For Episode 22 of the UNSUNG podcast Dom Dronska (General Manager, Audiomovers) & Matt Soczywko (Head of Marketing, Audiomovers) were joined by music legend Nile Rodgers at Abbey Road Studios in London.
Nile Rodgers is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and a multiple GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger and guitarist. In 2023 he became the first creator to be awarded a Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY for his legacy in the same year as being awarded a GRAMMY for his work with Beyoncé on the smash hit “Cuff It”. As the co-founder of CHIC, Nile pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits like “Le Freak”, the biggest selling single in the history of Atlantic Records and sparked the advent of hip-hop with “Good Times” and “Rapper’s Delight”.
In this very special episode, Audiomovers’ Chief Collaborator & Chair of the Advisory Board Nile Rodgers offers an incredible journey through his legendary career. Starting off with his work on Duran Duran’s “The Reflex” in 1983 and getting back in the studio with them over 40 years later, he opens up about the challenges of dealing with record label pushback and the impact of the “Disco Sucks” movement, alongside the clever tactics he and Bernard Edwards used to navigate their first record deal. Nile shares his philosophy on collaborating with artists, crafting hit records, and how his experience with small budgets fostered his “one take” recording philosophy in his early days which inspired the writing of certain tracks.
He discusses the unconventional method Chic used to break their first hit, “Dance, Dance, Dance,” and dives into the technical side of his studio process, discussing his experience with digital and analog recording. He recounts fascinating stories from his diverse discography, including the iconic bassline of “Good Times” and his work on films like “Coming to America” and “Beverly Hills Cop III.” The conversation also explores Nile’s first experiences with Hip Hop alongside Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, growing up in Alphabet City, and his early access to musical education. He also touches on his experiences working with legends like Sister Sledge, Diana Ross on “I’m Coming Out,” and Carly Simon on “Why,” as well as the story of almost working with Aretha Franklin on her 1979 song “Only Star” from her LP “La Diva.” Finally, Nile closes on his enduring passion for making music better for others and his commitment to philanthropy through the We Are Family Foundation.
