A studio connection between Koolie and the multidisciplinary producer is evolving into something bigger. Sometimes a collaboration starts with a song. Other times, the song becomes the beginning of something much bigger.
For Koolie and Derive Music Publishing (DMP), that story began with "CRUSH" and a chance meeting with producer, engineer, studio designer, and creative entrepreneur Guillermo Riera, known professionally as G Sound. What started as Koolie searching for a new studio to work from has developed into a creative partnership that's now shaping the next chapter of the CRUSH project.
The connection between the two did not begin with a grand plan. It developed naturally in the studio.
After the original "CRUSH" was created, G Sound produced a remix. From there, the collaboration continued to take shape, with the two artists building on one another's strengths and developing new material together that's now leading toward a release on September 25.
The partnership has developed around a clear exchange of creative strengths. Koolie brings his arrangements and edits to the process, while G Sound contributes his production and engineering expertise. Both have worked together on mixing the material that's come out of their sessions, creating a studio dynamic built around trust, experimentation, and mutual respect.
As Koolie puts it, "If it's not broken, I don't fix it." That straightforward approach has become part of the chemistry between the two, allowing the work to develop without forcing what already works.
Meet G Sound
While the upcoming release grows out of Koolie's existing CRUSH project, it also creates an opportunity to introduce G Sound on his own terms.
Originally from Venezuela and based in South Florida for more than a decade, Riera has built a career that crosses music, technology, engineering, and business. His creative foundation began at the Taller de Arte Sonoro in Venezuela, followed by studies in Music Business at Miami Dade College and Mechanical Engineering.
His experience extends well beyond producing records.
Riera has worked alongside artists, producers, and engineers, including Grammy-winning producer and artist Tony Succar, engineer Paul Hoyle, and producer John Paul "El Increíble." His work has included music production, studio operations, artist development projects, creative content, and the development of professional recording environments.
He has also built a reputation for designing and constructing recording studios and creative spaces throughout South Florida and Central Florida, bringing together technical planning and creative functionality for artists, producers, engineers, and other entertainment professionals.
That same combination of technical and creative experience extends into his work with professional audio systems, including marine, automotive, ATV and UTV applications, commercial installations, entertainment venues, sporting facilities and custom projects.
Riera is also the founder of
Dark Box Studio, a creative production company and multimedia facility based in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Through his work, he continues to operate across music production, audiovisual content, studio design, live events, brand experiences, and creative projects.
Something New Is Coming
For Koolie, the significance of what's ahead goes beyond simply revisiting an existing record.
The original "CRUSH" created the foundation. The remix expanded the idea. Now, this relationship is evolving into a broader chapter that combines Koolie's artistic direction and arrangements with G Sound's production, engineering, and technical expertise.
For now, the first taste of what's been building arrives September 25. So listeners will get their first opportunity to hear the next expression of that relationship.
For now, the story begins before the release with two creatives, one original record, and a studio connection that continued to grow into something neither of them initially set out to build.
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Photo Credit: All original photos courtesy of @
enyashots
