Behind the Beats: How a Late-Night Call Led to Mariah Carey’s Surprise Brazilian Funk Remix

When Mariah Carey dropped her surprise four-track remix EP for her latest single, “Type Dangerous,” it sent shockwaves through the music world. The project boasts heavy-hitting collaborations with the likes of Big Sean, DJ Snake, Busta Rhymes, Method Man, and Redman. But among these star-studded reinterpretations, one track is stealing the spotlight: "The Brazil Funk Remix" featuring Brazilian pop sensation Luísa Sonza.

Behind the track's vibrant, heavy-hitting rhythm is an incredible, fast-paced origin story. We caught up with the mastermind producer behind the remix, Vítor Rêgo, who gave us an exclusive look into the whirlwind process of bringing this cross-cultural collaboration to life.

From a Late-Night Call to Mariah's Playlist

For Vítor Rêgo, a Rio de Janeiro native now based in Los Angeles, the biggest moment of his career started with a midnight phone call.

"My manager, Joseph 'Screwface' Charles, called me late night on a Thursday," Vítor recalls. "He said he had the files for the next Mariah Carey release—at the time, 'Type Dangerous' hadn't even dropped yet—and told me that Mariah's team wanted a Brazilian Funk remix."

Because Charles had the direct line to Mariah’s label, Gamma, he acted as the bridge. The opportunity was massive, and Vítor didn’t waste a single second. He stayed up all night, pulling the track together.

"That same night, I got to work on the remix and sent it over," Vítor says. "In the morning, my manager called me back ecstatic. He said he loved it and that Mariah had already approved it. Next, we just had to find a Brazilian singer to record the Portuguese verse."

With Mariah's green light, Vítor immediately thought of Luísa Sonza.

"I called her manager the exact same day we got the approval and made the proposal," Vítor notes. "They were in absolute shock, but they hit the studio the very next day to record. Everything happened so incredibly fast."

Honoring the Passion of Brazilian Fans

Mariah Carey's bond with Brazil is legendary. Her fanbase there is notoriously dedicated, and Vítor wanted to make sure the track honored that energy.

"Brazilian people are the best fanbase to have," Vítor explains. "We are deeply passionate about music and culture. A lot of international acts are shocked when they perform in Brazil because they aren't used to that level of raw energy from a crowd."

He points to the era of open-broadcast MTV in Brazil as the root of this obsession. It was a time when Mariah’s powerhouse vocals, impeccable production, and iconic music videos were beamed directly into every household, cementing her status as an icon.

Because of that deep history, Vítor knew he carried a major responsibility.

"Producing a song for a project this massive takes more than just building a cool instrumental," he reflects. "I was responsible for making Mariah's Brazilian fans feel seen and heard. That's about emotion."

To protect the track's authenticity, Vítor handpicked a trusted team, bringing on writers Julia Joia and Tállia. He also insisted on hiring a Brazilian audio engineer, Raniere "Mixed By Rani" Mimoso, to mix the track. "Brazilian Funk is mixed in a very specific, unique way," Vítor notes. "If we didn't use a local mixer, it wouldn't sound authentic."

That "Mariah" Easter Egg? It’s a Secret Cameo

Listeners might catch a charming moment on the remix where a voice says, "Obrigada, Brasil!"—a direct nod replacing the original track's "Thank you DJs" line. While it sounds exactly like Mariah, Vítor revealed a fascinating studio secret:

The Voice: It’s actually writer Julia Joia, not Mariah.

The Backstory: Julia recorded the line as a temporary reference vocal. Vítor edited and processed it to match Mariah’s vocal tone so the icon could see how the final version would flow.

The Result: The reference cut sounded so spot-on and perfect that Mariah's team decided to keep Julia’s take in the final master.

The Power of Luísa Sonza

Securing Luísa Sonza was a major win for the project. With over 30 million Instagram followers and three Latin Grammy nominations under her belt, Sonza is an absolute powerhouse.

"Luísa is incredibly respected because she can sing literally anything," Vítor says. "Funk, Rock, Bossa Nova, Sertanejo, Pop—she handles it all. She never settles for what’s safe or trending; she’s always pushing boundaries. It’s no surprise her last album was up for a Latin Grammy.

Sonza’s star has been rising globally, thanks to previous tracks alongside Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, and Marshmello, making her the perfect bridge for Mariah’s track.

Battling the Mental Game

Surprisingly, building the track wasn't the hard part. Vítor actually conceptualized the entire beat while working out at the gym, going home to knock out the instrumental in a single night. (The lyrics took a bit more tweaking, going through four distinct versions led by Sonza in the studio).

Instead, the real challenge was psychological. "Honestly, the hardest part was dealing with it internally," Vítor admits. "Managing the anxiety, the fear of judgment, and the agonizing uncertainty of whether the song would actually get released—that took a lot of mental effort. You have to keep yourself grounded."

For a producer who grew up in Rio, founded his own independent label (Coliseu Records) in 2021, and worked his way through Berklee College of Music (even winning the "Producer Award" at the 2023 Career Jam Awards), this was the ultimate test.

"All I could think about was the endless days and nights I dedicated to music just to get a shot at a project this big," he says. "But then the fear of the label backing out would creep in. I tried my best to keep my expectations in check so I wouldn't end up devastated."

A Career-Defining Milestone

The Type Dangerous remix EP is out now, featuring Vítor’s standout Brazilian Funk flip alongside tracks like Busta Rhymes' "The Remix of the Gods" and Big Sean's "The Sean Don Remix."

Though Vítor hasn’t met Mariah face-to-face just yet, the validation of her approval is more than enough.

"I haven't had the chance to meet her, but I’m incredibly grateful just to be a part of her world," Vítor says. "Knowing she listened to my work, loved it, and gave it the green light is something I’ll hold onto forever."