Page 32 - Arts Management Magazine Iss 1

AMM AMM Senior V.P., Director of Strategic Relations, Gregory Moss
talks with his mentor and legendary Producer

talks Robert Margouleff
with

“I learned the concept of having the
performer and the music occupy the
same space from Stevie Wonder.”

Gregory Moss: What was your inspiration to further develop sur- Soundbreaking series created by the late Sir George Martin,
round sound and this new technology of listening to music? Margouleff is an accomplished record producer, recording en-
Robert Margouleff: I discovered surround actually during the gineer and film producer. He is most noted for his work with
recording we did with Stevie back in the 70s. We had developed electronic music synthesizer programming on Stevie Wonder’s
a quad control room. Quad was a big development in music acclaimed albums Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervi-
at that time and although it did not fly as a consumer format, sions, and Fulfillingness’ First Finale.
we started to record in quad in the control room. It was an eye Margouleff and collaborator Malcolm Cecil played a major
opener as we put Stevie in the middle of the control room, he role in bringing synthesizers to the forefront of popular music.
was able to occupy the same space as the music. It changed my Under the name Tonto’s Expanding Headband, their 1971 al-
world forever. It is the reason those records sound like they do. bum Zero Time attracted Wonder and other leading artists to
As a matter of fact we originally mixed SUPERSTITION in the emerging music technology. Margouleff has since worked
Quad, it never saw the light of day! Now I have just mixed a with Billy Preston, Depeche Mode, Oingo Boingo, The Doo-
multitrack of the same song in Head Phone Surround. bie Brothers, Quincy Jones, The Isley Brothers, and Joan Baez,
GM: What did you learn from working with Stevie Wonder? among others.
RM: The list is endless...But I learned the concept of having According to Margouleff, audio engineers and record produc-
the performer and the music occupy the same space from Stevie ers “should strive for the highest possible quality of creation - so
Wonder. that everyone's experience can be the best possible.” He calls
GM: What inspires you creatively? HPS 12.1 a “disruptive new production technology, based on
RM: Great music and inspired performances. mathematical and cognitive models of audio perception that
Recording icon Robert Margouleff is once again at the forefront allow the listener to perceive a sphere of sound.” All HPS 12.1
of modern music innovation with his pioneering work in HPS content is distributable through digital music and video retailers,
12.1 Headphone Surround. HPS 12.1 offers an incredible per- including iTunes, Amazon, Google, Tidal, and Spotify. ?
sonal listening experience by delivering 7.1 surround channels For more information on Robert Margouleff, please visit his o?cial website.
on the horizon and five channels above - on any headphones. www.margouleff.com.
The result is a heightened sense of situational awareness and
engagement. HPS 12.1 is instantly available to everyone who
uses headphones with their mobile devices.

Affectionately known as “The Godfather of Electronica,” Mar-
gouleff helped to bring the Moog synthesizer into modern music
with Stevie Wonder in the 1970s. According to The Atlantic,
“Margouleff’s revolutionary work with synthesizers helped shape
Wonder's groundbreaking sounds.” Margouleff also produced
DEVO’s 1980 classic "Whip It." Now Margouleff is making his-
tory again with electro-popper Lexi Baker, producing her debut
album Ultimate Reality in both stereo and Headphone Surround.

A studio genius who will be featured on the upcoming PBS Margouleff and Stevie Wonder.

32 Arts Management Magazine I www.ArtsManagementMagazine.com