Tessellated signs with Sony/ATV Music Publishing
AT THE start of the year, young recording artiste and producer Tessellated, real name Joshua Meeks, has made a major first move. Known for his 2017 hit Pine & Ginger, featuring Amindi K. Frost, Tessellated is set to be known for much more, and is positioned for optimal earning potential by signing off on a deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Owned by Sony Entertainment, it has the largest music publishing catalogue in the world.
Sony/ATV Music was formed in 1995 with the merger of Sony Music Publishing and ATV Music, which was owned by entertainer Michael Jackson. Jackson had purchased ATV Music, which included the Lennon-McCartney song catalogue, in 1985. Among the many songwriters, artistes, and bands published by Sony/ ATV Music Publishing are Beenie Man, Cardi B, Destiny’s Child, Ed Sheeran, Elvis Presley, Estelle,
Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Pharrell Williams, Sam Smith, and The Beatles.
“It’s a crazy feeling to know that my music has been acknowledged on that level, and I’m excited to get to work with the team,” Tessellated told The Sunday Gleaner.
While excited, the young musician kept a level head about the big deal, assuring that all checks and balances had been taken care of. “My team was extremely thorough in sorting out all the details of the deal, and the Sony/ATV team was great with communication. Big up my manager, Victoria Meeks, lawyer Ronald Young, and the Sony/ATV A&R Scott Gordon for making it all possible. Once the fine details were clearly defined, all fears fell away,” Tessellated said.
QUALITY BLENDS
It should come as little surprise that the experimental musician has caught and retained international attention. Last summer, Tessellated’s 2019 single, I Learned Some Jazz Today, hit the airwaves and was chosen as the soundtrack to Apple AirPods’ ‘Bounce’ ad campaign. He wrapped up the summer with a debut on the Reggae Sumfest stage.
The artiste of few singles reasoned that such opportunities manifested because of his attention to quality. “I think the number-one thing is the quality of the music. I spend the majority of my time focused on getting the best possible quality in all aspects of my music – production, songwriting and the mix. Additionally, on the international market, people are gravitating towards new sounds and blends they haven’t heard of yet,” he said.
‘Tessellate’ means the coming together of different elements in a mosaic. Tessellated, therefore, selected his name to represent his preference to fuse and blend genres while keeping reggae and dancehall at the base. “Those are my core inspirations and foundation of my sound. My real plan is to change people’s perspective on what reggae and dancehall can be. Many people think of a specific sound when the two come to mind, but I think the boundaries are not set, and they can be so much more,” he shared.
And there is much more to come from Tessellated as the year carries on. “I’ll be dropping an eight-track project early in the year and going on tour in March, starting with an official showcase at SXSW 2020 in Austin and the St Maarten Heineken Regatta. After that, just keep an eye out for some more tour dates, music, and videos throughout the year.”