1 00:00:15,436 --> 00:00:23,676 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Before we get started, let's talk about Pushnick. Pushnick 2 00:00:23,796 --> 00:00:28,556 Speaker 1: is a subscription program available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. Subscriptions 3 00:00:29,076 --> 00:00:32,156 Speaker 1: members will get access to bonus content like extended versions 4 00:00:32,156 --> 00:00:35,476 Speaker 1: of Our Beastie Boys and Brian Eno episodes. You'll also 5 00:00:35,516 --> 00:00:39,036 Speaker 1: get ad free listening to many of your favorite podcasts 6 00:00:39,076 --> 00:00:43,556 Speaker 1: like Revisionist History, Cautionary Tales, The Happiness Lab, and Ours 7 00:00:43,596 --> 00:00:46,596 Speaker 1: Broken Record. You can try it for free for seven days. 8 00:00:47,036 --> 00:00:59,716 Speaker 1: Sign up for Pushnick and Apple podcast subscriptions. Mark Ronson's 9 00:00:59,756 --> 00:01:02,396 Speaker 1: big break as a producer came from working with Amy 10 00:01:02,436 --> 00:01:04,996 Speaker 1: Winehouse to find the perfect sound for her career to 11 00:01:05,036 --> 00:01:10,476 Speaker 1: find an album Back to Black, I Have No Time 12 00:01:10,716 --> 00:01:23,516 Speaker 1: to Champions with his same save. Since then, Ronson's gone 13 00:01:23,516 --> 00:01:26,196 Speaker 1: on to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and seven 14 00:01:26,236 --> 00:01:30,036 Speaker 1: Grammys for producing chart topping hits for artists like Lady Gaga, 15 00:01:30,236 --> 00:01:35,276 Speaker 1: Adele and Bruno Mars. Ronson's sound is often associated with danceable, 16 00:01:35,396 --> 00:01:39,476 Speaker 1: driving rhythm sections, which makes sense considering his background as 17 00:01:39,476 --> 00:01:43,756 Speaker 1: a renowned DJ. Recently, Ronson's put his musical knowledge on 18 00:01:43,756 --> 00:01:46,996 Speaker 1: display as the host of The Fader's new podcast Uncovered, 19 00:01:47,476 --> 00:01:50,196 Speaker 1: and this month he'll start in a multipart documentary for 20 00:01:50,236 --> 00:01:53,956 Speaker 1: Apple TV Plus that explores the evolution of music technology. 21 00:01:55,076 --> 00:01:57,716 Speaker 1: In today's interview with Rick Rubin, we'll hear Mark talk 22 00:01:57,796 --> 00:02:00,076 Speaker 1: about the day he met Amy Winehouse and how she 23 00:02:00,156 --> 00:02:03,356 Speaker 1: might have confused him for Rick Rubin. Mark also talks 24 00:02:03,356 --> 00:02:05,796 Speaker 1: about the night he fell in love with Djane, growing 25 00:02:05,876 --> 00:02:08,796 Speaker 1: up with his stepdad and foreigner, and how being isolated 26 00:02:08,796 --> 00:02:11,676 Speaker 1: from his studio during the pandemic caused him to think 27 00:02:11,676 --> 00:02:14,436 Speaker 1: his days as a pop music producer might be over. 28 00:02:18,396 --> 00:02:21,196 Speaker 1: This is broken record liner notes for the digital Age. 29 00:02:21,316 --> 00:02:30,116 Speaker 1: I'm justin Richmond. Here's Rick Rubin and Mark ronson where 30 00:02:30,116 --> 00:02:33,596 Speaker 1: did you grow up? I grew up in London. I 31 00:02:33,636 --> 00:02:36,756 Speaker 1: was born in England and I lived there until I 32 00:02:36,836 --> 00:02:41,316 Speaker 1: was eight, and then my mother remarried my stepdad. He 33 00:02:41,356 --> 00:02:43,516 Speaker 1: was English a musician, but he lived in New York, 34 00:02:43,556 --> 00:02:46,796 Speaker 1: so we all moved to New York. I definitely consider 35 00:02:46,836 --> 00:02:48,836 Speaker 1: myself in New Yorker. I mean I spent time going 36 00:02:48,836 --> 00:02:51,276 Speaker 1: back and forth now between London and New York, and 37 00:02:51,356 --> 00:02:54,076 Speaker 1: I've sent blocks of time in England, and I feel 38 00:02:54,156 --> 00:02:56,596 Speaker 1: very connected to England, but I do feel like a 39 00:02:56,636 --> 00:03:01,156 Speaker 1: New Yorker. Do you remember much of your life from 40 00:03:01,156 --> 00:03:04,956 Speaker 1: eight years old down. I don't think I remembered life 41 00:03:05,156 --> 00:03:08,396 Speaker 1: in London is and I was taking it in geographically 42 00:03:08,396 --> 00:03:10,476 Speaker 1: because you're you know, when your kid is just where 43 00:03:10,476 --> 00:03:13,716 Speaker 1: you live. But I definitely have memories from even though 44 00:03:13,756 --> 00:03:17,036 Speaker 1: my real father is not and i'd say real father 45 00:03:17,076 --> 00:03:19,116 Speaker 1: it sounds like a slight to my stepfather. I mean, 46 00:03:19,156 --> 00:03:21,356 Speaker 1: they're both really important figures in my life. At my 47 00:03:21,436 --> 00:03:25,716 Speaker 1: dad was really into music. He wasn't the musician, and 48 00:03:25,756 --> 00:03:29,276 Speaker 1: I just remember them throwing a lot of parties and 49 00:03:29,556 --> 00:03:31,436 Speaker 1: waking up in the middle of the night, like four 50 00:03:31,516 --> 00:03:35,796 Speaker 1: years old, going down and just seeing like all these 51 00:03:35,876 --> 00:03:39,316 Speaker 1: grown ups in this room, as you know, waist high 52 00:03:39,356 --> 00:03:43,156 Speaker 1: and sort of oblivious to like the hubbub and the mess. 53 00:03:43,196 --> 00:03:45,876 Speaker 1: I would just go towards the speaker of wherever the 54 00:03:45,956 --> 00:03:48,396 Speaker 1: music was coming from, and I would just sit in 55 00:03:48,436 --> 00:03:50,716 Speaker 1: front of the speaker and I would play air drums. 56 00:03:50,796 --> 00:03:54,156 Speaker 1: I would mime the drums and like, I have memories 57 00:03:54,196 --> 00:03:56,876 Speaker 1: like that, a lot of formative memories about music. And 58 00:03:56,916 --> 00:04:00,876 Speaker 1: then my dad did get me like a kid's drum kit, 59 00:04:00,956 --> 00:04:02,556 Speaker 1: because when I would wake up in the middle of 60 00:04:02,556 --> 00:04:05,876 Speaker 1: the night and go jam in front of the speakers, 61 00:04:05,916 --> 00:04:09,356 Speaker 1: somebody was I mean, there was always like Nigel Elson 62 00:04:09,356 --> 00:04:12,076 Speaker 1: who played drums with Elton John, or like Simon Kirk 63 00:04:12,116 --> 00:04:14,396 Speaker 1: from Bad Company. Someone was always over like late night, 64 00:04:14,396 --> 00:04:16,396 Speaker 1: and I think someone was like, you know, pointed and 65 00:04:16,476 --> 00:04:18,516 Speaker 1: was like, hey, you should get your son a pair 66 00:04:18,516 --> 00:04:20,796 Speaker 1: of drums. Like he's you know, he looks like he's 67 00:04:20,836 --> 00:04:23,556 Speaker 1: really into it. So I remember playing along with a 68 00:04:23,636 --> 00:04:28,356 Speaker 1: drum kit to the radio. Describe the household in England, 69 00:04:28,436 --> 00:04:31,916 Speaker 1: like what was your room? Like, describe the place? You know, 70 00:04:31,956 --> 00:04:34,276 Speaker 1: when I think about it, it does come back. So 71 00:04:34,316 --> 00:04:38,156 Speaker 1: I remember a bunk bed. I had meningitis when I 72 00:04:38,196 --> 00:04:40,476 Speaker 1: was a young kid, which is quite heavy. I didn't 73 00:04:40,476 --> 00:04:43,996 Speaker 1: have the there's two, there's viral, and there's something else. 74 00:04:43,996 --> 00:04:46,396 Speaker 1: So I had the one that you don't die from, obviously, 75 00:04:46,996 --> 00:04:49,596 Speaker 1: but I had to be taken to the hospital and 76 00:04:49,716 --> 00:04:52,636 Speaker 1: have like a spinal tap. I remember being in my 77 00:04:52,716 --> 00:04:56,916 Speaker 1: bedroom having I think, like having to be held down 78 00:04:56,956 --> 00:04:59,276 Speaker 1: and like, I mean, I don't have like the most 79 00:04:59,316 --> 00:05:02,956 Speaker 1: pleasant memories. Also my house, childhood house growing up, was 80 00:05:02,996 --> 00:05:06,996 Speaker 1: a pretty turbulent house. My parents were. They were like 81 00:05:07,036 --> 00:05:10,036 Speaker 1: a young couple. They had me quite young. I remember 82 00:05:10,076 --> 00:05:14,316 Speaker 1: fights and slamming doors and a lot of yelling and tears. 83 00:05:15,676 --> 00:05:17,436 Speaker 1: That's how I mean. I hate to say it sounds 84 00:05:17,436 --> 00:05:18,916 Speaker 1: like a downer and I love both of my parents, 85 00:05:18,916 --> 00:05:21,796 Speaker 1: but that's how I remember growing up in London. Yeah, 86 00:05:21,836 --> 00:05:24,596 Speaker 1: And did you have brothers and sisters? I had brothers 87 00:05:24,596 --> 00:05:28,236 Speaker 1: and sisters. My mom and dad had three of us, 88 00:05:28,396 --> 00:05:33,196 Speaker 1: me and two sisters who were twins. And then when 89 00:05:33,236 --> 00:05:36,436 Speaker 1: we moved to New York, my mom remarried and had 90 00:05:36,476 --> 00:05:39,036 Speaker 1: two more kids. My dad remarried and had three more 91 00:05:39,036 --> 00:05:40,556 Speaker 1: in England, so I have a big family. And then 92 00:05:40,596 --> 00:05:43,636 Speaker 1: two stepbrothers, so there's ten of us all together. Did 93 00:05:43,636 --> 00:05:48,316 Speaker 1: you move to New York four based on your mom's 94 00:05:48,316 --> 00:05:50,316 Speaker 1: relationship or did you move to New York and then 95 00:05:50,396 --> 00:05:53,276 Speaker 1: your mom found the relationship. No, we moved based on 96 00:05:53,316 --> 00:05:57,116 Speaker 1: the relationship. I see. We moved as she had fallen 97 00:05:57,156 --> 00:05:58,796 Speaker 1: in love with my stepdad. They fell in love with 98 00:05:58,836 --> 00:06:02,436 Speaker 1: each other, and he was like, come live with me 99 00:06:02,476 --> 00:06:04,596 Speaker 1: in New York. I mean, that wasn't the easiest thing, 100 00:06:04,636 --> 00:06:06,796 Speaker 1: I'm sure, because I know my dad didn't want us 101 00:06:06,836 --> 00:06:09,356 Speaker 1: to leave. But you know, somehow we go out to 102 00:06:09,396 --> 00:06:12,076 Speaker 1: New York. And would you say your relationship with both 103 00:06:12,116 --> 00:06:16,116 Speaker 1: of them was decent with both my parents or both 104 00:06:16,316 --> 00:06:19,516 Speaker 1: my dads, but let's say both your dad's first. Yeah, 105 00:06:19,556 --> 00:06:24,396 Speaker 1: definitely my dad like a lot of like English guys, 106 00:06:24,476 --> 00:06:26,596 Speaker 1: like growing up in the sixties, like he was like 107 00:06:26,636 --> 00:06:30,356 Speaker 1: a soul fanatic, like he had forty fives of stacks 108 00:06:30,476 --> 00:06:33,436 Speaker 1: winder k frog like not just that kind of obvious 109 00:06:33,516 --> 00:06:36,956 Speaker 1: things and sorry, And I remember he loved like he 110 00:06:37,076 --> 00:06:40,476 Speaker 1: loved horns and like soul music. And I even remember 111 00:06:40,876 --> 00:06:42,636 Speaker 1: when I was like really young, he like gave me 112 00:06:42,676 --> 00:06:44,996 Speaker 1: the CDs like I bought this. It was Day Last Soul, 113 00:06:45,156 --> 00:06:47,036 Speaker 1: the first album three Ft High and Rising. He was like, 114 00:06:47,076 --> 00:06:49,076 Speaker 1: I don't get it, Like you know, he bought it 115 00:06:49,076 --> 00:06:51,276 Speaker 1: because somebody who knew that he liked soul or groove 116 00:06:51,356 --> 00:06:54,036 Speaker 1: music said you should check this out. I remember he 117 00:06:54,116 --> 00:06:57,436 Speaker 1: had grand Master Flash in the Furious five the Message 118 00:06:57,476 --> 00:06:59,556 Speaker 1: and he played that all the time, Like so I 119 00:06:59,596 --> 00:07:02,556 Speaker 1: got this. I think I got this great love of 120 00:07:03,156 --> 00:07:06,796 Speaker 1: very rhythmic based music from him. And then my stepdad 121 00:07:07,716 --> 00:07:10,836 Speaker 1: would let me, you know, around with his equipment. He 122 00:07:10,916 --> 00:07:15,436 Speaker 1: had a ky little eight track recorders and I mean 123 00:07:15,476 --> 00:07:17,676 Speaker 1: he even had like a synclavier, which is I'm sure 124 00:07:17,716 --> 00:07:21,196 Speaker 1: you remember this crazy two hundred thousand dollars like programmable 125 00:07:21,236 --> 00:07:23,676 Speaker 1: sequencer that yeah. I mean he must have been laughing 126 00:07:23,716 --> 00:07:25,356 Speaker 1: when he was just like, yeah, go teach yourself how 127 00:07:25,356 --> 00:07:28,236 Speaker 1: to use that. But I could, like very wrote, teach 128 00:07:28,316 --> 00:07:31,276 Speaker 1: myself how to remake like turns trend Derby's wishing well 129 00:07:31,316 --> 00:07:33,356 Speaker 1: on it. So anyway, the fact that I got this 130 00:07:33,636 --> 00:07:36,636 Speaker 1: love of this music from my dad and then my 131 00:07:36,716 --> 00:07:41,076 Speaker 1: stepdad sort of fostered my basically like wanting to be 132 00:07:41,156 --> 00:07:43,556 Speaker 1: around equipment, wanting to play around with it, do that stuff. 133 00:07:43,556 --> 00:07:46,076 Speaker 1: So they were both really important in that. Did you 134 00:07:46,076 --> 00:07:48,636 Speaker 1: ever go on tour with your dad? I did when 135 00:07:48,676 --> 00:07:51,916 Speaker 1: I was six or seven. I mean I guess Foreigner. 136 00:07:51,956 --> 00:07:54,316 Speaker 1: That was foreign of four, you know, like Jukebox Hero 137 00:07:54,396 --> 00:07:56,396 Speaker 1: on Urgin and Waiting for a Girl like you. They 138 00:07:56,396 --> 00:08:01,756 Speaker 1: were playing these massive places and he took my mom 139 00:08:01,836 --> 00:08:04,916 Speaker 1: and me and my two sisters on tour and it 140 00:08:04,956 --> 00:08:06,476 Speaker 1: was amazing. I mean it was my first time going 141 00:08:06,476 --> 00:08:08,716 Speaker 1: around America, going to like Texas and going to six 142 00:08:08,796 --> 00:08:10,716 Speaker 1: Flags and just like this shiit like for a kid, 143 00:08:10,876 --> 00:08:14,796 Speaker 1: And the drum riser was probably like twelve feet tall, 144 00:08:14,876 --> 00:08:17,036 Speaker 1: like you know, these big kind of rock shows, and 145 00:08:17,396 --> 00:08:20,476 Speaker 1: they would let me go backstage behind everybody and like 146 00:08:20,516 --> 00:08:23,716 Speaker 1: crouch behind the drum riser and I would just play. 147 00:08:23,756 --> 00:08:25,996 Speaker 1: I knew the set so well, I would mind what 148 00:08:26,116 --> 00:08:29,236 Speaker 1: the drummer Dennis Elliott was doing. I definitely like that's 149 00:08:29,276 --> 00:08:32,116 Speaker 1: just certainly an ongoing theme for me. Was there every 150 00:08:32,116 --> 00:08:36,036 Speaker 1: time that you imagine being a musician like being a 151 00:08:36,076 --> 00:08:40,716 Speaker 1: performer musician. I mean I played in school bands, you know, 152 00:08:40,876 --> 00:08:43,316 Speaker 1: and in my high school band, and so it's like 153 00:08:43,356 --> 00:08:46,796 Speaker 1: this New York era of that we were like in 154 00:08:46,836 --> 00:08:52,716 Speaker 1: the band sort of mixed racially. There were two black musicians. 155 00:08:52,756 --> 00:08:55,036 Speaker 1: There was me and two of my friends, and it 156 00:08:55,116 --> 00:08:58,476 Speaker 1: was like the era of the black rock Coalition of 157 00:08:58,516 --> 00:09:01,436 Speaker 1: like twenty four seven, Spies Living Color, Like we loved 158 00:09:01,436 --> 00:09:05,236 Speaker 1: all those bands. And then I was super into the 159 00:09:05,276 --> 00:09:07,916 Speaker 1: Black Crows. Who knows have played like two Black Crows 160 00:09:07,996 --> 00:09:10,036 Speaker 1: covers in our set to I didn't even know. Hard 161 00:09:10,076 --> 00:09:13,276 Speaker 1: to Handle was by Otis Redding. And then there was 162 00:09:13,316 --> 00:09:16,396 Speaker 1: like this hip hops. I was discovering hip hop, so 163 00:09:16,436 --> 00:09:18,916 Speaker 1: we'd sort of had rappers come on stage. So anyway, 164 00:09:18,956 --> 00:09:20,396 Speaker 1: this is my band that I played with. We had 165 00:09:20,436 --> 00:09:22,596 Speaker 1: opened for the spin Doctors and stuff at Wetlands and 166 00:09:22,636 --> 00:09:26,556 Speaker 1: play The Bitter End. But I was the worst musician 167 00:09:26,556 --> 00:09:28,956 Speaker 1: in the band, like they get to other musicians could 168 00:09:29,036 --> 00:09:31,716 Speaker 1: shred and I like had feel, but I was just 169 00:09:31,876 --> 00:09:34,436 Speaker 1: like I wasn't going to be slash. I wasn't gonna 170 00:09:34,436 --> 00:09:37,556 Speaker 1: be Vernon Reid. But I got into DJing and I 171 00:09:37,636 --> 00:09:39,916 Speaker 1: always was a fan of like liner notes, and i'd 172 00:09:39,996 --> 00:09:43,436 Speaker 1: weirdly like read Billboard when I was six. So there's 173 00:09:43,636 --> 00:09:46,676 Speaker 1: things started to happen that I started to amass a 174 00:09:46,676 --> 00:09:48,916 Speaker 1: bit of a tool kit that was like, okay, well 175 00:09:49,316 --> 00:09:51,356 Speaker 1: I'm not good enough at this one thing. I'm not 176 00:09:51,396 --> 00:09:53,516 Speaker 1: really good enough at that thing. But if I amass 177 00:09:53,596 --> 00:09:56,876 Speaker 1: this sort of like AmAm of things that I love 178 00:09:56,916 --> 00:09:59,476 Speaker 1: and I'm interested in, and that's what led me to 179 00:09:59,836 --> 00:10:02,716 Speaker 1: being a producer. Oh why did you play in the band? 180 00:10:03,396 --> 00:10:06,156 Speaker 1: I played rhythm guitar, but like the other guy had 181 00:10:06,196 --> 00:10:09,236 Speaker 1: like the like Cramer, like the Kip Winger like guitar. 182 00:10:09,196 --> 00:10:11,716 Speaker 1: I was like shredding and like then it'd be like 183 00:10:11,756 --> 00:10:13,836 Speaker 1: my time is still in the set and like pre 184 00:10:14,276 --> 00:10:16,956 Speaker 1: like just playing like an average white band riff or something. 185 00:10:16,996 --> 00:10:19,436 Speaker 1: But I did love it. I mean I actually remember 186 00:10:19,476 --> 00:10:22,516 Speaker 1: my best friend from high school talking to him like 187 00:10:22,556 --> 00:10:25,756 Speaker 1: in the you know, sixteen, plotting your dreams, and I 188 00:10:25,836 --> 00:10:27,116 Speaker 1: was like, yeah, I think I'm going to be like 189 00:10:27,116 --> 00:10:30,476 Speaker 1: a guitarist in a in a band and all these things. 190 00:10:30,516 --> 00:10:32,916 Speaker 1: And Alex Kane he's still one of my best friends. 191 00:10:32,916 --> 00:10:34,716 Speaker 1: He goes, I just see you as more of like 192 00:10:34,716 --> 00:10:37,356 Speaker 1: a behind the scenes type of guy, and at that 193 00:10:37,476 --> 00:10:39,956 Speaker 1: moment I was like, you know, I probably like hung 194 00:10:39,996 --> 00:10:41,476 Speaker 1: up with him. I was like, fuck you dude, like 195 00:10:41,556 --> 00:10:43,476 Speaker 1: you don't know where I'm going, and he was like 196 00:10:43,516 --> 00:10:47,476 Speaker 1: completely right. Actually, how old were you with the first 197 00:10:47,476 --> 00:10:49,996 Speaker 1: time he started going to clubs ader when I was 198 00:10:50,076 --> 00:10:54,676 Speaker 1: thirteen or fourteen. I loved, like, I just loved all 199 00:10:54,716 --> 00:10:56,716 Speaker 1: these like English but I had the good things as 200 00:10:56,716 --> 00:10:59,076 Speaker 1: well about going back to England once or twice you 201 00:10:59,236 --> 00:11:02,316 Speaker 1: to visit my dad. I would discover things like Blur 202 00:11:02,556 --> 00:11:05,796 Speaker 1: and the Wonder Stuff and just EMF and just you know, 203 00:11:06,516 --> 00:11:08,916 Speaker 1: things that were just like really cool. That was you know, 204 00:11:09,636 --> 00:11:11,796 Speaker 1: back when it would take six months for a band 205 00:11:11,796 --> 00:11:13,996 Speaker 1: like that to get to Americas. You know, now everything's 206 00:11:13,996 --> 00:11:17,756 Speaker 1: so global and instantaneous. So I would get really excited 207 00:11:17,756 --> 00:11:20,516 Speaker 1: when these bands would come over to play in New 208 00:11:20,596 --> 00:11:23,116 Speaker 1: York at venues like the Marquis or the Ritz. But 209 00:11:23,356 --> 00:11:25,676 Speaker 1: of course I was twelve thirteen years old. My mother 210 00:11:25,676 --> 00:11:28,516 Speaker 1: wouldn't let me go to these shows. So I managed 211 00:11:28,556 --> 00:11:31,716 Speaker 1: to get a job writing for this inter school music 212 00:11:31,756 --> 00:11:34,156 Speaker 1: paper because I could tell her that I was going 213 00:11:34,196 --> 00:11:36,796 Speaker 1: to review the shows and she would let me. She 214 00:11:36,836 --> 00:11:41,676 Speaker 1: would let me go. And I interned at Rolling Stone 215 00:11:41,916 --> 00:11:45,716 Speaker 1: Magazine in the summers when I was like twelve, thirteen 216 00:11:45,716 --> 00:11:48,676 Speaker 1: and fourteen maybe, so I'd occasionally get like a freebee 217 00:11:48,716 --> 00:11:51,556 Speaker 1: tickets and go to shows. And I loved, I mean, 218 00:11:51,596 --> 00:11:53,796 Speaker 1: I loved going to shows. It was like, I remember 219 00:11:54,356 --> 00:11:58,116 Speaker 1: the Marquis so well. I remember like different venues. What 220 00:11:58,196 --> 00:12:01,396 Speaker 1: was the Rolling Stone office like when you were a kid? 221 00:12:01,476 --> 00:12:04,316 Speaker 1: What did that feel like to go there? That was incredible? 222 00:12:04,356 --> 00:12:06,556 Speaker 1: I mean I just felt like, I mean, I'm sure 223 00:12:06,596 --> 00:12:09,076 Speaker 1: it was even more relaxed. It wasn't like it was 224 00:12:09,236 --> 00:12:11,356 Speaker 1: in the seventies, but more relaxant was now. And I 225 00:12:11,436 --> 00:12:14,116 Speaker 1: was just this kid. It was like, they just give 226 00:12:14,196 --> 00:12:16,636 Speaker 1: me any job that could fit in, whether it's sometimes 227 00:12:16,676 --> 00:12:19,956 Speaker 1: like manning the switchboard because you had to like answer 228 00:12:19,956 --> 00:12:22,916 Speaker 1: the phone and like send people to different extensions. And 229 00:12:23,276 --> 00:12:25,636 Speaker 1: I would answer the phone. I'm sure my voice for 230 00:12:25,716 --> 00:12:27,996 Speaker 1: the first year or two like hadn't even broken yet, 231 00:12:28,036 --> 00:12:31,956 Speaker 1: so I'd be like hello, and then I would run around, 232 00:12:31,996 --> 00:12:34,876 Speaker 1: and it was back in the day when they compiled 233 00:12:34,916 --> 00:12:38,876 Speaker 1: their own album chart by calling thirty mom and pop 234 00:12:38,956 --> 00:12:41,756 Speaker 1: stores and doing a media and average and then deciding 235 00:12:41,756 --> 00:12:43,396 Speaker 1: what the number one record was. So it would be 236 00:12:43,436 --> 00:12:45,516 Speaker 1: my job to call. And there were people there like 237 00:12:45,636 --> 00:12:50,156 Speaker 1: David Frick, like Legends, Sheila Rogers, Anthony to Curtis, David Wild, 238 00:12:50,276 --> 00:12:53,076 Speaker 1: these really cool people that were just like thought it 239 00:12:53,156 --> 00:12:54,516 Speaker 1: was like kind of funny though it was just like 240 00:12:54,556 --> 00:12:56,796 Speaker 1: this kid running around and they could tell how into 241 00:12:56,796 --> 00:12:59,476 Speaker 1: it I was. I realized how lucky I was, and 242 00:12:59,516 --> 00:13:03,196 Speaker 1: how lucky I was how they treated me, like, yeah, absolutely. 243 00:13:03,876 --> 00:13:06,356 Speaker 1: What would you say was the first music that you 244 00:13:06,436 --> 00:13:09,116 Speaker 1: felt like with your music as opposed to your parents 245 00:13:09,116 --> 00:13:13,796 Speaker 1: parents music? My parents were like quite. I can't remember 246 00:13:13,836 --> 00:13:16,836 Speaker 1: if like my stepdad, even though it wasn't his music, 247 00:13:16,916 --> 00:13:19,196 Speaker 1: like he was interested in like the stuff that I 248 00:13:19,276 --> 00:13:22,836 Speaker 1: was into. But I definitely would say that early nineties 249 00:13:23,396 --> 00:13:27,596 Speaker 1: hip hop in New York, things like Black Moon, Pete 250 00:13:27,636 --> 00:13:30,796 Speaker 1: Rock and See like when I was fifteen sixteen, when 251 00:13:30,796 --> 00:13:33,076 Speaker 1: I discovered those things, that was really like my own 252 00:13:33,196 --> 00:13:36,516 Speaker 1: because even the heavier rock stuff wasn't that much of 253 00:13:36,556 --> 00:13:39,596 Speaker 1: a far cry from my stepdad and foreign and the music. 254 00:13:39,716 --> 00:13:42,916 Speaker 1: You know, he was shredding. So I would say that 255 00:13:43,436 --> 00:13:45,236 Speaker 1: the New York hip hop seeing the stuff that I 256 00:13:45,236 --> 00:13:48,796 Speaker 1: would hear on like Stretcher Armstrong. Yeah, would your friends 257 00:13:48,796 --> 00:13:51,076 Speaker 1: in school have similar tastes? Would you say? I had 258 00:13:51,076 --> 00:13:53,796 Speaker 1: two best friends in school, Alex Kane, who told me 259 00:13:53,836 --> 00:13:55,556 Speaker 1: I was never going to be a guitar hero. And 260 00:13:55,556 --> 00:13:58,836 Speaker 1: then my friend Daniel Sally, and he was. He was 261 00:13:58,836 --> 00:14:00,516 Speaker 1: like the first one to have Eric b and rock 262 00:14:00,556 --> 00:14:04,276 Speaker 1: him paid in full. And then there were like three 263 00:14:04,396 --> 00:14:07,316 Speaker 1: or four black students that I was friends with in 264 00:14:07,436 --> 00:14:09,876 Speaker 1: school that like if I would kind of put me 265 00:14:09,916 --> 00:14:12,396 Speaker 1: onto stuff. And then if I heard a song on 266 00:14:12,396 --> 00:14:14,236 Speaker 1: the radio that I'd taped on a radio show and 267 00:14:14,236 --> 00:14:15,556 Speaker 1: I didn't know what it was, I would bring it 268 00:14:15,556 --> 00:14:18,436 Speaker 1: into school the next day and be like, hey, like Conrad, 269 00:14:18,476 --> 00:14:20,036 Speaker 1: can you listen to this and tell me what song 270 00:14:20,116 --> 00:14:24,156 Speaker 1: this is? And you'd be like, that's NAS halftime, like 271 00:14:24,196 --> 00:14:28,596 Speaker 1: you've never heard the song before. And then those comrade 272 00:14:28,676 --> 00:14:31,676 Speaker 1: Michael and Jerry, who were the you know, three black 273 00:14:31,716 --> 00:14:35,076 Speaker 1: students in my class. They were in a musical talent 274 00:14:35,156 --> 00:14:37,636 Speaker 1: show and they knew that I had this equipment at home, 275 00:14:37,996 --> 00:14:40,876 Speaker 1: These samplers that were like, I barely knew how to 276 00:14:40,996 --> 00:14:42,956 Speaker 1: use and they were like, do you want to try 277 00:14:42,956 --> 00:14:45,156 Speaker 1: and make us like a track for this talent show? 278 00:14:45,196 --> 00:14:48,036 Speaker 1: It was like a judge by Reverend Al Sharpton. It 279 00:14:48,076 --> 00:14:53,476 Speaker 1: was in Stuyvesant. It's like cool, And my understanding of 280 00:14:53,516 --> 00:14:55,996 Speaker 1: how the samplers worked was so wrote that I had 281 00:14:56,036 --> 00:14:58,276 Speaker 1: to make sure that the samples were the exact same 282 00:14:58,316 --> 00:15:00,956 Speaker 1: tempo and hit play at the exact same time. I 283 00:15:00,996 --> 00:15:02,876 Speaker 1: didn't know how to sink anything up. It was just 284 00:15:02,916 --> 00:15:07,956 Speaker 1: like that. And then Michael Leo was like, you know, 285 00:15:08,716 --> 00:15:10,756 Speaker 1: it's like what you're doing is very similar to DJ, 286 00:15:11,276 --> 00:15:12,876 Speaker 1: like you know anything about DJ? And I was like, no, 287 00:15:12,956 --> 00:15:14,956 Speaker 1: what's that? And he's like, well, you're taking records and 288 00:15:14,996 --> 00:15:17,876 Speaker 1: you're mixing, you're blending tempos at the same thing. And 289 00:15:17,916 --> 00:15:20,276 Speaker 1: I think that was one of the first things I 290 00:15:20,316 --> 00:15:22,356 Speaker 1: ever put the seed in my head of like DJ, 291 00:15:22,636 --> 00:15:24,956 Speaker 1: Like what's what is that? And how old we at 292 00:15:24,996 --> 00:15:28,116 Speaker 1: that point in time? Sixteen and what was the first 293 00:15:28,116 --> 00:15:31,716 Speaker 1: time that you went to a club to check out DJs, 294 00:15:31,716 --> 00:15:33,956 Speaker 1: like where you were aware that there was a DJ 295 00:15:34,116 --> 00:15:37,196 Speaker 1: controlling the music in the room. I remember it really well. 296 00:15:37,556 --> 00:15:39,956 Speaker 1: My friends would all go to these raves that were 297 00:15:39,956 --> 00:15:43,196 Speaker 1: put on by NASA because it was all ages and 298 00:15:43,236 --> 00:15:46,476 Speaker 1: your acid, shrooms, ecstasy. You know, you'd be tripping and 299 00:15:46,636 --> 00:15:51,076 Speaker 1: everyone go dance to techno and then there was you'd 300 00:15:51,116 --> 00:15:53,556 Speaker 1: go and you'd like hook up in the chill out room. 301 00:15:53,676 --> 00:15:56,916 Speaker 1: I keep hearing Ricky Palla my head saying, I kids 302 00:15:56,916 --> 00:15:59,676 Speaker 1: say heckno to techno. He's like, you know his rapid 303 00:15:59,716 --> 00:16:02,116 Speaker 1: he used to do before the VSTs went on, which 304 00:16:02,156 --> 00:16:05,956 Speaker 1: is that's so funny. Yeah, But I just couldn't get 305 00:16:06,156 --> 00:16:09,676 Speaker 1: with the techno. I wasn't like snobby or something. It 306 00:16:09,716 --> 00:16:11,876 Speaker 1: was just because it was fast and it was like 307 00:16:12,076 --> 00:16:14,236 Speaker 1: it was straight. And I would always end up in 308 00:16:14,236 --> 00:16:16,476 Speaker 1: the chill out room where they'd be like an interesting 309 00:16:16,556 --> 00:16:20,716 Speaker 1: DJ like Dmitri from Delight or somebody like that. And 310 00:16:20,756 --> 00:16:24,916 Speaker 1: there was this DJ named Annie that was now I 311 00:16:24,956 --> 00:16:26,676 Speaker 1: know him and his real name is Annie A and 312 00:16:26,716 --> 00:16:29,876 Speaker 1: I but it was one like O n Dashy and 313 00:16:29,956 --> 00:16:33,116 Speaker 1: he was killing it. It was like cutting doubles of something. 314 00:16:33,956 --> 00:16:37,396 Speaker 1: And I went and I was just so transfixed, and 315 00:16:37,436 --> 00:16:40,996 Speaker 1: probably because I was, you know, on some psychedelic drugs 316 00:16:40,996 --> 00:16:44,196 Speaker 1: as well, and I was so captivated, and I really 317 00:16:44,716 --> 00:16:46,436 Speaker 1: think that that was just like one of those moments 318 00:16:46,436 --> 00:16:48,796 Speaker 1: where it's just like, oh, I want to do that now, 319 00:16:48,836 --> 00:16:51,996 Speaker 1: because like not only did I love the music that 320 00:16:52,036 --> 00:16:54,796 Speaker 1: he was playing, but obviously like watching you know, the 321 00:16:54,876 --> 00:16:58,596 Speaker 1: hands and it was just so it was so interesting. 322 00:16:58,636 --> 00:17:00,836 Speaker 1: So yeah, so that was kind of it. When you 323 00:17:00,876 --> 00:17:04,356 Speaker 1: went to the NASA parties as kid. What with the venues. 324 00:17:04,956 --> 00:17:07,756 Speaker 1: It was the shelter. It was that giant place down 325 00:17:07,756 --> 00:17:10,636 Speaker 1: on varick On. I think it was like one seventy 326 00:17:10,716 --> 00:17:13,596 Speaker 1: bar next really close to Wetlands, so it was this 327 00:17:13,756 --> 00:17:17,836 Speaker 1: really big giant warehouse and you would sort of like 328 00:17:18,276 --> 00:17:21,836 Speaker 1: wait online and it was crazy that the accessories that 329 00:17:21,916 --> 00:17:24,396 Speaker 1: people were where. It was like you would take a 330 00:17:25,356 --> 00:17:28,916 Speaker 1: dog toy of like Burt and Ernie the sesame street 331 00:17:28,916 --> 00:17:31,916 Speaker 1: guys and put it on a on a necklace around 332 00:17:31,956 --> 00:17:34,076 Speaker 1: like a shoe string around and then have like ski 333 00:17:34,196 --> 00:17:37,676 Speaker 1: goggles and then you would have to like take your 334 00:17:37,796 --> 00:17:40,716 Speaker 1: pumas like the Puma clides or like these classic shoes 335 00:17:40,716 --> 00:17:43,636 Speaker 1: to like the guy that would put platform like rubber platforms. 336 00:17:43,676 --> 00:17:46,796 Speaker 1: It was like, but yeah, everybody looked like this kind 337 00:17:46,836 --> 00:17:49,396 Speaker 1: of like freak. I mean, I guess it wasn't that 338 00:17:49,916 --> 00:17:53,956 Speaker 1: far from when you watch that HBO show that scares 339 00:17:53,956 --> 00:17:55,596 Speaker 1: me so much because the kids are just getting so 340 00:17:55,636 --> 00:17:57,716 Speaker 1: fucked up, and like, I'm like, a kids really like that. 341 00:17:57,756 --> 00:18:00,316 Speaker 1: But I'm like, oh shit, we were like that. It's 342 00:18:00,356 --> 00:18:03,196 Speaker 1: funny as you're describing it. I never made the connection before, 343 00:18:03,196 --> 00:18:05,476 Speaker 1: but it sounds like we could be talking about glam 344 00:18:05,516 --> 00:18:08,876 Speaker 1: and glitter rock, you know, like because it's definitely related 345 00:18:08,916 --> 00:18:12,236 Speaker 1: like that, the while the look isn't the same. Yeah, 346 00:18:12,356 --> 00:18:16,796 Speaker 1: platforms and yeah, yeah, and just looking like you wanted 347 00:18:16,876 --> 00:18:19,436 Speaker 1: to know, like you were really like marking who your 348 00:18:19,516 --> 00:18:22,076 Speaker 1: tribe was. Yeah, and it looked more almost like what 349 00:18:22,076 --> 00:18:24,276 Speaker 1: you'd wear on stage as opposed to what you'd wear 350 00:18:24,396 --> 00:18:27,596 Speaker 1: being an audience member. Yeah, it was. It was definitely 351 00:18:27,636 --> 00:18:30,356 Speaker 1: like you were wearing stuff to draw attention to yourself. 352 00:18:30,396 --> 00:18:33,156 Speaker 1: For Shure, it was like peacocking. Oh what was your 353 00:18:33,156 --> 00:18:37,316 Speaker 1: first DJ gig? It was at a bar on the 354 00:18:37,396 --> 00:18:41,636 Speaker 1: Upper east Side. I had my turntables for probably three weeks, 355 00:18:41,676 --> 00:18:43,356 Speaker 1: and there was a guy that I knew that through 356 00:18:43,436 --> 00:18:46,276 Speaker 1: parties where they let under h kids and on bars 357 00:18:46,316 --> 00:18:48,196 Speaker 1: on the Upper east Side. There were places like that 358 00:18:48,796 --> 00:18:51,116 Speaker 1: and the Upper west Side, and I just remember hassling 359 00:18:51,196 --> 00:18:54,236 Speaker 1: him and calling him and I probably lied instead of 360 00:18:54,356 --> 00:18:57,156 Speaker 1: in d DJing for three months as opposed to three weeks. 361 00:18:57,156 --> 00:19:00,196 Speaker 1: And I had one crate of records, like about half 362 00:19:00,196 --> 00:19:02,156 Speaker 1: a crate of hip hop and half a crate of 363 00:19:02,196 --> 00:19:05,876 Speaker 1: like funk and soul. Had no idea what I was doing, really, 364 00:19:06,516 --> 00:19:09,516 Speaker 1: and I hustled him like into giving me this gig, 365 00:19:09,716 --> 00:19:12,236 Speaker 1: and I had to take my turntables, you know, in 366 00:19:12,236 --> 00:19:15,036 Speaker 1: the back of a cab. It sounds like I'm exaggerating, 367 00:19:15,036 --> 00:19:17,036 Speaker 1: but it was a snowstorm in New York. I'm sure, 368 00:19:17,476 --> 00:19:19,276 Speaker 1: Like I'm sure the money I paid on the cab 369 00:19:19,836 --> 00:19:22,716 Speaker 1: was more than I got and there were like nineteen 370 00:19:22,796 --> 00:19:26,036 Speaker 1: people that showed up. But I do remember playing average 371 00:19:26,036 --> 00:19:28,636 Speaker 1: white band love Your Life, which is the sample for 372 00:19:28,716 --> 00:19:30,676 Speaker 1: check the rhyme by Tribe called Quest, which was like 373 00:19:30,716 --> 00:19:32,476 Speaker 1: a big song at that time. And I remember like 374 00:19:33,276 --> 00:19:35,236 Speaker 1: this guy coming up to me and being like, oh, 375 00:19:35,276 --> 00:19:37,236 Speaker 1: that's cool, Like how do you know about this music? 376 00:19:37,316 --> 00:19:41,676 Speaker 1: And I just remember, even when nobody was dancing this 377 00:19:41,876 --> 00:19:45,796 Speaker 1: clear floor, just this feeling of like it wasn't so 378 00:19:45,876 --> 00:19:49,716 Speaker 1: much the control, like from this Bengali thing of being 379 00:19:49,716 --> 00:19:51,956 Speaker 1: like I could control what everyways listened to, but just 380 00:19:51,996 --> 00:19:54,556 Speaker 1: this idea that what I play could affect the mood 381 00:19:54,596 --> 00:19:56,316 Speaker 1: of the room, or if I'd played things in the 382 00:19:56,396 --> 00:19:58,796 Speaker 1: right sequence, or I could you know, and I was 383 00:19:58,836 --> 00:20:01,236 Speaker 1: really bad at that point. I could barely probably put 384 00:20:01,236 --> 00:20:04,196 Speaker 1: two records together like and keep the tempo going. But 385 00:20:04,356 --> 00:20:06,636 Speaker 1: I just I knew that that was what I wanted 386 00:20:06,676 --> 00:20:08,916 Speaker 1: to do. We'll be right back with more from Mark. 387 00:20:09,116 --> 00:20:16,596 Speaker 1: After a quick break, we're back with more of Rick 388 00:20:16,676 --> 00:20:20,396 Speaker 1: Rubin's conversation with Mark Ronson. Do you think of yourself 389 00:20:20,436 --> 00:20:24,276 Speaker 1: primarily as a DJ or a producer or is it both. 390 00:20:24,876 --> 00:20:28,156 Speaker 1: I think I always wanted to make music, and then 391 00:20:28,196 --> 00:20:30,356 Speaker 1: the djaying thing took off in a way I couldn't 392 00:20:30,396 --> 00:20:34,396 Speaker 1: have really foreseen or imagine. The weird thing is that 393 00:20:34,436 --> 00:20:37,676 Speaker 1: they're very separate, but they inform each other so so much, 394 00:20:37,676 --> 00:20:39,636 Speaker 1: and sometimes not in a great way. Like back in 395 00:20:39,676 --> 00:20:42,036 Speaker 1: the days when I was supporting myself by playing five 396 00:20:42,156 --> 00:20:45,036 Speaker 1: six nights a week before I really made it as 397 00:20:45,036 --> 00:20:47,836 Speaker 1: a producer, and you're playing like other people's records and 398 00:20:47,956 --> 00:20:51,276 Speaker 1: Neptunes records in Timberland, and like coming into the studio 399 00:20:51,316 --> 00:20:53,676 Speaker 1: and trying to like find your own voice. The next 400 00:20:53,756 --> 00:20:56,756 Speaker 1: day when you're just clouded with like you know, seeing 401 00:20:56,796 --> 00:21:00,876 Speaker 1: everybody lose their minds to like, you know, a Neptunes track, 402 00:21:00,956 --> 00:21:02,876 Speaker 1: you're it's hard to find your own voice or it's 403 00:21:02,916 --> 00:21:04,996 Speaker 1: hard to really just like cut those ties of all 404 00:21:04,996 --> 00:21:09,796 Speaker 1: those influences, but they they really inform each other. I mean, 405 00:21:10,476 --> 00:21:13,356 Speaker 1: I would definitely probably now at this point call myself 406 00:21:13,396 --> 00:21:16,596 Speaker 1: a producer, but the DJ, I still DJ, and it's 407 00:21:16,636 --> 00:21:19,796 Speaker 1: still what kind of got me here in some ways. 408 00:21:19,836 --> 00:21:23,076 Speaker 1: You know, my first production gig I ever got was 409 00:21:23,076 --> 00:21:25,756 Speaker 1: this girl Nika Kosta, and it was because her manager, 410 00:21:25,796 --> 00:21:29,356 Speaker 1: Dominic Trenier, used to come hear me DJ and I 411 00:21:29,356 --> 00:21:32,476 Speaker 1: would play Rufus and Chaka Khan EPMD and then an 412 00:21:32,476 --> 00:21:35,636 Speaker 1: ac DC breakbeat and this thing. And I mean, I 413 00:21:35,636 --> 00:21:37,316 Speaker 1: remember when I was TJ in this club life. I 414 00:21:37,356 --> 00:21:39,436 Speaker 1: don't know if you remember, but the DJ booth was 415 00:21:39,516 --> 00:21:43,916 Speaker 1: right up against the stairs, cramped, it really wasn't a booth, 416 00:21:43,956 --> 00:21:46,316 Speaker 1: and you could see everybody coming down and it was 417 00:21:46,356 --> 00:21:49,116 Speaker 1: such an amazing So you know, I would see you 418 00:21:49,156 --> 00:21:52,796 Speaker 1: walk down with like Chris Rock and then Damon Dash 419 00:21:52,836 --> 00:21:55,076 Speaker 1: and Jay Z and there was Puffy at one table 420 00:21:55,116 --> 00:21:56,716 Speaker 1: and Jay and the other and they were doing like 421 00:21:56,796 --> 00:22:00,116 Speaker 1: I would go bad Boy Rockefeller, bad Boy Rockefeller tuned 422 00:22:00,156 --> 00:22:02,596 Speaker 1: song for song and they'd be like cheering and laughing 423 00:22:02,636 --> 00:22:05,116 Speaker 1: and like talking shit to each other, like it was 424 00:22:05,196 --> 00:22:09,596 Speaker 1: so wild to be there. But because I would play 425 00:22:09,716 --> 00:22:11,796 Speaker 1: these things that were like, you know, some of my 426 00:22:11,996 --> 00:22:15,236 Speaker 1: heroes and very influential people were at they would Dominic 427 00:22:15,276 --> 00:22:17,036 Speaker 1: Trinier came up and I was like, I have signed 428 00:22:17,036 --> 00:22:19,676 Speaker 1: this girl, Nica Costa. I don't know what her music 429 00:22:19,676 --> 00:22:22,196 Speaker 1: should sound like, but it's supposed to feel like one 430 00:22:22,196 --> 00:22:25,796 Speaker 1: of these DJ sets that you do, so you know, 431 00:22:26,036 --> 00:22:28,716 Speaker 1: so much of it is just hard to kind of 432 00:22:28,796 --> 00:22:33,916 Speaker 1: extrapolate from me in djaying, How much would you react 433 00:22:34,636 --> 00:22:38,556 Speaker 1: to the room, Like to tell me about the mindset 434 00:22:38,636 --> 00:22:42,236 Speaker 1: of djaying? How does the nights start and how do 435 00:22:42,276 --> 00:22:45,636 Speaker 1: you choose what's going to happen? Well, I mean back 436 00:22:45,676 --> 00:22:48,956 Speaker 1: in those days when I started, and I'm kind of 437 00:22:48,996 --> 00:22:52,236 Speaker 1: grateful for this, Like you would play a six hour 438 00:22:52,316 --> 00:22:54,676 Speaker 1: set sometimes, like you were booked from ten to four 439 00:22:54,676 --> 00:22:57,036 Speaker 1: in the morning New York clubs, so you had to 440 00:22:57,076 --> 00:23:00,636 Speaker 1: have this. You had to have like two hours of 441 00:23:00,716 --> 00:23:03,116 Speaker 1: like classics and soul and disco that you would start 442 00:23:03,196 --> 00:23:05,196 Speaker 1: the night where then you'd have your old school hip hop, 443 00:23:05,236 --> 00:23:07,956 Speaker 1: which was like at that time, old school meant you know, 444 00:23:07,996 --> 00:23:11,436 Speaker 1: an I think pre like ninety two classics, slick Rick, EPMD, 445 00:23:11,556 --> 00:23:13,716 Speaker 1: whatever it is. Then you would play your newest bangers 446 00:23:13,716 --> 00:23:15,196 Speaker 1: of the night. Then you had to have like a 447 00:23:15,236 --> 00:23:17,876 Speaker 1: solid reggae set and R and B and then take 448 00:23:17,916 --> 00:23:19,836 Speaker 1: it out maybe with a little house music or some 449 00:23:19,916 --> 00:23:24,476 Speaker 1: dance classics. So you would go into this room, this 450 00:23:24,756 --> 00:23:27,556 Speaker 1: empty room, and you would just watch it slowly fill up. 451 00:23:27,556 --> 00:23:29,716 Speaker 1: And I always loved the first hour because I could 452 00:23:29,716 --> 00:23:32,116 Speaker 1: play records I really loved, and it didn't really matter, 453 00:23:32,156 --> 00:23:35,196 Speaker 1: and that could be like outstanding by the Gap band 454 00:23:35,276 --> 00:23:39,796 Speaker 1: or something a little more obscure, and just slowly build 455 00:23:39,836 --> 00:23:42,156 Speaker 1: the night, and you would just focus on one group 456 00:23:42,196 --> 00:23:46,436 Speaker 1: of people. Because before camera phones and the smoking band 457 00:23:46,516 --> 00:23:49,476 Speaker 1: and all these things and vip boots, everyone stayed on 458 00:23:49,476 --> 00:23:52,236 Speaker 1: the floor. That's where you stayed. You couldn't find out 459 00:23:52,356 --> 00:23:54,516 Speaker 1: someone texts you to tell you there's a better party 460 00:23:54,556 --> 00:23:56,956 Speaker 1: across town, or you wouldn't see it on social media. 461 00:23:57,036 --> 00:23:58,796 Speaker 1: Like if it was a good night, people came to 462 00:23:58,836 --> 00:24:01,316 Speaker 1: the club and stayed all night, So you would focus 463 00:24:01,356 --> 00:24:04,316 Speaker 1: on like one group of maybe girls dancing, and like 464 00:24:04,476 --> 00:24:07,316 Speaker 1: you would that was your barometer. Like if one of 465 00:24:07,356 --> 00:24:09,516 Speaker 1: the crew dropped off to go to the are something 466 00:24:09,556 --> 00:24:11,316 Speaker 1: you're like, oh shit, I'm not killing it enough, like 467 00:24:11,436 --> 00:24:15,036 Speaker 1: gonna and reacting to the crowd. And then if you 468 00:24:15,116 --> 00:24:19,196 Speaker 1: played something like, you know, a breakbeat or something like that, 469 00:24:19,196 --> 00:24:22,436 Speaker 1: that made all like the b boys suddenly form a 470 00:24:22,516 --> 00:24:24,716 Speaker 1: circle and they'd start breaking or like kind of into 471 00:24:24,756 --> 00:24:26,276 Speaker 1: it for a second. But then you're like, I got 472 00:24:26,356 --> 00:24:28,636 Speaker 1: to play something else, though, because now like this turning 473 00:24:28,676 --> 00:24:31,636 Speaker 1: into like wild style and I need like everybody dancing. 474 00:24:31,676 --> 00:24:35,436 Speaker 1: And it's like there were just so many like tells 475 00:24:35,436 --> 00:24:38,316 Speaker 1: and signals and things that you would read, and most 476 00:24:38,316 --> 00:24:41,156 Speaker 1: of the time you're also feeding off the crowd. And 477 00:24:41,196 --> 00:24:44,076 Speaker 1: I remember that I love to play things that were 478 00:24:44,076 --> 00:24:47,396 Speaker 1: a little bit unexpected. So obviously something like back in 479 00:24:47,476 --> 00:24:50,796 Speaker 1: Black by ACDC feels like a breakbeat, like it feels 480 00:24:50,796 --> 00:24:53,236 Speaker 1: as hip hop as anything at this point, but they 481 00:24:53,276 --> 00:24:55,716 Speaker 1: weren't really playing that in the clubs. And I remember 482 00:24:55,756 --> 00:24:59,756 Speaker 1: when the Benjamin's came out by Puffy and Biggie and 483 00:24:59,756 --> 00:25:02,076 Speaker 1: then there was a rock remix, So I was like, 484 00:25:02,076 --> 00:25:04,156 Speaker 1: if I played the Benjamins and go straight to the 485 00:25:04,236 --> 00:25:06,796 Speaker 1: rock remix on the downbeat of Biggie's verse, no one's 486 00:25:06,836 --> 00:25:08,996 Speaker 1: gonna stop dancing. It's Biggie and then right on the 487 00:25:09,156 --> 00:25:10,956 Speaker 1: down beat when big Self dis first, I can drop 488 00:25:10,996 --> 00:25:14,436 Speaker 1: ac DC back in black and everyone's dancing, like doesn't 489 00:25:14,436 --> 00:25:17,036 Speaker 1: realize they're still dancing. It's something that's unfamiliar. Like I 490 00:25:17,076 --> 00:25:20,996 Speaker 1: loved being able to do that. And then when Seven 491 00:25:21,076 --> 00:25:23,436 Speaker 1: Nation Army came out and a couple of songs that 492 00:25:24,316 --> 00:25:27,316 Speaker 1: were not hip hop but like just felt very hip hop. 493 00:25:27,356 --> 00:25:29,356 Speaker 1: I could get away with playing these that got very 494 00:25:29,396 --> 00:25:31,756 Speaker 1: exciting and I was like, okay, and there was you know, 495 00:25:31,836 --> 00:25:34,956 Speaker 1: DJ AM on the West Coast. It was incredible. The 496 00:25:35,036 --> 00:25:38,716 Speaker 1: best of everybody me stretched like trying to push the 497 00:25:38,716 --> 00:25:41,356 Speaker 1: limits of what you could get away within the hip 498 00:25:41,396 --> 00:25:46,556 Speaker 1: hop club essentially. How different are the club scenes around 499 00:25:46,596 --> 00:25:49,636 Speaker 1: the world. In the beginning, the only place I really 500 00:25:49,676 --> 00:25:53,596 Speaker 1: went was Japan, Tokyo, because Tokyo had such a like 501 00:25:53,596 --> 00:25:57,836 Speaker 1: a symbiotic relationship back and forth with New York with music, 502 00:25:57,956 --> 00:26:01,676 Speaker 1: street culture groups, everything, So that was kind of amazing. 503 00:26:01,676 --> 00:26:04,316 Speaker 1: And that was the first time going over there and 504 00:26:04,916 --> 00:26:08,396 Speaker 1: people being really excited about you because you're from somewhere else. 505 00:26:08,436 --> 00:26:11,436 Speaker 1: And then the Japanese crowds are it's such a you know, 506 00:26:11,516 --> 00:26:13,676 Speaker 1: they're really grateful that you've come there as well, so 507 00:26:13,836 --> 00:26:16,356 Speaker 1: you know New York, I would I was doing good 508 00:26:16,356 --> 00:26:18,316 Speaker 1: and killing it, but like, nobody's going to make a 509 00:26:18,356 --> 00:26:20,436 Speaker 1: fuss over you in New York, especially if they're seeing 510 00:26:20,436 --> 00:26:23,996 Speaker 1: you three times a week. So Japan was really great. 511 00:26:23,996 --> 00:26:26,916 Speaker 1: And I remember when my first album came out, I 512 00:26:26,956 --> 00:26:28,956 Speaker 1: had this song on there that was like this sort 513 00:26:28,996 --> 00:26:31,116 Speaker 1: of like minor hip hop hit with ghost Face and 514 00:26:31,196 --> 00:26:34,516 Speaker 1: Nate Dog called Ui. And I went over to Japan 515 00:26:35,236 --> 00:26:37,316 Speaker 1: where it was like big So I've been to Japan 516 00:26:37,356 --> 00:26:39,036 Speaker 1: a couple of times, but this is me going over 517 00:26:39,076 --> 00:26:41,396 Speaker 1: there now the first time with like a record that's popping. 518 00:26:42,196 --> 00:26:44,676 Speaker 1: And I never got on the mic before because I 519 00:26:44,676 --> 00:26:47,636 Speaker 1: always thought getting on the mic was like the provenance 520 00:26:47,716 --> 00:26:51,476 Speaker 1: of like flex enough, big Cat, these people with these 521 00:26:51,516 --> 00:26:54,596 Speaker 1: great booming voices. I just had this like unspoken thing 522 00:26:54,596 --> 00:26:57,796 Speaker 1: that like white people should not be on the mic, 523 00:26:57,916 --> 00:27:00,156 Speaker 1: like whatever it was, it just and it wasn't a thing. 524 00:27:01,116 --> 00:27:03,996 Speaker 1: And I was djaying and I was doing my regular 525 00:27:04,036 --> 00:27:06,036 Speaker 1: set in what I thought was killing it, and I 526 00:27:06,036 --> 00:27:08,956 Speaker 1: could feel the crowd there was just like unspoken ten 527 00:27:09,196 --> 00:27:13,356 Speaker 1: and then this hushed like they weren't losing their minds 528 00:27:13,396 --> 00:27:15,556 Speaker 1: like other times that I'd gone there and I was like, 529 00:27:15,596 --> 00:27:18,476 Speaker 1: you know what, like I have to establish a connection. 530 00:27:18,556 --> 00:27:20,956 Speaker 1: Like as much as I hate it, there's this wireless 531 00:27:20,996 --> 00:27:22,916 Speaker 1: mic right here to my left, and I'm gonna have 532 00:27:22,956 --> 00:27:26,156 Speaker 1: to pick it up and say something to engage and 533 00:27:26,356 --> 00:27:28,276 Speaker 1: make some kind of bond and acknowledge that there's this 534 00:27:28,356 --> 00:27:30,356 Speaker 1: crowded to see me or it's going to stay in 535 00:27:30,356 --> 00:27:33,316 Speaker 1: this weird zone. And I did, and I was like 536 00:27:33,396 --> 00:27:36,596 Speaker 1: hey too, like so awkwardly, I'm sure, Tokyo, like just 537 00:27:37,156 --> 00:27:40,196 Speaker 1: doing whatever i'd probably learned from like watching real rap 538 00:27:40,276 --> 00:27:44,116 Speaker 1: DJs get on the mic, and from that moment they 539 00:27:44,276 --> 00:27:46,156 Speaker 1: just lost their ship and it was amazing. They were 540 00:27:46,196 --> 00:27:48,276 Speaker 1: just waiting for me to say like thank you and 541 00:27:48,356 --> 00:27:50,916 Speaker 1: be like we're in this place together. And so I 542 00:27:50,956 --> 00:27:53,516 Speaker 1: sort of learned after that like like any other place 543 00:27:53,556 --> 00:27:56,996 Speaker 1: that I went, I didn't need to do that. And 544 00:27:56,996 --> 00:27:59,796 Speaker 1: that felt very like, very foreign to me. At first. 545 00:28:00,316 --> 00:28:04,836 Speaker 1: London I loved because it was so exciting coming back 546 00:28:04,876 --> 00:28:08,556 Speaker 1: there having grown up in England but like until eight 547 00:28:08,596 --> 00:28:10,756 Speaker 1: but the feeling like a total New Yorker and coming back. 548 00:28:10,836 --> 00:28:13,476 Speaker 1: And I think the first time was Puffy brought me 549 00:28:14,036 --> 00:28:16,116 Speaker 1: and he was like doing a you know, some kind 550 00:28:16,156 --> 00:28:20,676 Speaker 1: of promo tour and getting to kill it in London 551 00:28:21,596 --> 00:28:24,836 Speaker 1: was like really really wonderful, and it felt like and 552 00:28:24,836 --> 00:28:26,836 Speaker 1: then as I started coming back to London more and 553 00:28:26,876 --> 00:28:30,236 Speaker 1: more and rediscovering my roots there and going around record 554 00:28:30,276 --> 00:28:33,756 Speaker 1: stores then and that's what led to me meeting Lily 555 00:28:33,796 --> 00:28:36,196 Speaker 1: Allen and Amy Winehouse and these people like that was 556 00:28:36,236 --> 00:28:39,556 Speaker 1: like another chapter. But at first I was just like whoa, 557 00:28:39,676 --> 00:28:41,956 Speaker 1: this is great, Like I'm back in London and this thing. 558 00:28:41,996 --> 00:28:45,516 Speaker 1: And I was so fucking New York at that point. 559 00:28:45,556 --> 00:28:48,236 Speaker 1: I wasn't really in my head like feeling like I 560 00:28:48,276 --> 00:28:51,676 Speaker 1: was London cool. Tell me about Amy. I never got 561 00:28:51,676 --> 00:28:56,036 Speaker 1: to meet her. She was. I hate to sound corny, 562 00:28:56,116 --> 00:28:58,836 Speaker 1: but she really changed my life. Like I was, I 563 00:28:58,956 --> 00:29:02,836 Speaker 1: was not popping in industry parlance. And she came to 564 00:29:02,956 --> 00:29:08,276 Speaker 1: my studio in New York and this is actually quite funny. 565 00:29:08,276 --> 00:29:11,396 Speaker 1: This is literally what happened. And I came guy meet 566 00:29:11,476 --> 00:29:13,396 Speaker 1: my friend who was at EMI Publishing was like, do 567 00:29:13,396 --> 00:29:15,076 Speaker 1: you know Amy Winehouse? And I was like yeah, I 568 00:29:15,076 --> 00:29:16,916 Speaker 1: like that. For her first record, she had this song 569 00:29:16,956 --> 00:29:19,676 Speaker 1: in My Bed produced by salam Remy that he reused 570 00:29:19,716 --> 00:29:21,756 Speaker 1: and made you look beat, and I was like, yeah, 571 00:29:21,836 --> 00:29:24,636 Speaker 1: she seems cool, like He's like, she's in New York 572 00:29:24,716 --> 00:29:26,596 Speaker 1: for a day meeting with a couple of people, Like, 573 00:29:26,636 --> 00:29:28,996 Speaker 1: do you want to meet with her? And I was 574 00:29:29,036 --> 00:29:31,636 Speaker 1: like sure. So she comes to my studio and you know, 575 00:29:31,716 --> 00:29:35,036 Speaker 1: downtown Mercer Street, and I met her at the door 576 00:29:36,316 --> 00:29:38,156 Speaker 1: and she was like, yeah, I'm going up to see 577 00:29:38,196 --> 00:29:41,756 Speaker 1: Mark Ronson and I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm 578 00:29:41,796 --> 00:29:45,356 Speaker 1: Mark and she's like cool, yeah, So he take me 579 00:29:45,436 --> 00:29:47,196 Speaker 1: up to see him and I was like no, no, no, 580 00:29:47,436 --> 00:29:51,036 Speaker 1: I'm Mark Ronson and she was like, oh, I thought 581 00:29:51,036 --> 00:29:53,076 Speaker 1: you had a long bed or something. I think in 582 00:29:53,116 --> 00:29:56,716 Speaker 1: her mind maybe the fact that like she had heard 583 00:29:56,796 --> 00:30:00,076 Speaker 1: my name for longer, because maybe in England, like she 584 00:30:00,196 --> 00:30:02,996 Speaker 1: just assumed I was like somebody who'd been around for 585 00:30:02,996 --> 00:30:05,116 Speaker 1: a while. But in my head I was always like, 586 00:30:05,236 --> 00:30:07,676 Speaker 1: did she think I'm Rick Rubin? Like I have no idea. 587 00:30:07,956 --> 00:30:11,556 Speaker 1: So we went up in the elevator and you know, 588 00:30:11,596 --> 00:30:13,476 Speaker 1: I'm sure I don't know how you do it, but 589 00:30:13,636 --> 00:30:15,676 Speaker 1: everybody has their own toolbox. And I was just like, 590 00:30:15,716 --> 00:30:17,356 Speaker 1: what kind of record do you want to make? Like 591 00:30:17,436 --> 00:30:19,076 Speaker 1: what do you what do you like? What are you 592 00:30:19,116 --> 00:30:22,156 Speaker 1: listening to? And she played me a lot of girl 593 00:30:22,196 --> 00:30:25,196 Speaker 1: groups stuff in the sixties, things like the Shan Garlas 594 00:30:25,236 --> 00:30:27,556 Speaker 1: and like jukebox pop music and thinks I didn't really 595 00:30:27,596 --> 00:30:30,556 Speaker 1: know that well except for like probably like movies like 596 00:30:30,596 --> 00:30:33,436 Speaker 1: Good Fellas, you know, like like it was so before 597 00:30:33,596 --> 00:30:35,596 Speaker 1: funk and soul and disco and the ship that I played. 598 00:30:35,596 --> 00:30:37,836 Speaker 1: But I loved it. I mean it was cut from 599 00:30:37,836 --> 00:30:41,316 Speaker 1: the same cloth. When I was like cool and she 600 00:30:41,876 --> 00:30:43,916 Speaker 1: left and I was like, I just have a feeling. 601 00:30:43,956 --> 00:30:45,516 Speaker 1: First of all, we really hit it off and I 602 00:30:45,596 --> 00:30:48,316 Speaker 1: loved and there was something very familiar, and I suddenly 603 00:30:48,316 --> 00:30:51,036 Speaker 1: felt very English and Jewish in North London, like she 604 00:30:51,356 --> 00:30:55,196 Speaker 1: reminded me of all those things, and there's a shared humor, 605 00:30:55,316 --> 00:30:57,556 Speaker 1: Like she was definitely much sharper with the width than 606 00:30:57,596 --> 00:31:00,316 Speaker 1: I was, but but there was an instant rapport and 607 00:31:00,356 --> 00:31:02,756 Speaker 1: I just remember her leaving that evening and being like, 608 00:31:02,796 --> 00:31:06,876 Speaker 1: I gotta make something that like makes this girl like 609 00:31:06,996 --> 00:31:08,796 Speaker 1: want to stay in New York for another day, Like 610 00:31:08,876 --> 00:31:10,916 Speaker 1: I just like I want to make music with her. 611 00:31:10,956 --> 00:31:13,436 Speaker 1: And I suddenly felt I wasn't even pressure, I was 612 00:31:13,436 --> 00:31:16,156 Speaker 1: just inspired. So I came up with a little like 613 00:31:16,916 --> 00:31:20,316 Speaker 1: piano and instrumental, like just very bare bones tractor back 614 00:31:20,356 --> 00:31:22,076 Speaker 1: to black, and I played it for the next day 615 00:31:22,116 --> 00:31:24,276 Speaker 1: when she came in and she dug it and then 616 00:31:24,276 --> 00:31:28,436 Speaker 1: she stayed around. But she was in a really together 617 00:31:28,596 --> 00:31:30,756 Speaker 1: part of her life when I met her. When we 618 00:31:30,796 --> 00:31:34,716 Speaker 1: worked together, I remember she hadn't been for a little 619 00:31:34,716 --> 00:31:36,716 Speaker 1: while before that, and I even remember some of my 620 00:31:36,756 --> 00:31:39,476 Speaker 1: English friends being like, oh, you're working on Amy Wine. 621 00:31:39,516 --> 00:31:40,876 Speaker 1: I was like, good luck with that one. Like I 622 00:31:40,916 --> 00:31:44,396 Speaker 1: heard she's been working on that record for three years already, 623 00:31:44,396 --> 00:31:45,916 Speaker 1: and you know, I think there was a long space 624 00:31:46,316 --> 00:31:48,916 Speaker 1: between her two albums, And I was like, I don't 625 00:31:48,916 --> 00:31:50,836 Speaker 1: know what you're talking about, because this girl comes in 626 00:31:50,876 --> 00:31:53,956 Speaker 1: and she's fucking playing me these incredible songs. She's sharp 627 00:31:54,036 --> 00:31:57,556 Speaker 1: as attack, she's hilarious. So that's why even when she 628 00:31:57,676 --> 00:32:00,876 Speaker 1: told me the story about the song, Rehab came about 629 00:32:00,916 --> 00:32:04,996 Speaker 1: because we were walking around Soho one afternoon and she 630 00:32:05,196 --> 00:32:07,436 Speaker 1: was like, yeah, yeah, I wasn't always like this like 631 00:32:07,476 --> 00:32:09,476 Speaker 1: I was. You should have seen me in bass like 632 00:32:09,476 --> 00:32:11,916 Speaker 1: I used to see me a year ago. Like my family, 633 00:32:11,916 --> 00:32:14,276 Speaker 1: they're also worried about me and my manager and like 634 00:32:14,756 --> 00:32:16,636 Speaker 1: my dad came over and they tried to make me 635 00:32:16,676 --> 00:32:18,836 Speaker 1: go to rehab and I was like no, no, no, 636 00:32:19,316 --> 00:32:22,316 Speaker 1: And I remember thinking like, of course, if this was 637 00:32:22,316 --> 00:32:24,396 Speaker 1: somebody who was in durest or. It seemed like not 638 00:32:24,476 --> 00:32:26,516 Speaker 1: in a good way. I wouldn't have said, like that's hilarious, 639 00:32:26,556 --> 00:32:28,396 Speaker 1: let's gonna make a somment because I'm looking at somebody 640 00:32:28,396 --> 00:32:32,276 Speaker 1: who's like so together and this is such a closed 641 00:32:32,396 --> 00:32:34,476 Speaker 1: chapter of their life, like you know what, Like I 642 00:32:34,516 --> 00:32:36,996 Speaker 1: hate to do shit that's like gimmicky, but that is 643 00:32:37,156 --> 00:32:39,676 Speaker 1: like very hooky. Just the way you said that, so 644 00:32:39,756 --> 00:32:42,476 Speaker 1: like she was just she would like go back to 645 00:32:42,556 --> 00:32:45,636 Speaker 1: the Soho Grand Hotel where she was staying every night. 646 00:32:45,676 --> 00:32:47,356 Speaker 1: It was five blocks from my studio and like get 647 00:32:47,396 --> 00:32:49,916 Speaker 1: on the treadmill for like an hour, like and then 648 00:32:50,076 --> 00:32:52,396 Speaker 1: go to bed like we were. It was a lot 649 00:32:52,396 --> 00:32:54,516 Speaker 1: of fun. I mean, we are rarely only in the 650 00:32:54,556 --> 00:32:58,236 Speaker 1: studio six days probably that whole record, So I wish 651 00:32:58,276 --> 00:32:59,956 Speaker 1: it was longer because there would be more memories. But 652 00:32:59,996 --> 00:33:01,396 Speaker 1: then we you know, we were still friends and we 653 00:33:01,476 --> 00:33:05,436 Speaker 1: hung after that. Would you describe that meeting an artist, 654 00:33:05,916 --> 00:33:08,476 Speaker 1: getting the vibe what they're into, they go away, You 655 00:33:08,596 --> 00:33:11,796 Speaker 1: make some thing play for them. Is that would you 656 00:33:11,836 --> 00:33:17,076 Speaker 1: say typical of your process as a producer. Well, the 657 00:33:17,196 --> 00:33:19,756 Speaker 1: way that I like kind of came up was like 658 00:33:19,836 --> 00:33:22,156 Speaker 1: you sort of had like a beat tape, so you'd 659 00:33:22,196 --> 00:33:24,396 Speaker 1: go to Anna offices and you would play beats and 660 00:33:24,436 --> 00:33:27,956 Speaker 1: instrumentals like and that's kind of like what people. That's 661 00:33:28,036 --> 00:33:30,836 Speaker 1: what I the world that I knew. So when when 662 00:33:30,876 --> 00:33:32,596 Speaker 1: I met Amy and she told me what she liked, 663 00:33:32,636 --> 00:33:34,716 Speaker 1: I was like, Oh, I don't have anything pre made 664 00:33:34,756 --> 00:33:38,676 Speaker 1: that you will like. But I mean it's always different 665 00:33:38,716 --> 00:33:42,076 Speaker 1: because some people come and they just have their songs already. 666 00:33:42,196 --> 00:33:46,116 Speaker 1: Some people have a couple of songs, but then the jams. 667 00:33:46,196 --> 00:33:48,636 Speaker 1: Sometimes I don't write anything, like I just there to 668 00:33:49,556 --> 00:33:52,596 Speaker 1: arrange and feed. You know, our friend Richard Russell and 669 00:33:52,796 --> 00:33:56,116 Speaker 1: your friends with Richard, like he says in his book, 670 00:33:56,516 --> 00:34:00,356 Speaker 1: he's like to him being a good producers, Like it's 671 00:34:00,476 --> 00:34:04,796 Speaker 1: serious of making the right decisions. Like it's so fucking 672 00:34:04,916 --> 00:34:08,356 Speaker 1: mata and so like in the atmosphere of like what 673 00:34:08,716 --> 00:34:11,276 Speaker 1: you can do on any given day that might make 674 00:34:11,356 --> 00:34:14,476 Speaker 1: something good or help steer something to be better, or 675 00:34:14,796 --> 00:34:17,076 Speaker 1: or just know to get out of the way. It's 676 00:34:17,476 --> 00:34:20,716 Speaker 1: it's very it's very different, but it just depends I 677 00:34:20,756 --> 00:34:22,996 Speaker 1: guess it's like depends on the artist. Yeah, that's why 678 00:34:23,036 --> 00:34:25,836 Speaker 1: that's why I'm asking, because I you know, we technically 679 00:34:25,836 --> 00:34:28,076 Speaker 1: do the same job, but I have no idea what 680 00:34:28,116 --> 00:34:30,876 Speaker 1: that means and how you do it you do versus 681 00:34:30,876 --> 00:34:32,156 Speaker 1: what I do it. You know what I say, it's 682 00:34:32,196 --> 00:34:35,876 Speaker 1: impossible to know. It's such a it's such a particular 683 00:34:35,996 --> 00:34:38,476 Speaker 1: thing that yeah, and it's you know, it's such a 684 00:34:38,516 --> 00:34:41,956 Speaker 1: particular like you know, when I came up like you, 685 00:34:42,636 --> 00:34:48,156 Speaker 1: Quincy q Tip, George Martin, Nigel Godrich, like I because 686 00:34:48,156 --> 00:34:49,836 Speaker 1: I loved all these different things. I had like a 687 00:34:50,516 --> 00:34:54,236 Speaker 1: wide array of people that I would like study, and 688 00:34:54,276 --> 00:34:57,556 Speaker 1: I you know, I read things like well Farrell says 689 00:34:57,596 --> 00:34:59,436 Speaker 1: like they don't say in this youdo past nine pm 690 00:34:59,436 --> 00:35:01,276 Speaker 1: because like nothing good ever happened, so like maybe I 691 00:35:01,396 --> 00:35:04,036 Speaker 1: was sort some that And then like you were so 692 00:35:04,036 --> 00:35:06,556 Speaker 1: song focused. I remember whenever I read something about you, 693 00:35:06,556 --> 00:35:08,836 Speaker 1: you'd be like maybe the songs aren't there yet, or 694 00:35:08,916 --> 00:35:11,036 Speaker 1: just like it was so much about the songs. And 695 00:35:11,156 --> 00:35:14,636 Speaker 1: I realize, like I've also got into trouble being into 696 00:35:15,916 --> 00:35:18,876 Speaker 1: getting into projects because I have like, well it doesn't 697 00:35:18,876 --> 00:35:21,236 Speaker 1: matter they have like great songs yet, but like they'll 698 00:35:21,276 --> 00:35:22,916 Speaker 1: com or like we could bring them out and that 699 00:35:23,316 --> 00:35:26,836 Speaker 1: isn't a given either. So I think that it's just 700 00:35:26,836 --> 00:35:30,036 Speaker 1: just like magic toolbox and everybody has their different things. 701 00:35:30,756 --> 00:35:33,156 Speaker 1: Would you say when you start on a project with 702 00:35:33,196 --> 00:35:35,196 Speaker 1: an artist, you'll have an idea of where it's going 703 00:35:35,276 --> 00:35:37,316 Speaker 1: to go or is it pretty much open to see 704 00:35:37,316 --> 00:35:40,116 Speaker 1: what's going to happen in the moment and that's where 705 00:35:40,156 --> 00:35:42,756 Speaker 1: it goes from there. I think that's what it is. 706 00:35:42,916 --> 00:35:45,396 Speaker 1: I think it's just open to that first meeting. I 707 00:35:45,476 --> 00:35:48,036 Speaker 1: mean I think that I have you know, sometimes when 708 00:35:48,036 --> 00:35:51,076 Speaker 1: I'm working with like a band like that I've loved 709 00:35:51,116 --> 00:35:54,916 Speaker 1: and grown up with, whether it's ghost Face or Duran Duran, Like, 710 00:35:54,956 --> 00:35:56,716 Speaker 1: of course you have an idea, a little bit of 711 00:35:56,716 --> 00:35:59,076 Speaker 1: an idea because you're like you're already a fan, so 712 00:35:59,196 --> 00:36:02,636 Speaker 1: you have the sixth sense of like what do fans 713 00:36:02,676 --> 00:36:05,356 Speaker 1: want to hear this person do? And then you just 714 00:36:05,396 --> 00:36:07,956 Speaker 1: go like, what's this person's superpower? And a lot of 715 00:36:07,996 --> 00:36:10,076 Speaker 1: the great artists have more than one superpower, Like how 716 00:36:10,076 --> 00:36:14,076 Speaker 1: do I just like amplify that to you know, next level? 717 00:36:14,076 --> 00:36:15,956 Speaker 1: But I think it's always you know, when we were 718 00:36:15,996 --> 00:36:19,516 Speaker 1: working at your place with Gaga Chiangola, I remember like 719 00:36:19,556 --> 00:36:21,196 Speaker 1: I had no idea what we're going to do, and 720 00:36:21,236 --> 00:36:23,276 Speaker 1: I was like, I think she maybe thought even we're 721 00:36:23,276 --> 00:36:25,596 Speaker 1: gonna do something a little more jazzy because everybody thinks 722 00:36:25,636 --> 00:36:27,796 Speaker 1: because I like love horns, like I know a lot 723 00:36:27,836 --> 00:36:30,956 Speaker 1: about jazz, I know nothing about jazz. And she just 724 00:36:31,036 --> 00:36:34,196 Speaker 1: came in in like denim shorts and cowboy boots and 725 00:36:34,276 --> 00:36:36,636 Speaker 1: like a hack and obviously like your studio is like 726 00:36:36,636 --> 00:36:38,876 Speaker 1: one of the most idyllic places of all times, so 727 00:36:38,956 --> 00:36:42,876 Speaker 1: you do feel really like in this wonderful zone. And 728 00:36:42,916 --> 00:36:45,476 Speaker 1: it just felt like, Okay, well let's make something that's 729 00:36:45,516 --> 00:36:48,076 Speaker 1: sort of like you know, organic or strip back or 730 00:36:48,116 --> 00:36:52,156 Speaker 1: like I you know, whatever the reason. So I think that, yeah, 731 00:36:52,196 --> 00:36:54,596 Speaker 1: I think I'm just always just like open to Like 732 00:36:55,036 --> 00:36:57,836 Speaker 1: what's the Quincy says to is like you always need 733 00:36:57,876 --> 00:37:00,796 Speaker 1: to leave room. You need to leave space to like 734 00:37:00,876 --> 00:37:03,156 Speaker 1: God in the room or whatever you believe that thing is, 735 00:37:03,196 --> 00:37:06,116 Speaker 1: like just have to be ready to go, and like 736 00:37:06,236 --> 00:37:10,916 Speaker 1: any kind of instinct, do you still make tracks without 737 00:37:10,956 --> 00:37:14,196 Speaker 1: having a particular artist in mind? You know, it's funny. 738 00:37:14,276 --> 00:37:16,996 Speaker 1: I just kind of went back to that there's something 739 00:37:17,436 --> 00:37:20,756 Speaker 1: I think over Lockdown I learned Ableton. I was like, 740 00:37:20,756 --> 00:37:23,036 Speaker 1: I'm finally going to teach myself Ableton because like every 741 00:37:23,196 --> 00:37:24,956 Speaker 1: I've been telling myself for eight years, every time I 742 00:37:24,956 --> 00:37:26,476 Speaker 1: get on a flight to Japan. I'm like, this will 743 00:37:26,516 --> 00:37:28,956 Speaker 1: be the time I never never done it. And it's 744 00:37:28,956 --> 00:37:30,756 Speaker 1: getting to the point where like Diplo and people that 745 00:37:30,796 --> 00:37:33,436 Speaker 1: I work with, or like Kevin from TAM and Poula 746 00:37:33,476 --> 00:37:36,276 Speaker 1: and Ableton, they're like they're like, really, you're going to 747 00:37:36,356 --> 00:37:38,316 Speaker 1: make me fucking bounce these stems again? So you can 748 00:37:38,316 --> 00:37:41,396 Speaker 1: put this in pro tools, like can you just learn Ableton? 749 00:37:41,556 --> 00:37:43,876 Speaker 1: So that got me back into a little bit into 750 00:37:43,916 --> 00:37:46,636 Speaker 1: beat mode, and then I realized that what I was 751 00:37:46,756 --> 00:37:49,516 Speaker 1: trying to do on Ableton was just recreate what I 752 00:37:49,596 --> 00:37:51,956 Speaker 1: used to do on my MPC. So I'm like, Ma'm 753 00:37:52,076 --> 00:37:54,276 Speaker 1: fuck this, Like I'm not going to be lazy. Let 754 00:37:54,356 --> 00:37:57,196 Speaker 1: me just break the NBC out and start doing this thing, 755 00:37:57,196 --> 00:38:00,796 Speaker 1: because I was trying to recreate feel and sound and 756 00:38:00,956 --> 00:38:03,516 Speaker 1: it just wasn't doing it. So I got back into 757 00:38:03,596 --> 00:38:07,476 Speaker 1: like NBC like making beats, and just like I've been 758 00:38:07,516 --> 00:38:10,156 Speaker 1: in some sessions recently since shits kind of open back 759 00:38:10,196 --> 00:38:13,836 Speaker 1: up again and I love getting there before the artists 760 00:38:13,876 --> 00:38:17,116 Speaker 1: like four hours and just making like six instrumentals just 761 00:38:17,156 --> 00:38:18,796 Speaker 1: so it's sort of like ready to go and like 762 00:38:18,876 --> 00:38:21,636 Speaker 1: chopping drum breaks just so you know there's not that 763 00:38:22,036 --> 00:38:24,236 Speaker 1: kind of dead moment where they're standing over you, where 764 00:38:24,236 --> 00:38:26,276 Speaker 1: you're like chopping a snare drum. Like. I like the 765 00:38:26,356 --> 00:38:28,956 Speaker 1: idea of just having a few things to get someone 766 00:38:28,996 --> 00:38:32,436 Speaker 1: excited and inspired when they walk in the room. Are 767 00:38:32,436 --> 00:38:37,476 Speaker 1: you ever surprised by how someone approaches vocally a tract 768 00:38:37,556 --> 00:38:39,996 Speaker 1: that you've lived with for a little bit as an 769 00:38:39,996 --> 00:38:44,156 Speaker 1: instrumental Yeah, definitely. I mean, I love that's the best 770 00:38:44,156 --> 00:38:46,036 Speaker 1: thing where you're just so surprised and you're like, oh 771 00:38:46,076 --> 00:38:47,836 Speaker 1: my god. I never would have thought of that. I mean, 772 00:38:47,916 --> 00:38:52,116 Speaker 1: especially the probably more with Maladies and wrap Stuf because 773 00:38:52,116 --> 00:38:56,236 Speaker 1: there's probably more room like experiment. But I also remember, 774 00:38:56,316 --> 00:38:59,436 Speaker 1: like I worked on them like a third record. I 775 00:38:59,436 --> 00:39:01,836 Speaker 1: had this song with Q Tip called Bang Bang Bang, 776 00:39:01,916 --> 00:39:03,996 Speaker 1: and I remember him coming in because I was playing 777 00:39:04,036 --> 00:39:08,076 Speaker 1: him a bunch of other beats and by accident, I 778 00:39:08,116 --> 00:39:10,436 Speaker 1: started this one that was like already a song for 779 00:39:10,476 --> 00:39:12,716 Speaker 1: somebody else. He goes, he wasn't that into the ship 780 00:39:12,756 --> 00:39:14,636 Speaker 1: I was playing. It's like, what's that one? I was like, 781 00:39:14,676 --> 00:39:16,876 Speaker 1: Oh that was this other thing is roll that back 782 00:39:16,916 --> 00:39:20,556 Speaker 1: and watching like Q Tip like in his process, which 783 00:39:20,676 --> 00:39:22,676 Speaker 1: was just like get out the room, I'm going to 784 00:39:22,756 --> 00:39:24,716 Speaker 1: run pro tools I'm going to record this ship, puts 785 00:39:24,756 --> 00:39:31,076 Speaker 1: his headphones on and just records first doing cadences Donna, Donna, 786 00:39:31,156 --> 00:39:33,236 Speaker 1: and then starts to fill in the words and then 787 00:39:33,276 --> 00:39:35,756 Speaker 1: like this whole ship is like coming to life and 788 00:39:36,036 --> 00:39:38,676 Speaker 1: obviously has such a magic voice in this familiar thing 789 00:39:38,756 --> 00:39:42,996 Speaker 1: that's like you know, I grew up with. But occasionally 790 00:39:43,076 --> 00:39:44,916 Speaker 1: someone will just send you something back down and that's 791 00:39:44,956 --> 00:39:46,916 Speaker 1: great too. But when you get to see this little 792 00:39:46,996 --> 00:39:50,076 Speaker 1: people's processes and stuff, it's like, oh shit, that's how 793 00:39:50,076 --> 00:39:52,916 Speaker 1: they do that. Yeah, it's so cool. It is? It 794 00:39:53,036 --> 00:39:55,956 Speaker 1: very different from artist artists? Would you say? I feel 795 00:39:55,956 --> 00:40:01,396 Speaker 1: like it's pretty like if someone likes something, when you 796 00:40:01,476 --> 00:40:03,476 Speaker 1: play something and it gets them in the first like 797 00:40:03,516 --> 00:40:06,116 Speaker 1: five or six seconds, which is really the only time. 798 00:40:06,156 --> 00:40:07,436 Speaker 1: If you don't get them in the first five or 799 00:40:07,436 --> 00:40:09,916 Speaker 1: six seconds, it is probably not gonna happen. It's usually 800 00:40:09,956 --> 00:40:12,036 Speaker 1: like the thing like oh shit, let me get some headphones, 801 00:40:12,076 --> 00:40:13,716 Speaker 1: and then it's like plug. They might run the track 802 00:40:13,756 --> 00:40:17,276 Speaker 1: back and it's like just freestyling, like the first maladies 803 00:40:17,316 --> 00:40:20,676 Speaker 1: and the things that come out, Like that's the most 804 00:40:20,716 --> 00:40:23,916 Speaker 1: common process that I've seen. But you know, then there's 805 00:40:23,916 --> 00:40:27,796 Speaker 1: somebody like Bruno who's just like ultimate like songcraft, and 806 00:40:27,876 --> 00:40:30,876 Speaker 1: just like nothing goes down until like the best thing 807 00:40:30,996 --> 00:40:33,556 Speaker 1: is written in his brain. You know, do you remember 808 00:40:33,596 --> 00:40:35,756 Speaker 1: the very first time you were ever in a recording studio. 809 00:40:36,316 --> 00:40:38,516 Speaker 1: I think I do. I think it was probably with 810 00:40:38,556 --> 00:40:41,956 Speaker 1: my stepdad. I remember being in one of those studios 811 00:40:41,956 --> 00:40:44,036 Speaker 1: in Midtown in New York that's not there anymore, like 812 00:40:44,116 --> 00:40:48,236 Speaker 1: right Track or something, and I remember loving it. I remember, 813 00:40:48,596 --> 00:40:51,276 Speaker 1: I mean, other than my stepdad's home studio, which had 814 00:40:51,316 --> 00:40:53,796 Speaker 1: like a little a track and some stuff, and that 815 00:40:53,996 --> 00:40:58,236 Speaker 1: feeling very homely. There was something about like studios are 816 00:40:58,236 --> 00:41:00,556 Speaker 1: just so warm, and it's wood everywhere, and if it's 817 00:41:00,596 --> 00:41:03,196 Speaker 1: not wood, it's like a christianie paneling and there's lights 818 00:41:03,196 --> 00:41:06,276 Speaker 1: and they're all cool and it looks like some retro 819 00:41:06,436 --> 00:41:10,916 Speaker 1: futuristic spaceship. And I just remember, like, you know, the 820 00:41:11,036 --> 00:41:13,956 Speaker 1: black leather couch that's like in every kind of like 821 00:41:14,076 --> 00:41:16,996 Speaker 1: stock like New York studio that time, like that just 822 00:41:17,036 --> 00:41:20,876 Speaker 1: felt so good to me. That was like very like 823 00:41:21,036 --> 00:41:23,996 Speaker 1: warm and fuzzy. We're gonna take a quick break and 824 00:41:24,036 --> 00:41:26,116 Speaker 1: then we'll be back with more from Rick Ruben and 825 00:41:26,156 --> 00:41:32,236 Speaker 1: Mark Ronson. We're back with the rest of Rick Rubin's 826 00:41:32,276 --> 00:41:37,076 Speaker 1: conversation with Mark ronson do you shouzam? I do I 827 00:41:37,116 --> 00:41:39,556 Speaker 1: SHOs am quite a lot. Actually, I'm sure I shozam 828 00:41:39,636 --> 00:41:43,716 Speaker 1: something today. It's this greatest invention ever. It's really it 829 00:41:43,796 --> 00:41:46,076 Speaker 1: really is great. You know. When I first got it, 830 00:41:46,076 --> 00:41:47,916 Speaker 1: it was always like if I was in a record 831 00:41:47,996 --> 00:41:51,756 Speaker 1: store like HMV, some big record shop in England, like 832 00:41:51,796 --> 00:41:53,916 Speaker 1: if a song was so bad, I had to know 833 00:41:53,956 --> 00:41:56,196 Speaker 1: what it was. So like in the beginning, my thing 834 00:41:56,276 --> 00:41:59,276 Speaker 1: was really like like I would have been horrified if 835 00:41:59,276 --> 00:42:01,316 Speaker 1: anybody had ever looked through my think I'd be like, wait, 836 00:42:01,436 --> 00:42:03,756 Speaker 1: you like that. I'm not going to call anyone out. 837 00:42:03,796 --> 00:42:07,676 Speaker 1: But like the other day, I was in a taxi 838 00:42:07,676 --> 00:42:10,116 Speaker 1: cab in England and I never and there's a song 839 00:42:10,156 --> 00:42:12,356 Speaker 1: on it. It's got like this killing rhythm section, but 840 00:42:12,396 --> 00:42:14,756 Speaker 1: it's like sounds like a psychedelic sixties song, like one 841 00:42:14,796 --> 00:42:17,236 Speaker 1: of those songs that's on Nuggets. And it's right into 842 00:42:17,276 --> 00:42:19,516 Speaker 1: the Sun by lou Reid. Like I had no idea 843 00:42:19,676 --> 00:42:23,196 Speaker 1: lou Reid had made like a whole record with like 844 00:42:23,316 --> 00:42:26,716 Speaker 1: this killer rhythm section, Like I just I love it. 845 00:42:26,796 --> 00:42:32,156 Speaker 1: I just shazam. It's just so great changed our lives. Yeah, 846 00:42:32,276 --> 00:42:35,836 Speaker 1: how often do you hear something that comes out new 847 00:42:36,036 --> 00:42:39,556 Speaker 1: that you love like pretty often. I mean, I feel 848 00:42:39,556 --> 00:42:41,596 Speaker 1: a little bit out of touch because that the way 849 00:42:41,596 --> 00:42:43,916 Speaker 1: that I would stay in touch with new music before 850 00:42:44,156 --> 00:42:46,836 Speaker 1: was from djaying, and I would have to because I'd 851 00:42:46,836 --> 00:42:48,756 Speaker 1: want to like play new shit in my set and 852 00:42:48,836 --> 00:42:51,596 Speaker 1: not look like I was kind of falling behind the times. 853 00:42:51,636 --> 00:42:54,516 Speaker 1: But I do think there's been a few see changes 854 00:42:54,556 --> 00:42:58,276 Speaker 1: in music that have just really gotten like to things 855 00:42:58,276 --> 00:43:02,356 Speaker 1: that I don't understand as much anymore. Like I realized 856 00:43:02,436 --> 00:43:06,076 Speaker 1: like the vitality and why things in new hip hop 857 00:43:06,076 --> 00:43:08,196 Speaker 1: and new pop music are exciting. But I might not 858 00:43:08,236 --> 00:43:10,396 Speaker 1: connect with him in this same way. And I think 859 00:43:10,436 --> 00:43:12,196 Speaker 1: I used to connect with them because you'd go see 860 00:43:12,196 --> 00:43:13,876 Speaker 1: it in the club and if you didn't quite get 861 00:43:13,916 --> 00:43:15,996 Speaker 1: a record, then when you saw everybody lose their fucking 862 00:43:15,996 --> 00:43:18,236 Speaker 1: shit to check West, you're like, oh fuck, this record 863 00:43:18,276 --> 00:43:21,796 Speaker 1: is a monster. Like so I trying to think of 864 00:43:21,796 --> 00:43:25,476 Speaker 1: the last There's still things that come out all the 865 00:43:25,476 --> 00:43:28,796 Speaker 1: time that I love, and I always know like that 866 00:43:29,276 --> 00:43:32,396 Speaker 1: feeling if there's like a pang of jealousy the second 867 00:43:32,516 --> 00:43:34,316 Speaker 1: like the first second I hear it, like oh man, 868 00:43:34,436 --> 00:43:36,156 Speaker 1: this is so good. I wish I did that or 869 00:43:36,876 --> 00:43:38,756 Speaker 1: even like I don't know how to do that, but 870 00:43:38,836 --> 00:43:42,116 Speaker 1: this thing that I still love that feeling. I just 871 00:43:42,476 --> 00:43:45,396 Speaker 1: maybe I'm just a little bit more out of touch recently. 872 00:43:46,116 --> 00:43:48,836 Speaker 1: When you would hear something new and decide to put 873 00:43:48,836 --> 00:43:52,556 Speaker 1: it into a set, how often were your instincts about 874 00:43:52,556 --> 00:43:55,956 Speaker 1: how the reaction would be if it was something less known, 875 00:43:56,116 --> 00:44:00,076 Speaker 1: something maybe even unknown. Yeah, I think if you were good, 876 00:44:00,116 --> 00:44:02,436 Speaker 1: it was like you knew where to sandwich it to 877 00:44:02,516 --> 00:44:04,716 Speaker 1: just make sure it was like a trojan horse, you know, 878 00:44:04,716 --> 00:44:06,396 Speaker 1: if I can dress it up and fit it between 879 00:44:06,436 --> 00:44:10,116 Speaker 1: these two records and just and have something ready. I 880 00:44:10,156 --> 00:44:13,476 Speaker 1: think I was probably so in sync with my crowds 881 00:44:13,476 --> 00:44:15,356 Speaker 1: and the crowds that I was playing for, even though 882 00:44:15,356 --> 00:44:17,556 Speaker 1: they would change every night, that I had a good 883 00:44:17,596 --> 00:44:20,356 Speaker 1: feeling of like what would work. And you know, every 884 00:44:20,396 --> 00:44:23,476 Speaker 1: now and then it just doesn't work. But most of 885 00:44:23,476 --> 00:44:26,796 Speaker 1: the time it was it was great. And how often 886 00:44:26,836 --> 00:44:29,636 Speaker 1: would you play something from a different genre than was 887 00:44:29,676 --> 00:44:32,996 Speaker 1: expected beyond back in black? I mean I always hated 888 00:44:33,036 --> 00:44:35,716 Speaker 1: the term mash up because DJs have been doing blends 889 00:44:35,796 --> 00:44:37,636 Speaker 1: forever and it was just like it was like a 890 00:44:37,756 --> 00:44:40,716 Speaker 1: very reductive and slightly gimmicky thing. But I mean it 891 00:44:40,836 --> 00:44:43,156 Speaker 1: was also kind of exciting when it first happened, and 892 00:44:43,916 --> 00:44:47,076 Speaker 1: I would take records that I love, like Blur a 893 00:44:47,116 --> 00:44:49,036 Speaker 1: song too, and I was like, I can't just throw 894 00:44:49,036 --> 00:44:51,676 Speaker 1: on Blur a song too. But if I throw a 895 00:44:51,676 --> 00:44:55,676 Speaker 1: Biggie Nasty Boy over the top of it the a cappella, 896 00:44:55,756 --> 00:44:57,836 Speaker 1: then everyone's kind of dancing and then we can see 897 00:44:57,836 --> 00:45:00,436 Speaker 1: where we go from there, and then you know, every 898 00:45:00,476 --> 00:45:02,276 Speaker 1: now and then, you know, some of the clubs that 899 00:45:02,276 --> 00:45:04,636 Speaker 1: I was playing in there were like these you know, 900 00:45:04,956 --> 00:45:08,716 Speaker 1: pretty like high end, powerful like drug dealers that were 901 00:45:08,756 --> 00:45:11,676 Speaker 1: coming in to like spend two grand and have a 902 00:45:11,716 --> 00:45:15,316 Speaker 1: good time and pop champagne and look like you know, 903 00:45:15,876 --> 00:45:19,356 Speaker 1: ballers and so like. Occasionally I remember playing like one 904 00:45:19,396 --> 00:45:20,996 Speaker 1: of those rock records in the middle of the night 905 00:45:20,996 --> 00:45:22,996 Speaker 1: and the guy just like leaning over the booth because 906 00:45:22,996 --> 00:45:25,996 Speaker 1: a club Cheetah, the booth was behind the there was 907 00:45:26,036 --> 00:45:28,636 Speaker 1: a booth right next to the GD with this guy 908 00:45:28,676 --> 00:45:31,156 Speaker 1: just leaning over and just being like, what the fuck 909 00:45:31,196 --> 00:45:33,796 Speaker 1: are you playing White Boy, like very very seriously to me. 910 00:45:33,876 --> 00:45:37,276 Speaker 1: So like, I think that most of the times it 911 00:45:37,316 --> 00:45:39,716 Speaker 1: got over, And I think that New York crowds are 912 00:45:39,796 --> 00:45:43,876 Speaker 1: quite open, like regardless of genre. But the reason that 913 00:45:43,916 --> 00:45:47,476 Speaker 1: I sort of made my record version, which was like 914 00:45:47,516 --> 00:45:50,396 Speaker 1: these covers of songs by the Smiths and Radiohead and 915 00:45:50,436 --> 00:45:54,076 Speaker 1: the Jam and like the Zootones and these rock bands, 916 00:45:54,956 --> 00:45:57,876 Speaker 1: was because I wanted to play those songs and I 917 00:45:57,956 --> 00:46:00,676 Speaker 1: was getting a little burnt. I've been playing hip hop, 918 00:46:00,756 --> 00:46:02,356 Speaker 1: R and B and dance hall for about ten years 919 00:46:02,356 --> 00:46:04,796 Speaker 1: in clubs, and I was just like I couldn't quite 920 00:46:04,796 --> 00:46:07,156 Speaker 1: play just by Radiohead and a club, and I couldn't 921 00:46:07,196 --> 00:46:08,756 Speaker 1: play stop me if you think that you heard this 922 00:46:08,756 --> 00:46:10,996 Speaker 1: one before for by the Smiths, like that was just 923 00:46:11,076 --> 00:46:13,396 Speaker 1: going a little too far. There were cool rock and 924 00:46:13,476 --> 00:46:16,956 Speaker 1: roll scenes like Justine Dee and the MisShapes happening in 925 00:46:16,996 --> 00:46:20,276 Speaker 1: New York just about that time. That wasn't me. And 926 00:46:20,316 --> 00:46:21,836 Speaker 1: so I was like, you know what, I'm going to 927 00:46:21,916 --> 00:46:24,436 Speaker 1: make covers of these songs that I love and redo 928 00:46:24,436 --> 00:46:26,596 Speaker 1: them in arrangements that I can kind of like get 929 00:46:26,636 --> 00:46:28,916 Speaker 1: over with my crowd. And it was really just like 930 00:46:28,996 --> 00:46:32,116 Speaker 1: I just made them to just play like I didn't 931 00:46:32,116 --> 00:46:34,076 Speaker 1: ever think that they would come out. I didn't really. 932 00:46:34,596 --> 00:46:36,836 Speaker 1: There wasn't even enough, and I thought in my head, 933 00:46:36,836 --> 00:46:38,156 Speaker 1: I was just like, this is for my crowds, and 934 00:46:38,156 --> 00:46:40,076 Speaker 1: this is something I can work on this Will Be Fun, 935 00:46:40,596 --> 00:46:43,476 Speaker 1: and I did radiohead cover that I did started to 936 00:46:43,476 --> 00:46:45,516 Speaker 1: get a lot of play by Zane Low and Giles 937 00:46:45,516 --> 00:46:49,076 Speaker 1: Peterson on Radio one in England, and that's what got 938 00:46:49,076 --> 00:46:52,676 Speaker 1: me signed to Columbia because I'd been dropped by Electra 939 00:46:52,756 --> 00:46:55,236 Speaker 1: after my first record came out and sold like eighty copies. 940 00:46:55,716 --> 00:46:58,876 Speaker 1: And suddenly I was sitting on this album of covers 941 00:46:58,916 --> 00:47:01,756 Speaker 1: and this one that's ready on the radio. And so 942 00:47:01,996 --> 00:47:05,356 Speaker 1: that kind of weird backfiring of the DJ set then 943 00:47:05,756 --> 00:47:09,316 Speaker 1: inspired this other creative outlet, which was you know, I 944 00:47:09,356 --> 00:47:11,996 Speaker 1: guess I never thought about it in those terms if 945 00:47:12,036 --> 00:47:16,356 Speaker 1: it's interesting. So your career as an artist really was 946 00:47:16,396 --> 00:47:22,076 Speaker 1: an offshoot of the djaying for real, Like it really was. Yeah, 947 00:47:22,116 --> 00:47:24,956 Speaker 1: Like I was starting to produce records and I did 948 00:47:24,956 --> 00:47:27,516 Speaker 1: the sneaker costs to record, but I never thought I 949 00:47:27,636 --> 00:47:29,956 Speaker 1: never had any designs. There was no ego thing like 950 00:47:29,996 --> 00:47:31,596 Speaker 1: I want to be the artist, I want to be 951 00:47:31,636 --> 00:47:34,956 Speaker 1: in front. But there was this era of like although 952 00:47:34,996 --> 00:47:37,916 Speaker 1: I wasn't as like I didn't have the same pedigree 953 00:47:37,916 --> 00:47:40,836 Speaker 1: as like super hip hop like on the radio, like 954 00:47:40,876 --> 00:47:43,116 Speaker 1: the level of DJ Clue or flex or stuff. This 955 00:47:43,196 --> 00:47:45,796 Speaker 1: was this era that everybody was getting a deal to 956 00:47:45,836 --> 00:47:50,876 Speaker 1: make a mixtape album, and Sylvie Aaron and Josh Deutsch 957 00:47:51,036 --> 00:47:53,076 Speaker 1: like I was the guy DJing, like the kind of 958 00:47:53,556 --> 00:47:57,556 Speaker 1: clubs that were like not as packed but still had 959 00:47:57,596 --> 00:48:00,996 Speaker 1: this cool thing. It was its own downtown scene. And 960 00:48:01,116 --> 00:48:05,236 Speaker 1: so I got this deal and I was like, cool, 961 00:48:05,236 --> 00:48:08,436 Speaker 1: I'll make the DJ mixtape but with original music on it. 962 00:48:08,636 --> 00:48:12,476 Speaker 1: But that except for that minor like ghost Face and 963 00:48:12,516 --> 00:48:16,516 Speaker 1: a Dog record, really did nothing. And then the weird 964 00:48:17,076 --> 00:48:21,116 Speaker 1: backwards way of going about having this radiohead and these 965 00:48:21,116 --> 00:48:25,396 Speaker 1: covers records that led to me becoming a sort of 966 00:48:25,436 --> 00:48:28,876 Speaker 1: accidental artist, like especially in the UK where that album, 967 00:48:28,916 --> 00:48:32,156 Speaker 1: you know, was especially popular. It was very strange. But 968 00:48:32,196 --> 00:48:34,836 Speaker 1: I've always thought about it like I don't really care 969 00:48:34,876 --> 00:48:39,276 Speaker 1: if my name is in the artist slot the producer slot, 970 00:48:39,316 --> 00:48:41,396 Speaker 1: Like I don't feel any different or any more proud 971 00:48:41,476 --> 00:48:43,956 Speaker 1: or less proud of the record. It's just I think 972 00:48:43,956 --> 00:48:46,596 Speaker 1: on my artist records, I get to do things that 973 00:48:46,716 --> 00:48:49,596 Speaker 1: don't really have a place on anybody's record. Like I 974 00:48:49,676 --> 00:48:52,556 Speaker 1: was working with Amy on Back to Black while I 975 00:48:52,596 --> 00:48:55,516 Speaker 1: was making version, and I just said, hey, I'm making 976 00:48:55,516 --> 00:48:57,356 Speaker 1: this covers record, is there a song that you like? 977 00:48:57,436 --> 00:48:59,796 Speaker 1: And she played me the song Valerie by the Zootones, 978 00:48:59,796 --> 00:49:01,836 Speaker 1: and I was like, oh, that's cool, let's do that. 979 00:49:01,916 --> 00:49:03,996 Speaker 1: Like I think that she wouldn't have made a cover 980 00:49:04,076 --> 00:49:06,196 Speaker 1: of Valerie for her own record. It wouldn't have cross 981 00:49:06,236 --> 00:49:08,836 Speaker 1: her mind. But there's this fun thing that happens when 982 00:49:09,196 --> 00:49:12,156 Speaker 1: people a little more free, they're a little less precious even, 983 00:49:12,236 --> 00:49:14,156 Speaker 1: you know, like it's on your record, fuck it, Yeah, 984 00:49:14,236 --> 00:49:17,116 Speaker 1: let's do something for fun. Sure, So that's kind of 985 00:49:17,676 --> 00:49:21,116 Speaker 1: the only thing that that serves. Would you say your 986 00:49:21,116 --> 00:49:24,716 Speaker 1: relationship to music has changed over the course of your life. Yes, 987 00:49:25,396 --> 00:49:28,516 Speaker 1: If somebody like was like, okay, would you consider yourself 988 00:49:28,876 --> 00:49:31,636 Speaker 1: more of a fan of music or somebody who actually 989 00:49:31,636 --> 00:49:34,676 Speaker 1: creates music, I really wouldn't know how to answer that question. 990 00:49:34,676 --> 00:49:37,396 Speaker 1: I still don't. I still get as excited. And if 991 00:49:37,436 --> 00:49:40,436 Speaker 1: I had to, it's a really silly question because there's 992 00:49:40,436 --> 00:49:42,076 Speaker 1: no war what that would happen. But if I had 993 00:49:42,076 --> 00:49:43,916 Speaker 1: to choose between one or the other, being a fan 994 00:49:43,956 --> 00:49:46,476 Speaker 1: and a listener or a creator, it would be very 995 00:49:46,476 --> 00:49:51,876 Speaker 1: hard to imagine. I think I'm more patient, certainly in 996 00:49:51,956 --> 00:49:54,476 Speaker 1: the studio as well, like I have less like ego 997 00:49:54,596 --> 00:49:59,676 Speaker 1: running the show, and I love occasionally being wrong, like 998 00:49:59,756 --> 00:50:02,996 Speaker 1: even if your pride hurts for like a second. When 999 00:50:02,996 --> 00:50:04,716 Speaker 1: somebody has a great idea and they kind of win 1000 00:50:04,756 --> 00:50:06,596 Speaker 1: the argument, you're like, oh, yeah, this song is now 1001 00:50:06,636 --> 00:50:11,076 Speaker 1: better for that theyationship to music like though it's still 1002 00:50:11,676 --> 00:50:14,436 Speaker 1: I went through a period over lockdown and I didn't 1003 00:50:14,436 --> 00:50:16,516 Speaker 1: really have a studio to go to and I was 1004 00:50:16,676 --> 00:50:19,836 Speaker 1: making stuff in Ableton, and although I was excited about 1005 00:50:19,916 --> 00:50:22,476 Speaker 1: learning that thing, it's not quite I am a visceral person. 1006 00:50:22,596 --> 00:50:25,716 Speaker 1: I like having like my like keyboard and the drum 1007 00:50:25,716 --> 00:50:28,756 Speaker 1: machine and this thing, and my music was just suffering 1008 00:50:28,796 --> 00:50:30,876 Speaker 1: because of it, and it was getting kind of shitty. 1009 00:50:30,956 --> 00:50:33,076 Speaker 1: And I was suddenly starting to think, like, Okay, I'm 1010 00:50:33,116 --> 00:50:35,796 Speaker 1: forty five, like I'm already at the tell end of 1011 00:50:35,996 --> 00:50:38,516 Speaker 1: fringe of like what would be like an acceptable age 1012 00:50:38,516 --> 00:50:41,396 Speaker 1: for someone trying to make music for like young people 1013 00:50:41,476 --> 00:50:43,316 Speaker 1: or pop music or whatever you want to call it. 1014 00:50:44,196 --> 00:50:47,636 Speaker 1: I mean, I know there's yourself, is Quincy, there's people 1015 00:50:47,636 --> 00:50:51,636 Speaker 1: that you know definitely who have broken the mold there. 1016 00:50:51,636 --> 00:50:55,316 Speaker 1: But I was just starting to like really doubt my confidence, 1017 00:50:55,516 --> 00:50:58,796 Speaker 1: and I was thinking like maybe I'm phasing out of music, 1018 00:50:58,876 --> 00:51:00,836 Speaker 1: Like maybe that's it. Maybe I'm going to do some 1019 00:51:00,916 --> 00:51:03,716 Speaker 1: more interesting like educational stuff with music and maybe I'll 1020 00:51:04,436 --> 00:51:07,396 Speaker 1: whatever it is this Apple series I was working on 1021 00:51:07,436 --> 00:51:10,156 Speaker 1: with our friend Morgan Neville, like just the documentary. Maybe 1022 00:51:10,196 --> 00:51:12,236 Speaker 1: that's my thing now. And I think some of it 1023 00:51:12,316 --> 00:51:14,796 Speaker 1: was like a little bit of cowardice because I was like, Okay, well, 1024 00:51:14,796 --> 00:51:17,476 Speaker 1: if I don't try, I don't put myself up there 1025 00:51:17,476 --> 00:51:20,316 Speaker 1: on my head above the parapet, nobody can really fuck 1026 00:51:20,396 --> 00:51:22,796 Speaker 1: with me and tell me that I fell off. And 1027 00:51:24,036 --> 00:51:26,796 Speaker 1: then I got back in a studio for the first 1028 00:51:26,796 --> 00:51:30,556 Speaker 1: time like two months ago, and I just like had 1029 00:51:30,596 --> 00:51:32,196 Speaker 1: my shit around me and I said everyone, I was like, 1030 00:51:32,236 --> 00:51:34,956 Speaker 1: oh my god, I love this. Like this is whether 1031 00:51:35,036 --> 00:51:38,396 Speaker 1: I make successful records or not, that's going to be 1032 00:51:38,436 --> 00:51:41,196 Speaker 1: determined by somebody else, But this is my favorite shit 1033 00:51:41,316 --> 00:51:43,436 Speaker 1: to do. How could I kid myself like this is 1034 00:51:43,476 --> 00:51:46,276 Speaker 1: still my thing where I feel alive and like I 1035 00:51:46,316 --> 00:51:48,596 Speaker 1: can look up and oh shit, four hours has just 1036 00:51:48,676 --> 00:51:51,876 Speaker 1: gone by, you know. So I'm very grateful. I mean, 1037 00:51:51,916 --> 00:51:55,956 Speaker 1: my music has been like my fucking compassed noise star, 1038 00:51:56,196 --> 00:51:59,636 Speaker 1: my anchor through life. Like it's only now that probably 1039 00:51:59,676 --> 00:52:02,596 Speaker 1: through therapy work, whatever you want to call it, that 1040 00:52:02,636 --> 00:52:04,916 Speaker 1: I've made time for other things in my life. And 1041 00:52:04,956 --> 00:52:08,716 Speaker 1: I understand that they're important, but music is still this 1042 00:52:09,356 --> 00:52:13,716 Speaker 1: It's my best friend. Yeah amazing. We are blessed to 1043 00:52:13,716 --> 00:52:16,596 Speaker 1: be able to spend our lives with music. It's like 1044 00:52:16,636 --> 00:52:19,196 Speaker 1: that's what we do. It's yeah, so lucky that that's 1045 00:52:19,196 --> 00:52:21,636 Speaker 1: our We do it for fun and we do it 1046 00:52:21,676 --> 00:52:24,076 Speaker 1: for work and it's all the same, you know. Yeah amazing. 1047 00:52:25,676 --> 00:52:30,436 Speaker 1: Tell me about the project with Morgan. So when Apple 1048 00:52:30,596 --> 00:52:34,956 Speaker 1: started their TV division, Kim Rosenfeld, who was running like 1049 00:52:34,996 --> 00:52:38,596 Speaker 1: the nonfiction stuff, came to me and he had seen 1050 00:52:38,596 --> 00:52:40,516 Speaker 1: a ted talk that I had done about sampling and 1051 00:52:40,556 --> 00:52:42,356 Speaker 1: he liked it, and he was like, can we do 1052 00:52:42,436 --> 00:52:45,996 Speaker 1: something that's like that, but like expanded about music because 1053 00:52:46,036 --> 00:52:50,036 Speaker 1: it's sort of it teaches people who don't know anything 1054 00:52:50,076 --> 00:52:52,676 Speaker 1: about sampling and probably didn't care or think that they 1055 00:52:52,716 --> 00:52:55,476 Speaker 1: cared about it, like oh that's why that song I 1056 00:52:55,516 --> 00:52:58,996 Speaker 1: love is like that, and also do it properly. Hopefully 1057 00:52:58,996 --> 00:53:01,476 Speaker 1: it comes off in a way that like, people who 1058 00:53:01,516 --> 00:53:03,836 Speaker 1: do know the shit are also interested in you're not 1059 00:53:03,876 --> 00:53:08,156 Speaker 1: talking down anybody. So he put me with Morgan Neville, 1060 00:53:08,196 --> 00:53:11,236 Speaker 1: which was obviously on my first time at the rodeo 1061 00:53:11,356 --> 00:53:14,156 Speaker 1: being paired with this guy who's made some of my 1062 00:53:14,316 --> 00:53:17,676 Speaker 1: fucking favorite documentaries and incredible and knows so much about 1063 00:53:17,756 --> 00:53:20,676 Speaker 1: music as well. We just dreamed up this show and 1064 00:53:20,716 --> 00:53:23,916 Speaker 1: we figured, you know, there were a hundred ways we 1065 00:53:23,916 --> 00:53:25,756 Speaker 1: could have done it, but what we decided, because it 1066 00:53:25,796 --> 00:53:27,556 Speaker 1: was going to be six episodes, was to break it 1067 00:53:27,636 --> 00:53:31,236 Speaker 1: up into different technologies that have changed how you know, 1068 00:53:31,316 --> 00:53:35,276 Speaker 1: modern pop music and hip hop really evolved. So we 1069 00:53:35,396 --> 00:53:40,196 Speaker 1: broke it up into reverb, distortion, synthesizers, drum machine sampling, 1070 00:53:40,196 --> 00:53:44,356 Speaker 1: an auto tune. The ongoing theme of the show of 1071 00:53:44,556 --> 00:53:47,396 Speaker 1: all these technologies, it is when they first came out, 1072 00:53:47,636 --> 00:53:49,716 Speaker 1: people really didn't like them, or they were afraid of it, 1073 00:53:49,836 --> 00:53:51,996 Speaker 1: or somebody thought that this was going to ruin music. 1074 00:53:52,316 --> 00:53:55,396 Speaker 1: And then somebody uses it kind of in the wrong way, 1075 00:53:55,916 --> 00:53:58,476 Speaker 1: like Prince de tuning the snare on the lyndromes, so 1076 00:53:58,556 --> 00:54:01,956 Speaker 1: instead of sounding like a real lyndrum, it sounded like like, 1077 00:54:02,316 --> 00:54:04,716 Speaker 1: like what the fuck is that? Like all these things 1078 00:54:04,716 --> 00:54:08,316 Speaker 1: that were like not supposed to be done, then suddenly 1079 00:54:08,356 --> 00:54:11,556 Speaker 1: someone geniusly does it in the right way, and then 1080 00:54:11,596 --> 00:54:14,156 Speaker 1: it's wonderful, and then it gets kind of accepted and 1081 00:54:14,196 --> 00:54:17,996 Speaker 1: co opted by everybody, and then things that really came 1082 00:54:18,036 --> 00:54:21,276 Speaker 1: about that we're really lovely. Like I guess it ends 1083 00:54:21,356 --> 00:54:23,516 Speaker 1: up like it's really fun when it's about the technology, 1084 00:54:23,556 --> 00:54:26,036 Speaker 1: but then it really is like nice and gets very 1085 00:54:26,116 --> 00:54:29,036 Speaker 1: humane when it starts to be about the story as 1086 00:54:29,036 --> 00:54:32,676 Speaker 1: soon as beautiful creative people start talking or like, of 1087 00:54:32,716 --> 00:54:36,676 Speaker 1: course you're gonna go somewhere wonderful. That sounds great. I 1088 00:54:36,756 --> 00:54:39,756 Speaker 1: look forward to watching that. Thank you well, thank you 1089 00:54:39,796 --> 00:54:42,116 Speaker 1: for doing this. Yeah, thank you for having me. It's 1090 00:54:42,156 --> 00:54:48,716 Speaker 1: an honor and it's nicest conversation. Thanks to Mark Ronson 1091 00:54:48,876 --> 00:54:51,196 Speaker 1: for walking us through his journey from becoming a DJ 1092 00:54:51,556 --> 00:54:55,076 Speaker 1: to pop music producer. To hear his latest album, Late 1093 00:54:55,196 --> 00:54:58,716 Speaker 1: Night Feelings and our favorite Mark Ronson produced tracks, head 1094 00:54:58,756 --> 00:55:02,116 Speaker 1: to Broken Record podcast dot com. Be sure to subscribe 1095 00:55:02,156 --> 00:55:05,876 Speaker 1: chart YouTube channel at YouTube dot com slash Broken Record Podcast. 1096 00:55:06,276 --> 00:55:08,716 Speaker 1: We can find all of our new episodes. You can 1097 00:55:08,716 --> 00:55:12,116 Speaker 1: follow us on Twitter at broken Record. Broken Records produced 1098 00:55:12,236 --> 00:55:16,996 Speaker 1: help from Lea Rhodes, Jason Gambrel, Martin Gonzalez, Eric Sandler, 1099 00:55:16,996 --> 00:55:20,556 Speaker 1: and Jennifer Sanchez, with engineering help from mc chafee. Our 1100 00:55:20,596 --> 00:55:24,396 Speaker 1: executive producer is Amia Lavell. Broken Record is a production 1101 00:55:24,436 --> 00:55:26,916 Speaker 1: of Pushkin Industries and if you like the show, please 1102 00:55:26,916 --> 00:55:29,716 Speaker 1: remember to share, rate and review us on your podcast, 1103 00:55:29,756 --> 00:55:33,076 Speaker 1: act Our Theme Musics, Bay Canny beats on jer Richmond