Question: What do Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Cheryl, Shakira, Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Nelly Furtado, Keri Hilson, Jamie Fox, Jennifer Hudson, Ciara, P Diddy and The Pussycat Dolls all have in common? Answer: Hit records and Jim Beanz to thank for them.

Pennsylvania’s Jim Beanz is a five star threat; a producer, vocal producer, songwriter, singer and musician with a phenomenal track record for delivering international smash hits. Working with some of the biggest artists in the world, he’s also known to many as Timbaland’s protégé and the man responsible for the immortal line “It’s Britney bitch.”

“I wanted Britney to have something to make her stand out from all of the other female singers that were out at the time,” says Beanz. “I told Nelly to do Promiscuous Girl; she wasn’t sure about it, but it ended up being one of the biggest songs on the album. I always try to make a statement for an artist; I always want the song to stand strong” said Beanz.

Although still working with Timbaland, Beanz is now becoming a force in his own right and alongside signing new talent to his own imprint, Millennium Kid Music, he’s also been making a splash on the other side of the Atlantic; recently weaving his magic on close friend Cheryl’s recent chart-topping album A Million Lights – producing critic’s favourite “Sexy Den A Mutha” in the process.

“The musical chemistry Cheryl and I had in the studio was amazing; we started in New York, made our way to LA and then wrapped up the last song “Sexy Den A Mutha” here in London, even though the album was closed by then, but Cheryl insisted they squeeze it on!” said Beanz.

Following his work with Cheryl, Beanz turned his attention to the UK’s vibrant music scene and after setting up a summer residence in London, he had everyone queuing around the block for a piece of his unmistakable sound; sexy, raw, powerful and ridiculously addictive all at once. As a result, Beanz is already working on the forthcoming and much hyped albums for none other than JLS, Little Mix, Dionne Bromfield, Rascals and Polydor’s latest signing Dot JR.

“Working with some of the top UK artists has been amazing. I‘ve always been a producer/writer who loves to push the envelope and create something new. With so much of the same type of music in the world, I think its time to bring a breath of fresh air to the radio. That’s what I intend to do.“ explains Beanz.

It’s been a meteoric rise from his humble childhood in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where Beanz’s ears were engaged from an early age being raised in church surrounded by gospel music, with his mum a jazz enthusiast and his dad a Prince fan. It was during his parents’ divorce that the young Beanz started to investigate his instinctive relationship with music; “I really grabbed onto it for comfort when my father wasn’t around,” remembers Beanz. At the age of nine, he began violin lessons, before moving onto the piano, the organ and finally the drums. By the time he was in high school, Jim had formed the band Tre Sons, who were signed to Sisqo’s ‘90s R&B sensation, Dru Hill.

It was during this time that Beanz discovered a talent for production; not only tweaking top-lines, harmonies, melodies and ad-libs, but also adding sounds with noises created by his mouth. “I use my voice as an instrument, unlike a traditional vocal coach. I began manipulating my voice to sound like an old folk singer or an opera singer, a clarinet, or different weird things,” he points out. “I think that’s why Timbaland first gravitated to me.”

It was this approach to vocals that caught super-producer Timbaland’s ear in 2003. Timbaland’s long-time infatuation with Indian vocals, sounds, melodies and instruments led him to Beanz when he was passed a demo of an Indian vocalist Beanz was producing. Although Timbaland didn’t sign the vocalist, he was persuaded to take a closer look at the man behind the music. Although initially uncertain, he agreed to give a Beanz a chance and invited him to his Miami studio to work on the new Nelly Furtado album, 1996’s Loose. “I was basically thrown in to fail,” laughs Beanz. Luckily, he clicked with Furtado. “Nelly came into the studio with all these crazy ideas, but they were all over the place. I listened to her, suggested a few things, and she got what I meant straight away.“ Timbaland was immediately impressed, not only with Beanz’s ability to connect with major artists, but also with his approach to making music. It wasn’t long before Beanz was ingrained in Timbaland’s inner sonic sanctum and duly found himself working with Britney Spears, Nelly Furtado and Jennifer Hudson, going on to create some of the most memorable pop music of the last decade.

With his vocal-driven production and arrangements, Beanz’s hard-hitting drums and concept-driven compositions are making him one of the most interesting and forward-thinking producers making music right now. Beanz has an almost psychological approach to songwriting and composition; “It’s not always about the music, sometimes it’s about how you relate to a person and their insecurities” he explains. Inspired by everything from a car turning its ignition, to the rich sonic cultures of India, the UK and the Caribbean, Beanz also uses a lot of live instrumentation, often played by himself. “I try to create songs that will last lyrically. I try to make my music imitate life and to be a visionary with all the music I do,” he insists. “For me, it’s about telling a story and making a mark for the people that I’m working with.”