While he admits jetsetting is exciting, Overeem says the prospect of working on his latest project at Resort World is something he just can't wait to do.
It was an unlikely turn of events that landed 29-year-old Jared Overeem in the midst of the frenzy known as “the music business.”
Winding up on his back after breaking an ankle had left Overeem with not too much to do but think—”there was not much else to do but lay on my butt”— back in 2005 when he was forced to take time off from the New York City Police Academy where he was training for a position on the force.
A life-long resident of Howard Beach Overeem says that music was in his blood and when the injury came he seized the opportunity to help some friends in the production business to find singers.
The first notable break into the difficult industry that came Overeem’s way was in acquiring local legend DJ Skribbles as a client. “He scooped me up and I became his manger,” Overeem said. “Things just took off from there.”
And managing Skribbles is something he says is both rewarding and challenging. “Skribbles is absolutely huge—especially out of here. We were constantly in Vegas. A real frenzy.”
A new gig with Skribbles, according to Overeem, will find the manager and his DJ at the Paris Hotel back in Vegas through the end of this year. They are also actively seeking roles on major TV shows for the DJ sensation including a possible gig on Law and Order. According to Overeem what he terms “the Skribbles phenomenon” outside of here [NY] is unbelievable. “We get off the plane and people just flock to him asking for autographs—it’s really wild.”
Among his other well known clients are singer Jaylyn Ducati who was just signed to Robbin Entertainment, a division of Sony.
Most recently he and Ducati organized a benefit video for the victims of Hurricane Sandy from which all the benefits were donated to the Red Cross. “We were really excited to do that because of our close connection to the community. We really wanted to do something to give back. People were really destroyed here. It was heartbreaking.”
But amidst the hustle and bustle of managing clients and producing videos, Overeem says he is most excited about a recent event his company, Overdrive Productions, was contracted to do at Resort World.
On April 13, he will present the I Love The 90’s Dance to what promises to be a packed house. The show will feature guest appearances by Amber, Labouche, Mad Stuntman, Jana, Veronica and Janice Robinson as well as a tribute to the music of other well known artists performed by Jaylyn Ducati with Fusion.
“It’s so exciting to think I can come here and do this in my own backyard.” Praising the venue, Overeem says he is looking forward to the event being the first of many.
Among his proudest accomplishments is his company Overdrive Productions, which offers a bevy of services to clients already established and those looking to get their feet wet. Among the services offered are management, artist development, photography, recording, production, music videos, public relations, booking, and CD distribution.
In addition he also runs ENTERTAINMENT-DIRECT.COM, a video catalog of music and events.
At the end of the day, everything involved in managing an artist is what really fuels his drive to push through what is notoriously a difficult business in which to succeed.
In explaining what is involved, it’s obvious that he is fueled by his passion for what he does.
“When you consider everything involved in managing you have to take into consideration that there are two very different scenarios,” he explained. “With someone just starting out, you are basically running their everyday lives.” The tasks which are normal to us, Overeem says, become impossible for anyone trying to break into the music business. “These people eat and sleep music if they want to make it. They get up, go to the studio. Go to sleep, wake up and go back to the studio. My job is to master everything that happens in between.”
On the other side of the coin are artists that are already established and want to revive their careers or make changes. “Either way ,” declares Overeem, “it’s something that has to be in your blood.
And in talking to Jared Overeem about music, one can’t help but wonder if it’s the blood coursing through his veins or a sound track in his soul that makes his heat beat.
For more information on Jared Overeem, visit him online atOVERDRIVE-PRODUCTIONS.COM
