The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Soundgarden. Herbie Hancock. Their records all have one thing in common: the fantastic production skills of Michael Beinhorn. Starting out as a founder of the legendary post-punk band Material, Michael eventually realized that his destiny lay behind the mixing console, not the microphone. Almost winning a Grammy started Michael on a career filled with both seminal albums and creative revelations. Join long-time friends Nick and Michael for an incredibly revealing conversation, as they discuss the ethereal workings of the creative process, the pros and cons of being a record producer, and the long road Michael traveled from music prodigy to creative philanthropist.
HIGHLIGHTS:
[01:50] Michael marvels at how modern technology has changed how music is made
[05:42] Michael reminisces about playing in Material and producing other artists at the same time
[08:14] Michael realized early on that producing, not performing, was his passion
[10:07] Michael and Nick pay their respects to the legends of the Seattle scene that are no longer with us
[12:12] Producing a hit record was not Michael's "golden ticket" to the music biz
[14:25] Michael landed a gig that changed everything: producing the Red Hot Chili Peppers
[20:11] Michael explains his philosophy of what it takes to be a great producer
[25:40] Michael's reputation as a "taskmaster" with Soundgarden scared other artists away
[29:10] Michael examines the tricky balancing act of being a producer versus befriending the artists
[32:18] Michael discusses his book "Unlocking Creativity", and his theories about being creative
[33:52] Feelings and intuition play an important part in both producing and enjoying music
[36:38] Staying busy and engaged with other peoples' music keeps Michael's creative energy flowing
[38:59] Michael relates to Bob Fosse when it comes to working with inexperienced talent
[40:57] Michael learned to put aside the ego-boosting of his past work and embrace what he can bring to artists today
[43:45] Michael finds the time to participate in an entertainment-based philanthropic endeavor to help with Covid relief
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Find out more about today’s guest, Michael Beinhorn
Find out more about your host, Nick Terzo
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