of all the interviews I see about Prince hers are the most insightful. She was the one person who spent more time than anyone else with Prince when he was doing what he did best.
@@MrApollohammond yeah, they spent thousands and thousands of hours alone in a silent room working on music. Out of all of the people in Prince’s orbit she was the one who had the best view of his genius at work - obviously she’s incredibly talented herself so she’s no mere bystander by any means. Dr. Rogers and Prince had an incredible symbiotic creative relationship, I wonder what his later output would’ve been like had she stayed with him.
I'm at a loss for words to express how utterly impressed I am with this person. As a devout fan of Prince (and amateur musician), I'm ashamed to admit I never even knew about the existence of Susan Rogers. The thought of Prince requiring this kind of assistance never crossed my mind, simply because I figured no other individual would be able to operate on a similar level of dedication and professional expertise. But hearing Susan talk, I can fully imagine how these two were able to work together for years. Her articulate view of both the creative and technical aspects of music production (balancing raw passion with intellectual consideration), has only heightened my appreciation of Prince. Susan Rogers was part of his comfort zone, and her being there proves his comfort zone was at the very top. This interview was very insightful and (awe-)inspiring, and it provides a glimpse of the ultimate boss-level at which musical professionals operate.
Very good, man. I know her since I became fan of Prince back in 1989. Just because i play music since I was a boy and cause I always like 2 read the albuns booklet of any artist. Who plays, who produces, records, etc. But nowadays is so much easier to discover things about Prince or anything. And I'm glad that I found this video cause I've worked in an audio recording studio for 8 years and knowing Prince's work help me 2 build a polished ear 2 do my job. Cheers from Brazil.
@@tiagodebarso1786 Cheers back from the Netherlands! I've also noticed her name reading the album notes, but I never figured she played such an important role. Never too old to learn, eh?
Great interview, thanks for sharing, Professor Rogers. Great wisdom on a host of topics. Also, don't beat yourself over "If I was Your Girlfriend". It's one of my favorites and I think has become something of a cult favorite and sleeper hit for many black listeners, if not all fans. Ask many fans their favorite Prince song, and "If I Was Your Girlfriend" will come up much more than one might think. It's probably one of his more enduring creations: funky, thoughtful, strange, beautiful even. Funny that, reminds me of Prince.
During the question segment, There should have been more period ! I personally ,would have had, a few questions! But what narrows it to enthusiasm, longevity knowledge , And indicates to me , as an unknown, Willing and, Ready artist.. Susan is a leaf on the tree of inspiration , who has blossomed colorful enough, To enchant and enhance the on going garden of real music lover's, real artistic music business men and women! Thank you, Susan , I would have loved to work with you, And Eddie Kramer! You are so very important to me ! 🎙 🎶 📻 🌃..( Stay., Safe , During this pandemic)....
Prince was a genius at expressing himself through music. Susan is incredibly articulate and skilful at explaining musical concepts and painting vivid pictures with her words, which complements her talent as an engineer. They are both artists with a passion for communicating and expressing themselves through music. This is a fascinating depiction of their collaboration.
Most people are here for Prince, but her summary of psychoacoustics and insights into such a broad range of the music related topics is gold. I wish I could be her student! Thanks for uploading this.
She genuinely enjoys discussing Prince because he was her favorite artist. Have some respect and don't spoke on most people. Let them discover what they want
Brilliant insights, Prince was a huge supporter of women in music. He was unique and her analysis of him as a man is very academic, philosophical and respectful. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!
@@markspencer171 Both of you are correct depending on his season. He started, made famous, then dropped Apollonia and Vanity 6 but kept Sheila E for a lifetime.
What an insightful and fascinating woman, I have never heard anyone involved in the music world interview so well and thoroughly. Prince was lucky to have her, and his legacy is blessed to have her to champion him like this.
Susan immediately took me when she said in another interview that Conditions Of The Heart was to her the epitome of Purple genius, and one of the most mind-blowing things she’s ever heard. To me that’s the sign of someone with impeccable musical taste.
that song to me, and temptation from when first played on my record player, seemed to be his soul, laid bare and raw. they were companions that reflected 2 different sides of the man behind the sounds we all loved. never his most popular, when i eventually found myself listening to his music a bit less, those songs did not make the playlist all that much... when I had listened again but more closely was in the months prior to his death as I had been exposing his music to my girl, who due to her not being born until 1984 was oblivious to his music. I was also watching a series of video clips that centered on his back story and his life as revealed in his music done by Toure. it was a very deep dive into all of his disography, the details of his life, speculatory and thru other tales about him a picture emerged that led me to play the song with all of the information i had been learning at the forefront of my mind. that whole album holds up for me to this day and all of the b-sides on the 12" singles are just as great as the album tracks were.
Excellent, thanks for this! What an amazing career. "And we know people who are too sane. They don't have an appetite for risk, they wanna take *years* of school... uh, even though I teach at one... school's okay but you gotta be out there doing stuff" :D
Always nice to hear someone who can communicate about music in ways that honor the depth and complexity of the human mind and experience as opposed to the often simplistic, immature, unsophisticated, disingenuous and demeaning commercial or cultural exchanges that we are all too used to hearing. BTW, I could hear a whole album's worth of melodies and motifs coming out of just Prince's guitar warm-up! That was killin!
28:00 '... he would have made more creative art had he slowed down a little bit ...' - the biggest tragedy about Prince's unnecessary early death is that he was starting to open up and collaborate more in his last years, with MonoNeon and others. He could have moved into a new phase, in his 60s, 70s, 80s, become more like a jazz musician/composer, piano/guitar player. If he had quit dancing and jumping around in 1990, before he developed his hip and pain issues, he would probably still be alive. / If I Was Your Girlfriend was Prince's greatest single!
🤣That part made me laugh. I mean he's Prince he lived and died an untouchable legend in Music. But who is he honestly going to slow down and work with that's on his level? Him and Michael had the same problem. Their musical genius was on such a different level no one else could understand it. I mean we all know Prince's hit now because they've become a staple but imagine being in that time when no one heard anything like that before.
@@187onasimp right?! We can imagine only thru knowing the successes other artists had with songs he had written such as chaka khan - i feel for U tlc's - if i was your girlfriend, Sheena Easton - sugar walls, Bangles - Manic Monday, Alicia Keys - How Come U dont call me anymore, and Sinead Oconner - nothing compares 2 U, or better still, his live rendition with Rosie Gaines from the hits, the b-sides release... then again, with Sheila E - Love Bizzare, Glamorous Life, we caught a glimpse of his collaboration being possible. Of course there was his song with Madonna, which, have u heard that? my goodness, i wouldnt if u haven't.. actually.... check that out. it is what his work can be when it doesn't click with the other artist at all. one could say he collaborated with jesse johnson on the time debut album since he let jesse play the guitar his way on his solo's. but morris was prince, st paul was prince... mazarati was prince, vanity 6 was prince, the family was prince.. he was just so effing good at playing what he heard in his head, a skill many musicians may not develop, or if they do, only for a particular band or project.... this man, no... this talent was truly a gift and he utilized it well. Rest In Peace
I think Susan is wrong about how she thinks Black Americans received “If I Was Your Girlfriend”. I remember it being played on Power 98 in Charlotte when I was in high school, and everyone loved it. I remember the deejays at the station thinking the pic of Cat on the cover of the single was Prince and wondering if Prince was singing this song to another man, which all probably delighted Prince and had Black audiences talking about the “out there” Prince. That’s what Black audiences always loved him though - risqué, nasty, taking it where no one else would dare. It was definitely not a mistake lol! I love Susan Rogers and could listen to her talk all day, every day.
What an asset that Prince was lucky to have as his working companion and visa versa. She is so articulate and intelligent, something they had in common.
The sweet things she said about Prince, the man, was very revealing about who he really was. She gave him huge props for the way he operated and conducted his life. She has enlightened us about immensely about Prince. Really inspiring.
The intro to Erotic City she played is fabulous! One of my favorites. How were they not dancing on their seat? I was! After 35 years of listening to his music, I still get chills.
I think Prince could have been a great actor. His work on Purple Rain was tremendous. He had a James Dean feel to his acting . He could speak without talking . His music didn’t allow for more of a acting career, but you could tell by his videos and his movies that he could’ve done a lot more. I would have loved to see him as Willie Wonka. Prince would have been perfect for this role. The Wonka clothing- The music( he would have put his own spin on those songs ) The Mystery (That Gene Wilder had) The dancing-Prince would have all of these to add to this movie and more.
Susan, I thank you for pushing ‘If I Was Your Girlfriend’. It was the best choice - no need to be commercially successful. And I think, at that time Prince had enough food in the fridge to afford it.
I don't believe she had anything with pushing that single! Prince already knew what songs he was going to release from that classic album! Everybody wants to feel more important/relevant then what they actually were! Please remember, Prince thought this lady was a little nutty in the end because she thought she knew his music better than he did - which she didn't!
Absolutely super! One of the best discussions on music and the business of music I've ever heard, she's a gem. Hats of to Dennis too, his own deep interest and knowledge of the subject matter really helps his interviews to go into the deep stuff. Awesome!
I love Susan Rogers! Thank you for your work! @Announcer, and MUSIC INDUSTRY people: Please adjust your use of "arts" terminology! "A Life In the Arts" signifies someone who has worked and lived specifically in the non-profit sector, promoting culture-not industry! I do not mean to imply that pop artists are not artists in the field of popular music, however, the term "The Arts" is means ballet, fine-art painting, symphony, chamber music, theater, and so on, all largely funded by grants and gifts-and which more often than not, do not turn a profit for the presenter, nor for the artist her/himself. As The Arts are increasingly de-funded and more and more fine artists and culture-builders are out of work or go unrecognized, to have terminology reserved for those areas of culture and fine-arts co-opted by a BOOMING industry that can't comprehend the meaning of poverty, lack, shut down, shortfall, it's profoundly misleading-and intolerable-to frame the popular music industry as The Arts. This isn't about English-this is about appropriate use of appropriate language in your field-and the politics surrounding those. I'm pretty sure Susan will agree.
The last question confirmed allot I’ve been rolling around in my mind lately. Re: relationships vs. responsibilities vs. Life goals. I needed to hear it.
32:24 is she sure about that? Cause I think their devotion to making music was about the same. Michael has hundreds of unreleased songs. He said himself he would make like a 100 demos per album. All we know of are the ones that got picked to become full songs on albums and the ones people leak. But his demos are so good they sound like hits.
I remember Prince played at Galludet College in my hometown Washington, DC. This is a deaf and mute school. The humanity of this guy could be extraordinary, but when I heard about his fights with his friends/musicians I was always confused.
Prince was complex as we all are so maybe he wasn't afraid to let that complexity let loose in his personal relationships. Most of us suppress our complexity and try to present a false consistent image to people imo.
@@nome5123 I was going to say that he had a traumatic childhood getting kicked out as a young teen and this can affect trust issues in friendships/relationships.
Prince saw something on her when she was just a tech and he was so right. I love listening to her speak of her work with him and her explanations of music. Shes really articulate and a good person
27:58 he would have made more creative and varied music? totally disagree, listen to one song from each Prince album and he sounds like a completely different person. the title track for you, than to skip to dirty mind, then play i wanna be your lover, then play darling nikki, play rasberry beret, than play face down, than play boom, play the most beautiful girl in the world, play get off, than play rave un2 the joy fantastic, than play loose! than play art official cage, these sound like totally different people
I get what you’re saying. But I think what she is saying is music that was a genuine collaboration rather than prince simply making music and giving it to someone.
In addition to Susan Rogers' talk about working with Prince, her answer to the last question asked before the session ended rang practical and truthful.
Thank you soooooo much, Susan Rogers. Me and all my friends can't appreciate you enough for sharing all this information and especially memories of The greatest artist of our generation. You have given some of us some closure finally. Wish you the BEST :-)
I was recently asked if I would be interested in running the ableton unit in the engineering course at my local college. Had a look last week 🤪 Was just thinking at the start of this video, ableton live is perfect for the people to lazy to learn an instrument or the most basic of theory and I looked down and it's the ableton channel 😆 Amazon Apple or Avid it's about those subscription model dollars and no sense.
I love to hear about Prince. I have heard many talk about him. But Susan, she has an art to her story telling, and she is thoughtfully intelligent in her approach to story telling.
in the spirit of contributing to the conversation - the mission statement in my studio is, 'be honest, be expressive' . . . however you achieve this and it's not as easy you will at the least have a meaningful human experience. On the subject of the origins of music there is no doubt for me that the first human melodies came from new mothers who instinctively expressed soothing melodies, just as birds are born with a song women knew their roles and thank goodness for their nurturing souls.
This lady started her career by "repairing" tape machines and studio consoles, and looked where it took her. She was never anybody's "assistant." I can relate to what she said about being spoiled by working for someone whose methods may be totally out of the norm, but they know what they're doing and get the job done. Sounds crazy, but you miss those times. This is a great interview!
Susan Rogers is a Great teacher,you can see her passion,and she worked with what essentially is one of the greatest musicians of All time,(Prince💕),and she was part of a pivotal period of musical and cultural History..Prof Susan Rogers always informative and interesting..
Fantastic words of Wisdom, especially her very last statements. I love her honesty and humility. I have been recording since I was 10 (Church Choirs on little reel-to-reel machines). I am now 67. That's 57 years. 49 years in Professional Multi-Track Studios. What she has shared about this Little World is the Truth. I am very impressed.
