NeXt LeVeL Productions

NeXt LeVeL Productions consists of Blake Colie, Jared (Spider Fingers) Meeker, DJ Prophecy & whoever else might stumble in!
Biography
Next Level Productions is a Los Angeles-based production trio who create modern, beat-infused tracks drawing from their collective knowledge and love of Jamaican Dub, Roots, Dancehall, Reggae, Hip-Hop, and Electronic Dance music styles. Their ambitious first project is an original Dub Reggae soundtrack for the independent full-length film, Sunken City, which hits festivals in Spring 2013. This collaborative team of Blake Colie, Jared “Spiderfingers” Meeker, and Bill Wendt (aka DJ Prophecy), are currently in production with various other projects that will make their influence reach well beyond LA in the upcoming months.

Blake Colie is an experienced, in-demand drummer and percussionist, whose stage and session work have brought him from national tours to television appearances to some of the most legendary studios in Los Angeles. In addition to his work with Next Level, this TRX Cymbals sponsored musician has had a busy start to 2013. This season marks the release of the much-anticipated album, “This Generation” on Stones Throw Records, which is the second LP to be put out by the drummer’s Reggae/Rare Groove/Soul group The Lions. On the stage, Blake is about to embark on his fourth West Coast tour with Salvador Santana, son of 8-time Grammy winner Carlos Santana. In the studio, Blake is working with the R&B/Reggae project, The Decoders, finishing up their first release and starting on remixing classics from the Stax Records catalog for Concord Records. His other recent notable recording credits include Brazilian star Seu Gorge & Almaz’s 2010 release “The Model” (Now Again Records), and the soundtrack for the 2010 video game best seller “Red Dead Redemption” (Rockstar Games). As composer/producer, Blake’s works have been featured on TV shows on AMC, Style, Bravo, MTV, VH1, Oxygen, Showtime, Logo, USA, Spike, and BBC networks.

Jared “Spiderfingers” Meeker is a multi-faceted guitarist and bassist, endorsed by Line6, Propellerhead, and Spalt Instruments. Jared is known as an accomplished and innovative musician, composer, producer, and performer. His extensive performance experience spans recording in numerous studios and on television, to playing live locally and on numerous nationwide tours. Jared is currently the touring guitarist for Salvador Santana and has shared the stage with artists such as the legendary Carlos Santana and Prog Rock ace John Petrucci from Dream Theater. He has recorded on albums by Nate Dogg and the Eastsidaz, Snoop Dogg, Myka 9, and multiple other releases within the L.A. Hip-Hop scene. In addition to collaborating with Salvador Santana as songwriter and producer for Salvador’s upcoming album, Jared’s original music has been licensed for television and movies, including NBC, Showtime, TNT, VH1 and MTV, featured on the shows “Dexter” and “Smash”, and the Sundance award-winning film “Fuel”. Jared is also a published author and music educator. Alfred Publishing released his book “Jared Meeker’s Serious Shred: Essential Concepts” in 2011, and in 2012, released an instructional DVD featuring Jared. His guitar and music production seminars have been held on the prestigious campuses of U.S.C., U.C.L.A., Seattle Pacific University, S.U.N.Y., and Los Angeles Music Academy.

Born the son of a bass player and raised in Fine Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio, Bill Wendt (aka DJ Prophecy) is an engineer, producer, and DJ intrigued by the art of sound. His current position as front-of-house engineer and tour manager for Pop/Electronica heavyweights The Glitch Mob brought him back to Los Angeles in 2010. Prior to this, he enjoyed many years on tour as front-of-house engineer for the group Zilla (featuring Michael Travis of String Cheese Incident and Jamie Janover & Vibesquad) and then front-of-house engineer and tour manager for Electronica artist Bassnectar. His introduction to these musicians came from his former role as sound engineer at Boulder, Colorado’s legendary Trilogy Wine Bar & Lounge where he mixed over 200 shows a year, working with national and international artists of all genres and styles. While in Colorado, Bill collaborated with numerous vocalists such as 4word, Jus Goodie, Rocker-T, and Freedom Movement. Along with various singles with these and other artists, Bill has 2 full-length releases as a producer: Rocker-T’s “Hold On Strong” and Jus Goodie’s “Freedom Song”. As an active DJ in his own various live projects, he has shared the stage opening for many popular Reggae and Hip-Hop artists, and as a producer/engineer, Bill has produced tracks with Reggae heavyweight artists Pato Banton and Jahdan Blakkamore.

The foundation of NeXt LeVeL is Blake Colie, Jared (Spiderfingers) Meeker & DJ Prophecy. Their combined backgrounds & influences form together to create NeXt LeVeL Productions.