Wednesday night, Billboard’s Senior Branding Correspondent Andrew Hampp lead an interview with Big Beat/Atlantic production trio Cash Cash at the Mondrian Soho in New York City.
During the hour-long conversation, the brothers JP and Alex Makhlouf and childhood best friend Samuel Frisch spoke about their history as a band, current collaborations, and their inescapable radio hit – “Take Me Home” featuring Bebe Rexha.
The trio got its start in a fifth grade talent show playing covers for their classmates under the name The Consequence, gigging and self-releasing their recordings over the years that followed. In 2008, they rebranded the band Cash Cash after earning a deal with Universal Records. It was only after signing with the major label that the trio “found their direction as producers” but ultimately went the independent route, releasing tracks on SoundCloud and gaining popularity through sites like Hype Machine. In 2013, having developed their sound and skills, they got back in the major label game, signing to Atlantic Records.
Most the world associates Cash Cash with the mega hit “Take Me Home” now, having sold 488,000 downloads in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan and reaching No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as high rankings on dance charts. But their earlier efforts’ performances were each shimmering with the promise that’s led them here. Their 2008 self-titled EP hit No. 24 on the Heatseekers album chart and the “Take It To the Floor” album that followed soon after reached No. 31 on that same chart. Last year, their “Overtime” EP reached 30 on the Heatseekers chart and No. 11 on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums.
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Still, the success of “Take Me Home” is inescapable and no details were spared about the song and relationship with Rexha during the intimate conversation. The track got its start in the Makhloufs’ parents basement, and they recalled the day it was added to rotation on Z100, they visited the station and called their mom live on-air to share the good news.
The trio remains close with Rexha and said they’d love to work with her again, noting that they’ve each had dinner with their respective families throughout the course of the “Take Me Home” creation and worldwide surge in popularity.
The band is currently collaborating in the studio with a number of artists, including recently John Resnick of Goo Goo Dolls fame. Remix work keeps them busy as well, such as their popular reimagining of Capital Cities’ “Safe and Sound.” When asked, JP Makhlouf said those jobs will go through all three members, as they “all shine in different aspects.” Meanwhile, on tour, the band explained the trio will often split up and DJ as pairs or solo, as needed.
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When asked who they’re currently listening to and think the world should be listening out for, the trio named Gazzo (with whom they’ve previously worked), Matthew Koma and Rexha as their top three picks.