As New York residents anticipate the summer sun, the dancefloor of popular hotspot Copacabana was transformed into a full-blown STRONG by Zumba session.
With a high-intensity exercise led by Ai Lee Syarief, one beat, in particular, riled up attendees. It’s the aptly titled “Knock ‘Em Down,” created by Grammy-nominated producer Sevn Thomas. Fast and slightly akin to his many hits (turn up Travis Scott’s “WAKE UP” and Drake’s “Pop Style”), the Toronto native gave the crowd another bop to add to the workout playlist.
Scoring a workout isn’t easy, but the pairing seemed ideal for Thomas. “It’s the perfect merge between music and exercise,” he tells VIBE before the big workout. “They go hand in hand with each other, they complement each other. A lot of people listen to music when they work out to get in their zone and channel that energy. I thought it made perfect sense.”
Thomas’ collaboration with the STRONG by Zumba brand falls in line with the non-dance workout and incentive to challenge traditional fitness regimens. Past collaborators include Timbaland, Steve Aoki, and Krewella. While Thomas isn’t the first hip-hop based producer, his take twists the brand’s sound with an arena-like quality and a high tempo beat.
“[“Knock ‘Em Down”] is energetic, intense—a driving force,” he said. “It’s the perfect pulse for an intense workout. I tried my best to represent that in the beat as best as I can.”
Thomas’ beat was used during the middle of the workout when legs were giving out and water breaks lasted a little longer than intended. As Syarief set up the next set of crossovers and squats intervals, guests like Chanel Iman were moving to Thomas’ beat with ease. Thomas also joined in on the fun, STRONG by Zumba gear and all.
“Sevn’s innovative sounds, blending of multiple genres with hip-hop beats and wrapped with a hint of his signature Caribbean-inspired bounce syncs perfectly with STRONG by Zumba,” said Zumba CEO, Alberto Perlman. “By working with world-renowned producers, we are able to provide the best, most motivating and unique beats in every class that drive the ultimate afterburn.”
For Sevn’s personal STRONG by Zumba playlist, the producer is all about trap beats and artists like Young Thug’s YSL Records signee Lil Keed.
“I really like trap music. That’s my type of stuff [to workout to],” he said. “I’ve been listening to a lot of Travis Scott. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with an artist named Lil Keed. I love Lil Keed right now, he’s one of my favorites. His brother, his name is Lil Gotit. I love Lil Gotit’s stuff too. I’ve been rotating that stuff when I’m in the gym doing my thing, I kind of zone out to that.”
But STRONG by Zumba’s workout not only came from a little inspiration from trap music but martial arts as well. Lead instructor and developer Syarief found her way to the brand in 2010 and has been the face of their many workouts like Zumba, Zumba Toning, Aqua Zumba, Zumba Sentao, Zumba Gold, Zumba Gold Toning, Zumba Kids/Kids Jr. and Zumba Step. Syarief says the latest Zumba workouts are less about perfecting reps and more about moving to the beat.
“There are so many fun movements. You’re going to sweat, you’ll go to your limit, it’s going to be hard. But the music is always there to push you,” she said. “Even though you feel like, ‘Can I still go?’ The music will push you and we don’t count reps. You won’t even think of the reps, just to move to the beats. That’s what makes it different than any other workout. We’re going to start a bit slow and then it’s going to increase the intensity until we really push your limits. You always have small, active recovery bouts in between so you can really catch your breath and then go full high intense, work hard. So that you have the afterburn effect and then you have the active recovery.”
When Thomas isn’t on the boards, he’s trying his hand at developing artists. Currently, he’s working with Long Beach native Gibby, a partnership that fits his organic approach, not molding them into a carbon copy of what’s trending.
“I think he’s going to be super special. He is super special but for the world not to see how super special he is[…] That’s one of the things I have on my agenda right now,” he said. “It’s super cool and interesting to work with a new artist because you see how chemistry and synergy work as well as working with somebody that gets it. An artist such as Gibby, he gets it, it makes it so much easier for me. It’s not as much heavy lifting, but it’s super dope to see how people are on the same wave and how they can exchange ideas with each other. The end result is always the best when you guys have the finished product, it’s kinda like ‘Look what we created together.’ That’s the fun part.”
Thomas also has a few major productions on the way, noting how he’s very booked and busy. “I’ve been getting in the studio with everyone right now,” he said. “So I‘m super excited to see how that unfolds.”
Learn more about STRONG by Zumba fitness here.