and you have all the equipment that you need to go and make something that's hot and sounds special. There's so much potential talent out there that's untapped. You could have the next Jermaine Dupri sitting in a room somewhere, and he's got all the talent and all this genius with just no options to connect the dots."
MTV News' resident Mimi fanatic Kristin Grimmett had a few tips for anyone interested in trying their hand at a remix:
1. This song already has a remix with rapper T.I. For a remix of this particular track, it would be smart to go with a club beat.
2. Underneath it all, Mariah is very simple and prefers simple beats. Keep in mind that the song is about her voice, and the beat is there to accentuate her voice.
3. You can speed up the track, but don't forget that her lyrics are important. We should be able to understand every last line.
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