# Bruce Vanderveer

Bruce Vanderveer, professionally known as Automatic, is a Grammy-nominated American record producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is currently signed to Sony/ATV Music Publishing and is the CEO/co-founder of the entertainment company InRage Entertainment.
On his first production job, Automatic worked directly with Michael Jackson. Automatic has worked with artists such as Pink, Pussycat Dolls, Nicole Scherzinger, Christina Aguilera, Cher, Fabolous, James Brown and Raven Simone. In 2009, Automatic produced the #2 song on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales Chart, Cradle to the Grave, recorded by American Idol's Bettina Bush. His latest K-Pop record, "Rock The World", was recorded by K-Pop sensation JYJ's Kim Junsu (Xia). Featuring The Quiett and Automatic himself, the record was released on May 30, 2016 as the lead single from Xia's fourth studio album, Xignature, which peaked at number 14 on Billboard's World Albums chart. The Grammy-nominated producer also co-wrote the song "I'm Gonna Be a Star" alongside Ebony Rae Vanderveer, Park Jinyoung and Olltii. The South Korean girl group Twice recorded the song which served as the theme song for the 2015 reality girl group survival show Sixteen. Automatic also produced Xia's 2012 hit single "Uncommitted" which peaked at number 1 on South Korea's Gaon albums chart and number 19 on Billboard's Korea K-Pop Hot 100 chart.

## Early life

Automatic was born in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York; raised in Flatbush and Red Hook, Brooklyn to a 16-year-old mother and raised by one of the most infamous drug dealers of New York City. He never met his biological father. Of Black-American and Japanese descent, Automatic was taught in the traditions of Buddhism from a young age. While many of his peers were involved in illegal activities, Automatic's attraction to music kept him from the dangers of the rough city streets of his neighborhood. His first encounter with a guitar lent to his name, Automatic. There was a little boy who lived next door to Automatic that played the guitar every day. Automatic asked the little boy to play guitar every day, but the little boy would not share. One day, after being so frustrated that his neighbor would not share, he shoved the little boy down and took his guitar from him. The little boy ran upstairs to tell his mother and Automatic started plucking the old, 4-stringed guitar. He intuitively began to play a melody on the guitar. Having no prior instrumental or musical lessons, his mother was stunned that her son was playing a tune on the spot. Thus, she nicknamed him, "Automatic".
From that day on, Automatic showed he had a natural ability to learn how to play instruments. In junior high, he joined the concert band at Roy H. Mann Junior High School in Brooklyn. He chose to play the trombone. Each week he would ask his classmates if he could borrow their instruments to take home so that he could learn how to play them. He eventually taught himself how to play 13 instruments. Automatic also used his nickname as his stage name when he would rap and dance. Growing up in hip-hop, he was part of the early, crucial moments in hip-hop that would later define and popularize the genre. Automatic befriended and battled with who would become hip-hop icons Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Nice and Smooth and Big Daddy Kane. Automatic's popularity as a hip-hop artist grew. When he was 13 years old, he was invited to participate in a PBS special on hip-hop where he break danced. His appearance in the special led to him appearing as a dancer in Krush Groove, starring Run DMC, LL Cool J and Sheila E. He also danced in Beat Street.
In addition to music and dancing, Automatic focused on martial arts with his sensei who taught him Yip Man's Wing Chun kung-fu. He began practicing Bruce Lee's style of Jeet Kune Do. He competed in and won multiple underground fights as a teenager and became well-respected in the martial arts community.

## Crisis leads to record deal

When he was 15 years old, Automatic left home to escape the abuse and negative lifestyle of his step-father. As a result of leaving home, he became homeless, living on the streets of Brooklyn for four months. He was on track to be the valedictorian of South Shore High School and was the most popular kid in high school, but all of this turmoil in his life caused him to drop out of school. He worked at the Palladium, Mels Diner and a microfilm company for money until he could afford his own apartment. He convinced a landlord in Sunset Park, Brooklyn to rent an apartment to him at the age of 16. Automatic formed a band, Auto and Cherokee. The band played CBGB's, the Cat Club, the Palladium and other clubs in the Village and Manhattan. The band soon caught the eye of J.J. French, bass player of the rock band, Twisted Sister. French signed on to manage the group. The band moved together to Red Hook, Brooklyn and shared a factory-style loft. They auditioned for multiple record companies and were turned down many times. Grammy Award-winning producer, David Kershenbaum, heard about the group and came to Red Hook to hear the band who performed a showcase in their loft for him. He immediately signed them to Morgan Creek/Polygram Records. In 1993, the first professional release was Auto and Cherokee, "Naked Music", written, composed and produced by Automatic, Keith Cohen and Carmen Rizzo. The album was a fusion of hip-hop, R&B and Prince-infused vibes. The album featured Dave Coz and members of the group Fishbone. The single from the album "Taste" is featured in the movie The Crush starring Alicia Silverstone and in "Stay Tuned" starring John Ritter. While on Morgan Creek, Automatic was managed by Rob Kehane and Mark Schimmel.

## From producing and songwriting in the 1990s

In 1994–1995, Automatic began to develop musical groups under his production company Apple Children Productions. The first group that he put together was Forever Yours, later named Brownstone. He also discovered a young Australian boy on Venice Beach, Wade Robson, whom he taught hip hop and rap and developed vocally. He later became a member of the duo Quo. Both acts later became signed to Michael Jackson's record label, MJJ Records/Sony. Wade Robson went on to become a world-famous choreographer working with acts like ‘Nsync and Britney Spears. In 1994, he became the youngest producer to sign a double production deal with to A&M/Perspective records. He worked directly with legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. They produced acts including four songs on Raja-Neé’s album Hot and Ready. He produced "How Long" by Sweet Sable for the Above the Rim soundtrack and produced a remix of James Brown's "How Long."
From 1995 to 1998, he worked for the WB Television Network producing songs for The Jamie Foxx Show, Sister Sister and Cleghorne!. He wrote and produced the American Airlines theme song. In 1999, he was signed to Sony Music as a writer/producer by Erica Greyson and Jim Vellutato. He began working with A-list writers with Sony and worked with artists like Pink, India Irie, Christina Aguilera, Pussycat Dolls, Raven Simone, Nicole Scherzinger, Kurupt and Fabolous. In addition to producing, he worked on the mixing side of production with Dave Pensado and Manny Marroquin.
In 2009, Automatic produced "Cradle to the Grave" and "She Is" for Bettina Bush which reached #2 and #4 on the Billboard Hot Single Sales Chart, respectively.
In Summer 2012, Automatic produced the hit single, "Uncommitted" for K-Pop sensation, Kim Junsu (Xia) of superstar pop group JYJ. The video for "Uncommitted" debuted at #1 in Korea and China. It has reached #1 on China's YinYueTai Chart, #1 on Peruvian Radio Charts, and #1 on Korea's Hanteo chart.[1] At Kim Junsu's recent concert in LA, Korean news site TV Daily reported: "the song produced together with Sony music producer AUTOMATIC, Uncommitted, is a chic urban pop song that attracted great attention."[2] Furthermore, the popular Canadian YouTube duo EatYourKimchi, well known for introducing K-Pop to foreigners, also reviewed Uncommitted: "From start to finish, the song is consistently solid and we’re totally digging it."[3] Also Kim Junsu described his recording experience with Automatic in his August 2012 Cyworld Music Interview: I also felt that I had a lot of freedom while recording my worldwide album. Because the composer respects the artist and the artist's feeling 120%, the recording was so pleasant. This time I choked and coughed a bit when I was singing, but the composer Automatic treated me so nicely, by telling me that I could rest as much as I want to or have a cup of warm tea and try again, that I didn't know what to do. It was pleasant to work with them."
Automatic also performs as lead vocalist in the group Asphalt Messiah.

## InRage Entertainment

With his experience as a music producer, Automatic was exposed to a range of multiple music genres that included rock, country, pop, and R&B. The constant pressure from the industry wanting him to focus on one genre, sparked Automatic’s interest to develop his own label. Automatic partnered with corporate attorney, Roger Doumanian founder of Fresh Element, to create an entertainment company focused on music diversity. In 2016, InRage Entertainment was re-born, when Automatic partnered with his wife, Ebony Rae Vanderveer, to expand the model of the entertainment company. The label is currently based in Los Angeles, California and functions as a record label, artist development company and music, film and television production company.

## Production and engineering

| Year | Artist | Song |
| 2023 | Sirena, Chyka Jackson | Hands Up - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2023 | Dorian Aleccia | On The Cusp - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2023 | Chloe Madeline | Follows Me Home - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Tally T | Give No Fucks - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Caleb Soto | Past Tense - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Autumn Cymone | Spoil Me - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Chloe Madeline | Heartbreak Series - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Chyka Jackson | The Most - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Caleb Soto | Let That Shit Go - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | ZorDonofDoom | Cracks in the Kindness - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Chyka Jackson | STRATOSPHERE - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Sirena | Playground - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Starla Marie | PRIME - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | In The Stars | In Retrograde - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Chloe Madeline | Heartbreak Song - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Chyka Jackson | Made By God - From the Award-Winning Docuseries After theLockdown: Black in LA |
| 2022 | Tally T | Walk Up - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Viva Victor | Omens - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | ZorDonofDoom | Fire & Snow - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Kimiko | Shine - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2022 | Ava-Riley | Second Chances - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2021 | Chyka Jackson | U-Bae - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2021 | In The Stars | HELLBENT - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2021 | Trish | Do or Die - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2021 | Tally T | Frosty - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2021 | Chris Hutton | Rewind - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2021 | Nyah | Trigger - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2021 | Madeline | Bruised - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2021 | Steve Englehart | Steve Englehart's Prism Club - Songs Inspired By The Creator of Shang-Chi feat. ALEXEY, M3DI, Nyah, Sirena, Chyka Jackson, Camber, & ZorDonofDoom - EP |
| 2021 | ALEXEY | ICING - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2021 | Madeline | Pray For You - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Camber | Noodles - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Dorian Aleccia | Crumbling Down - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | In The Stars | Desperados - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | M3DI | Human - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Alexey, Nyah | Coworkers Red Hook Remix - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Nyah, Alexey | Slowly Dying Red Hook Remix - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Chyka Jackson | Let Me Go - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Kimiko | Karate - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | ZorDonofDoom | Bended Knee - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Nyah | Slowly Dying - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Johnny Gas | Airbnb - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Estelle Morales | Rocks 'n' Chains - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Caleb Soto | Sayin' Bye - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Alexy | Coworkers - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | James Barmore, The Royal Quart | Frontline - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Nyah | A Thousand Wishes - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | James Barmore | Let's Get Stoned - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | KuiET | I'm the Man Now - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Dorian Aleccia | So Hum - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Nyah | Disconnected - Ep - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Sunknee Angel | Chaos and Confusion - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Klara Nazzal | Snakes - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | James Barmore, The Royal Quart | Saying Goodbye - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Nyah | Flowers on My Grave - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2020 | Klara Nazzal | Bleed - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Chris Hutton | Ugly - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Nyah | Maybe It's A Christmas Song - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | James Barmore | Hot Chocolate - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Chloe Madeline | States of Mine - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | ZorDonofDoom | Hypocrisy - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Sirena | Sangtha - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Camber | Neon Sundaes - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Nyah | Midnight - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | James Barmore | Grand Rising - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Autumn Cymone | Good Company - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | J'Dvonte | Trust - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Dominique | Shhh Is Fire - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Chyka Jackson | Dirt In My Eyes - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Michael Duca | Last A While - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | ZorDonofDoom | The Confuzzled - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Camber | Bubblegum Piñata - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Chloe Madeline | Stay Away - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Dorian Aleccia | You Know Better - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Raffaela | Butterfly Effect - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Sirena | Sirena - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Chloe Madeline | Magnetic - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | ZonDonofDoom | Absolute Confuzzlement - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Nyah | Empty Spaces - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Sirena | M.I.E.N - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Autumm Cymone | Crisco - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | Sirena | I am (Doin' Alright) - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2019 | ZorDonofDoom | Welcome to My World - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2018 | Michael Duca | Kathleen - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2018 | Viva Victor | Sirens - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2018 | Raffaela Capp | I Love Me - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2018 | Soto and The Krash | Soto and The Krash Unplugged, Vol. 1 - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2018 | Len Ron Hanks | Wendy City - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2018 | James Manning | Turn It Up - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2018 | James Barmore | Chromatic Spectrum - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2017 | James Barmore | New York, New York - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2017 | Soto and The Krash | War - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2017 | James Manning | White Flag - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2017 | James Barmore | Cherry Bomb - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2017 | Loomis | Look What You Made Me Do - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2017 | Autumn Cymone | Silence - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2017 | Autumn Cymone | Adrenaline - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2017 | Annie Cleary and The Fools | Annie Cleary and The Fools - EP - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2017 | Johnny B | Change feat. Ebony Rae - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2017 | Soto and The Krash | Elephant In the Room - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2017 | Moe Adams | Let's Get Together Now feat. Automatic - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2016 | Kim Junsu (XIA) | Rock The World |
| 2016 | Raja-Neé | Don't Marry Her - Grammy nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance & Best R&B Song |
| 2016 | Raja-Neé | The Battle (Angelo's Song) feat. Automatic - Grammy nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song |
| 2016 | Twice | I'm Gonna Be A Star |
| 2016 | Gabriela N | Lie to Me - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2016 | Kim Junsu (XIA) | Incredible |
| 2016 | Soto and The Krash | So Much Better - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2015 | The Unusual Prospects | Black Shiny Crome - Single - InRage Entertainment Recording Artist |
| 2012 | Kim Junsu (XIA) | Uncommitted - Artist's American debut single & music video |
| 2009 | Fabolous | Throw it in the Bag (Remix) |
| 2009 | Bettina Bush | She Is - #4 on Billboard Hot Single Sales Chart, & Cradle to the Grave - #2 on Billboard Hot Single Sales Chart |
| 2001 | Pink | Let's Get the Party Started (remix) |
| 1997-1998 | Raja-Neé | Double production deal with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis on Perspective Records/A&M Munchie |
| 1997 | Sweet Sable | Old Times Sake (remix) |
| 1997 | James Brown | How Long (remix) |
| 1995-1997 | Brownstone & Quo | Worked directly with Michael Jackson on vocal production & artist development on MJJ Music/Sony |

## Film and television credits

| Year | Film/Television | Studio | Credit |
| 2002 | 13 | Fox Searchlight | Cues |
| 2000 | We Can Play Together (PSA) | Fox | Sang & starred in international campaign for peace |
| 1998 | Hello! My Baby | WB Television Network | Cues |
| 1998 | Unhappily Ever After | WB Television Network | Cues |
| 1998 | Sister, Sister | WB Television Network | Cues |
| 1998 | Jamie Foxx Show | WB Television Network | Cues |
| 1996 | Low Down Dirty | WB Television Network | Soundtrack |
| 1993 | Stay Tuned | Morgan Creek | Cues |
| 1993 | Crush | Morgan Creek | "Taste" on Soundtrack |
| 1993 | Teacher | | |
| 1993 | Nick Freno Licensed | | "Taste" on Soundtrack |
| 1993 | Shame | | |

## Branding

| Year | Brand | Description |
| 2004 | American Airlines | Theme song & Jingle |
| 2003 | Xbox | Music for Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball |

## Companies

| Year | Company | Position |
| 2014 | InRage Entertainment | Executive Producer & Co-CEO |
| 2004 | Fresh Element | Investor, Multimedia director |

## Singer/Musician

| Year | Artist | Description | Release | Label |
| 2013 | Asphalt Messiah | Lead singer in rock/hip hop band | Dirty | InRage Entertainment |
| 1994 | Auto & Cherokee | Member of R&B Duo | Naked Music & Taste | Morgan Creek/Polydor Records |