Married to It

With a new publishing company, a new baby and a recent hit song, the husband and wife team of CURT FRASCA and SABELLE BREER bring new meaning to the art of collaboration

Curt Frasca, an award winning record producer and songwriter who has worked for more than 15 years with such artists as Moby, Madonna, De La Soul, Whitney Houston, Prince and other top artists, met and and began co-writing with songwriter Sabelle Breers a few years ago. The collaboration turned romantic and the two married. However, they continued their work ethic which led to successful writing experiences with Avril Lavigne and Ryan Cabrera, the latter with whom they shared an ASCAP 2006 Pop Music Award for their hit "On the Way Down." The couple recently launched two new ventures: a baby, and their own company, Verse Music Publishing, in order to nurture other promising writers. Playback's Erik Philbrook sat down for a chat with them at Verse's studio in Manhattan to talk about their work.

What do you think each of you bring to the collaboration that makes the final product strong?
Sabelle: We have different opinions. We have different sensibilities. One of us is more rock, the other is more R&B. We both came from a hip-hop background, so we have that in common, but it's not "I'm a little bit country, and I'm a little bit rock and roll."
Curt: Although we do have sequined jumpsuits.
Sabelle: Lyrically, I'm a female, so I'm sure I go into much more corny, worldly stuff. Curt's a rock guy, always there to say "that's not cool, or whatever." We go back and forth and somewhere in the middle, between arguing over what's good or not, comes this product which seems to touch a lot of people.

There is so much crossover activity these days, having diverse musical backgrounds makes you well-equipped for making popular music.
Curt: Yeah, and that's exciting. I grew up playing drums in punk bands. But then I did a lot of mixing with hip-hop artists, such as De La Soul.
Sabelle: And I was singing back-up on LL Cool J records
Curt: We had actually worked on the same sessions for an LL Cool J Record, so we must have crossed paths at some point 15 years ago.
Sabelle: Collaborating with someone you respect, no matter their musical forte, is really healthy. If you're writing by yourself, you're not always checking yourself. So, if you have somebody else right there not letting you get away with it, it's going to be a better result.

Are you able to punch your card at the end of the day and go and have a nice dinner together?
Curt: It might be a longer walk to punch your card out, but you'll get there.
Sabelle: The bigger picture is that it is great to share your passions with someone else. We were writers first, and then the other life happened around the studio time. It's much better to be able to share our time together, even with frustrations. Working with an artist can be a diffuser, so you can channel your energies in that direction.
Curt: They can be a tie-breaker (laughs)
Sabelle: The music is about what they are trying to accomplish.
Curt: I'm not the one going on the road with the song, or the band. I'm not doing the show.
Sabelle: So, they have to be comfortable, they have to represent it.
Curt: And even this place (gesturing to the studio). We enjoy developing artists. So, when we have success, we like to put that back into creating a safe place for artists to come, and say "this is yours. Have fun."

What's new for Verse Music Publishing?
Curt: We've signed writer/producer Anton Bass and a young writer named Adriano Schiavo. We've also brought on industry veteran Michael Stack to run the publishing, which is all a part of creating a company that nurtures other writers who need support, both emotional and financial, so that they can focus on their craft.

It's great that you have the background to bring the history and the emotional context into the business.
Curt: There's nothing more frustrating when you see someone that has talent in a situation that is holding them down. I think we've all been there.
Sabelle: All they need is a little support…and a hug.
Curt: And some fire under the butt.
Sabelle: Sometimes it's a co-write to show them that they are more talented than they think they are.

You both have worked with a lot of different artists. What are some of your highlights?
Sabelle: I think working with Ryan was a real highlight. As a songwriting experience it was one of the best times we've had. There were several days when we were creating something great, and my whole being was joyous. Those time seems like the top of the mountain because all of your senses are tapped in. Then, to have it be successful, and have everyone else feel what you created, is so fulfilling. Also, working with Avril was a highlight. Because, the minute she walked through the door, I saw it in her eyes. I felt her teenage energy.
Curt: She had something to say, and she was going to say it.

Curt, you've also worked with some of the top pop artists of all time. What does that experience bring to your new venture?
Curt: I remember watching Madonna on MTV singing "Borderline" and sensing that I was going to work with her one day. Later, when I was working on her greatest hits record, she walks in. What I got from all of that is that you can be the biggest star at the time, but it is still a struggle and you still have to figure it all out. You still have to spend the time in the studio. You still have to think the same thoughts. So, in that sense, it isn't much of a mystery anymore. You're there and you're doing it!
Sabelle: I guess the running theme here is that highlights always seem to involve relationships with people more than a song placing high on the charts. If you write for the sole goal of success, it seems to feel – and sound - empty to me. A highlight can also be a moment when you've captured that "X" factor that has floated into the room and everyone gets chills. You can glow for weeks on that feeling that you've just been a part of something extraterrestrial.
Curt: (Hums the melody to The Twilight Zone theme. Everyone laughs).

— Erik Philbrook


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