“ Finally releasing it felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Almost like closure,” says Claes Rosen on ‘If This World Were Mine.’ 

After many years, Claes Rosen has unveiled his track ‘If This World Were Mine‘ in an official format. What started as an unofficial bootleg of the iconic Marvin Gaye track turned into something that listeners demanded an official release of, and after many years of battles the track is here. We spoke to Claes Rosen all about this battle, the track and what’s next.

Hi Claes, thanks for joining us. Your take on ‘If This World Were Mine’ started life as an unofficial version, becoming viral online especially within the YouTube space. Can you tell us more about the crazy journey of the single so far?

“Yeah, it really was a wild ride, even if it might not seem like it from the outside. Finally releasing it felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Almost like closure. Over the years, I got so many messages from people asking me to put the song on streaming platforms, and every time I had to say “I’m working on it,” which honestly made me feel a bit bad. So the moment it was finally out, I made sure to go back and reply to those old emails, some of them were over 9–10 years old. A few people actually wrote back with shocked reactions, which made it all the more worth it. That part was kind of hilarious.”

We know that you were also approached by the family of Marvin Gaye in regards to rights for the track. What was it like to get the seal of approval from his family, yet ultimately turning them down to maintain the rights?

“Yeah, it took some time, but that was actually the response we got when we reached out through the label, possibly through their lawyers. Still, just getting a reply felt pretty surreal. Being in contact with Marvin Gaye’s family at all was a huge honor. But I had big plans for the song and felt such a strong personal connection to it, especially after all the amazing feedback over the years. So as much as it meant to me, I knew I had to go my own way and hold on to the rights.”

How did you balance staying faithful to the original while also making it distinctly your own?

“From the beginning, I knew I wanted to keep the smoothness of the original. Marvin’s voice doesn’t work with just any genre, but when I laid it over the chord progression, it just clicked. That’s when I knew I had something special. The flow of the track feels almost like waves on the ocean, it’s one of those songs you can have on repeat for hours. I’ve had friends tell me they’ve done exactly that, just getting completely lost in it.

When I create music, I don’t usually stick to one genre, but somehow my sound still comes through. Maybe it’s the chords or the funky bassline that gives this version its own identity. I do tend to lean into that old-school ‘80s vibe, and I think that influence naturally shaped the track into something that feels both true to the original and true to me.”

What production techniques did you use to capture the soul of the original in a more electronic, modern context?

“That’s a tough one, but honestly, that’s part of why it took so long to finish. I went back and listened to the very first version I made over ten years ago, and it really didn’t sound good. The vibe was there, but the drums just didn’t hold up, they felt weak and out of place. So I put it aside for a while, and then eventually came back to it with fresh ears and new energy.

I think what makes this track work is that it feels kind of timeless. The individual sounds aren’t particularly “modern”—the drums have more of a ‘70s feel, and nothing is overly polished. But when everything comes together, it just works. I’m super picky about how things should sound, and I really feel like I landed in a sweet spot with this one.

If anything gives it a more current edge, it’s probably the four-on-the-floor kick. That steady pulse adds a modern backbone, even though the rest leans into more classic elements. As for production techniques, there wasn’t really a secret trick, I probably just spent way too much time on it and got lucky. It was more about getting the right feel than chasing a perfect mix.”

Did reworking a song with such history change your relationship with your own music?

“Maybe only in the sense that it raised the bar for myself, haha. After putting so much heart into this one, and seeing how it resonates with people, I do wonder if it’ll be hard to make something that feels just as meaningful again. It hasn’t changed how I approach music, but it’s definitely made me reflect more on what I want my songs to say and how deeply they can connect.”

Was there a specific moment during production when you felt like the track truly came together?

“Yes there was definitely a moment when things clicked. It was during the second sitting, when I opened up the project again, swapped out the drums, and started fiddling with a compressor. Suddenly everything just melted together. That was the turning point.

The final step before I felt 100% satisfied was when I burned a CD with 20 different versions and listened to them all in my car. One track stood out, it had that feeling I was after, so I chose it as the final version.

The only issue? Somewhere along the way, the project file got renamed, and I spent days trying to track it down. I couldn’t find that exact first version, but the one that’s out now is really close. Safe to say, from now on I’ll be documenting every single change I make.”

Who else was involved in the creation of this remake? Are there any collaborators you’d like to highlight?

“Aside from the vocals, it was a solo effort from my side, which made the whole process very personal and close to heart.”

What’s next for Claes Rosen this year? Let our readers know what plans you’ve got in the works. 

“Next up, I’m finishing a new mix which has become a bit of a tradition for me around christmas and midsummer. This year it’s coming out a little later since all my focus has been on the release of If This World Were Mine.

After that, I’ve got another track lined up. It’s an instrumental with a strong ‘80s vibe eight minutes of flowing melodies. I’m calling it Stream of Consciousness, because that’s exactly how it feels.

But honestly, most of my energy this year will go into giving If This World Were Mine the reach it deserves. It’s tough to break through the noise these days, but I really believe in this one. I hope my fans and everyone reading this will help me get it out there. Come on people, let’s make it happen!”

You can listen to Claes Rosen’s track ‘If This World Were Mine’ here.