Mixed and Mastered
Mixed and Mastered is the podcast where the untold stories of the music industry come to life. Hosted by Jeffrey Sledge, a veteran music executive and former VP of A&R at Atlantic Records and Jive Records, each episode dives deep into the journeys, challenges, and triumphs of the people shaping the sound of today. From label executives and producers to artists, songwriters, and managers, Jeffrey brings you behind the scenes to meet the minds driving the industry forward. There’s a gap in the marketplace for these voices, and Mixed and Mastered is here to fill it—one conversation at a time. Because the best stories are told by those who lived them.
Mixed and Mastered
Extra Credit: Vivian Scott Chew
This quick-hit Extra Credit episode finds Jeffrey Sledge volleying rapid-fire prompts at industry trailblazer Vivian Scott Chew, who fires back with stories that prove a great A&R ear is equal parts instinct and heart. She recalls the one artist who slipped through her fingers, reflects on the eclectic mix of acts that still give her chills, and names the producers who defined entire eras of sound.
Vivian’s tales jump from surprise arena moments to late-night overseas after-parties, all threaded by a single belief: music’s first job is to make you feel something real. Her behind-the-scenes perspective—especially as a woman who’s spent decades championing other creatives—turns this bite-size conversation into a masterclass on passion, purpose, and the magic that happens offstage.
Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://mixedandmasteredpod.buzzsprout.com/
This is Mixed and Mastered. Extra Credit with Vivian Scott Chu. Are you ready? I hope so. Give me an artist that you wanted to sign but you couldn't.
Speaker 2:D'Angelo.
Speaker 1:Give me the story behind that.
Speaker 2:The person over me. We got outbid. We got outbid, but D'Angelo went exactly where D'Angelo needed to go, because his A&R guy was Gary Harris and you could not have found a better music man than. Gary Harris. So yeah, but D'Angelo.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's a good one. Give me three of your favorite artists and why. Any genre doesn't matter, old, new doesn't matter. You know, old, new doesn't matter.
Speaker 2:Sure, George Clinton number one. George Clinton number one because he makes me feel Absolutely. He's been making me feel for decades. Okay, it's a genre, it's not an artist. I'm a big yacht rock girl, Like people don't know that about me.
Speaker 1:Did you watch a documentary?
Speaker 2:Yes, I did so. I'm a Doobie Brothers. Steely Dan, kenny Loggins. I cried at the Kenny Loggins this is it Last concert, like don't go.
Speaker 1:I have to say it definitely is a genre.
Speaker 2:Louis Vega. Louis Vega is one of the most incredibly talented people. I think people really make him small just as a DJ, but he is the most amazing producer and now live artist. So for two summers in a row I went and hung out with him and his wife and Ibiza, just to dance Wow. So, yeah, those would be.
Speaker 1:I had one has to be a genre because I wasn't expecting Louis, but he definitely deserves. I just wasn't expecting him. Give me three of your favorite producers.
Speaker 2:I got to go back to Louis.
Speaker 1:I guess two.
Speaker 2:You don't get better than Jammin' Louis, their body of work, from Yolanda Adams to Janet Jackson, just, and all of the pop acts. I mean they were also one of the first Black producers that were producing pop acts and having hits and consummate gentlemen. I met them when I was at ASCAP and I was signing up, everybody in Minneapolis and I mean they are. They were then exactly the same people that they are today. So I just think that they're amazing. I don't want to take the easy route and say Ellie and Babyface, that's very obvious. I'll say Teddy Riley, I really will. I will say Teddy Riley because you know again, these are all people that had a sound, you know, and not only with Teddy. With Teddy came not only the music, but then you know the little haircuts and the clothes and the dance all of that.
Speaker 2:So it became. You know, he really ushered us as a culture into something else.
Speaker 1:So yeah, he did.
Speaker 2:Oh, and Timberland, I'm sorry. Okay, okay, absolutely Okay.
Speaker 1:And last question, absolutely Timbaland Okay, and last question, I'll say three, but if you can't think of three, it's fine. Give me three of your favorite concerts over the years that you've seen shows.
Speaker 2:Sly Stone getting married at Madison Square Garden.
Speaker 1:If you watch the documentary?
Speaker 2:I was there, I was wild at 14.
Speaker 2:14 was a year I did a lot. Yeah, I mean, we had no idea that Sly was getting married and I was like third row seats on the end and you see these women come out in these gold lamé dresses with these, and it was just, and I'm sure I was tripping on some kind of illicit drug at that point in my life. So I mean it was just that definitely. Concerts I've seen Chaka Khan open for Marvin Gaye. I saw Prince did 21 shows at the um O2 arena in London and I went to the 21st show and he had an after party at the little club that's attached to it called the Indigo, and he had an opening act and the curtains opened and it was just this little white girl with this black hair that was all up on top of her head. And after she finished singing, prince came on and said ladies and gentlemen, amy Winehouse, wow, I remember that. Wow, I remember that. So those are some of my that's three good ones that's three really good ones.
Speaker 2:Oh wait, earth Wind Fire come on now. There's never an Earth Wind Fire show that comes in town. I travel to go see Earth Wind Fire. They make me happy. It's back to being in the 70s. It's the 70s happy moment for me. Thank you for that feeling thank you for letting me go down memory lane. You made me think of things that I didn't remember.
Speaker 1:Yeah, man. Well, thank you very much, Vivian Scott Chu Thank you sir.
