Mixing

 

When Morales sits behind a recording console, or digital workstation, to execute his ideas, it isn't long before everybody gets up ­and out on dance floors in homes and nightclubs around the world. He works at night so that others can play. His "office" might be anywhere on the globe, North America, Europe, or the Orient. Behind the console, John is involved in the intricate process of creating the productions, as well as the remixes that will eventually help to establish a new artist or revamp the sonic image of an already recognizable star.

Initially considered a mere technician, Morales is now recognized as an integral part of the creative process and an artist and writer in his own right. His contributions may literally make or break a record, yet often appear as only a credit line on the back of the sleeve. There has been a corresponding surge of interest in these anonymous artists among the record consumers, including the enthusiasts who seek out particular mixes of a given song.

With his distinctive touch on a recording, things begin to happen. While feet and hips are moving, so are the hits – right up the international charts. Morales offers a physical analogy of his craft: "It's like being a plastic surgeon" or, as one UK paper noted, “You'll find the John Morales M&M Mix on many of your favorite club hits ... what John tends to do is make them more danceable, make them beefier, give them more percussive interludes and generally add dynamic elements ... we should have a little corner on every single’s (review) page; He fiddles with so many records, they're probably wondering why people recorded them in their original forms.”