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'''Martin Bisi''' (born 1961) is an American [[Record producer|producer]] and [[songwriter]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=MARTIN BISI – Bronson Recordings|url=http://bronsonrecordings.com/martin-bisi-solstice/|access-date=2021-08-23|language=en-US}}</ref>
'''Martin Bisi''' (born 1961) is an American [[Record producer|producer]] and [[songwriter]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=MARTIN BISI – Bronson Recordings|url=http://bronsonrecordings.com/martin-bisi-solstice/|access-date=2021-08-23|language=en-US}}</ref>
He is known for recording important records by [[Sonic Youth]], [[Swans (band)|Swans]], [[John Zorn]], [[Material (band)|Material]], [[Bill Laswell]], [[Helmet (band)|Helmet]], [[Unsane (band)|Unsane]], [[The Dresden Dolls]], [[Cop Shoot Cop]], [[White Zombie (band)|White Zombie]], [[Boredoms]], [[Angels of Light]], [[J.G. Thirlwell]], and [[Herbie Hancock]]'s [[Grammy]]-winning song "[[Rockit (song)|Rockit]]".
He is known for recording records by [[Sonic Youth]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 9, 2021|first=Andrew|last=Sacher|title=This week on our Ch 66 show: a Sonic Youth deep dive with Lee Ranaldo|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/this-week-on-our-ch-66-show-a-sonic-youth-deep-dive-with-lee-ranaldo/|access-date=2021-09-08|website=BrooklynVegan|language=en}}</ref> [[Swans (band)|Swans]], [[John Zorn]], [[Material (band)|Material]], [[Bill Laswell]], [[Helmet (band)|Helmet]], [[Unsane (band)|Unsane]], [[The Dresden Dolls]], [[Cop Shoot Cop]], [[White Zombie (band)|White Zombie]], [[Boredoms]], [[Angels of Light]], [[J.G. Thirlwell]], and [[Herbie Hancock]]'s [[Grammy]]-winning song "[[Rockit (song)|Rockit]]".


==Early life==
==Early life==
Martin Bisi was born in 1961 to Argentinian parents and grew up in [[Manhattan]]. His mother was a concert pianist who specialized in [[Liszt]] and [[Chopin]] and toured extensively, and his father played [[tango]]-style piano as a hobby. As a child in the 1960s his parents sent him to a French school, gave him music lessons, and took him to performances by the [[New York Philharmonic]] and the [[opera]], all of which he rebelled against.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.martinbisi.com/bio.html|title=the Martin Bisi Biography|website=www.martinbisi.com}}</ref>
Martin Bisi was born in 1961 to Argentinian parents and grew up in [[Manhattan]]. His mother was a concert pianist who specialized in [[Liszt]] and [[Chopin]] and toured extensively, and his father played [[tango]]-style piano as a hobby. As a child in the 1960s his parents sent him to a French school, gave him music lessons, and took him to performances by the [[New York Philharmonic]] and the [[opera]], all of which he rebelled against.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.martinbisi.com/bio.html|title=the Martin Bisi Biography|website=www.martinbisi.com}}</ref>


==Career==
==Beginnings of his career==
In 1981, he started '''''B.C. Studio''''' (initially named '''OAO''', Operation All Out, Studio)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hubert|first=Craig|date=2020-10-23|title=Locals Get a Refresher Course, With Few Answers, About the Proposed Gowanus Rezoning|url=https://www.brownstoner.com/development/brooklyn-development-gowanus-rezoning-restart-city-planning-community-board-6-refresher-meeting/|access-date=2021-08-23|website=Brownstoner|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/label/281948-BC-Studio|title=BC Studio|website=Discogs}}</ref> with [[Bill Laswell]] and [[Brian Eno]] in the Gowanus section of [[Brooklyn]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/141327-Martin-Bisi|title=Martin Bisi|website=Discogs}}</ref> where he recorded much of the [[No Wave]], avant garde, and [[hip-hop]] of the early 1980s including [[Lydia Lunch]], [[Live Skull]], [[Fred Frith]] and [[Afrika Bambaataa]]. In 1982 he recorded the instruments for the first song [[Whitney Houston]] recorded as a lead singer, "[[Memories (Hugh Hopper song)|Memories]]" off of Material's ''[[One Down]]'' LP. <BR/>
In 1981, he started '''''B.C. Studio''''' (initially named '''OAO''', Operation All Out, Studio)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hubert|first=Craig|date=2020-10-23|title=Locals Get a Refresher Course, With Few Answers, About the Proposed Gowanus Rezoning|url=https://www.brownstoner.com/development/brooklyn-development-gowanus-rezoning-restart-city-planning-community-board-6-refresher-meeting/|access-date=2021-08-23|website=Brownstoner|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/label/281948-BC-Studio|title=BC Studio|website=Discogs}}</ref> with [[Bill Laswell]] and [[Brian Eno]] in the Gowanus section of [[Brooklyn]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Duggan|first=Kevin|title=New song pays homage to Gowanus Canal's toxic 'Black Mayo' • Brooklyn Paper|url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/gowanus-black-mayo-song/|access-date=2021-08-23|website=www.brooklynpaper.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/141327-Martin-Bisi|title=Martin Bisi|website=Discogs}}</ref> where he recorded much of the [[No Wave]], avant garde, and [[hip-hop]] of the early 1980s including [[Lydia Lunch]], [[Live Skull]], [[Fred Frith]] and [[Afrika Bambaataa]]. In 1982, he recorded the instruments for the first song [[Whitney Houston]] recorded as a lead singer, "[[Memories (Hugh Hopper song)|Memories]]" off of Material's ''[[One Down]]'' LP. <BR/>Soon after recording [[Herbie Hancock]]'s "[[Rockit (song)|Rockit]]", Bisi split from [[Bill Laswell]] but continued working from BC Studio till present time, with a specialty in loud, dense, often noisy sound, with a focus on local NYC music such as [[White Hills (band)]], Clone and Weeping Icon
Soon after recording [[Herbie Hancock]]'s "[[Rockit (song)|Rockit]]", Bisi split from [[Bill Laswell]] but continued working from BC Studio till present time, with a specialty in loud, dense sound, such as [[Foetus (band)|Foetus]] and [[Serena Maneesh]].


In 2021, he worked with the ''Hypnagogia'' album of Travis Duo.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-16|title=Trevor Dunn and Jarvis Earnshaw Announce New Album Hypnagogia as Travis Duo for September 2021 Release -|url=https://music.mxdwn.com/2021/08/16/news/trevor-dunn-and-jarvis-earnshaw-announce-new-album-hypnagogia-as-travis-duo-for-september-2021-release/|access-date=2021-09-08|website=mxdwn Music|language=en-US}}</ref>
⚫
== Solo career ==

=== Documentary film===
in 2014, Sound & Chaos: The Story Of BC Studio <ref>{{Cite web|title= Sound & Chaos: The Story Of BC Studio |url=https://www.amazon.com/Sound-Chaos-Story-BC-Studio/dp/B0B5PH4R9D}}</ref> was released, directed by Sara Leavitt and Ryan Douglass. It followed Bisi's path via the recording space itself, and the music scene and changing urban landscape around it

⚫
=== Solo career ===
Bisi also recorded his own material
Bisi also recorded his own material


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* ''Milkyway of Love'' (LP -1999 Stripmine)
* ''Milkyway of Love'' (LP -1999 Stripmine)
* ''Sirens of the Apocalypse'' (LP -2008 Labelship, Black Freighter)
* ''Sirens of the Apocalypse'' (LP -2008 Labelship, Black Freighter)
* ''Son of a Gun'' (EP -2010 Contraphonic, Black Freighter) with [[Bill Laswell]], [[Brian Viglione]] of [[The Dresden Dolls]] and [[Bob D'Amico]] of [[Sebadoh]]
* ''Son of a Gun'' (EP -2010 Black Freighter) with [[Bill Laswell]], [[Brian Viglione]], [[Bob D'Amico]]
* ''Ex Nihilo'' (LP -2014 Labelship, Black Freighter)
* ''Ex Nihilo'' (LP -2014 Labelship, Black Freighter)
* ''Solstice'' (LP -2019 Bronson Recordings)
* ''Solstice'' (LP -2019 Bronson Recordings)
* ''Feral Myths'' (LP -2022 Black Freighter)
* ''Your Ultimate Urban Fantasy'' (EP -2024 Black Freighter)


The 35 year anniversary of BC Studio was marked by the release of 2 albums ''BC35'' (2018) and ''BC35: Volume Two'' (2019) on Bronson Productions.
2009 saw Bisi's first extensive touring, both in the US and Europe. <BR />
The material on both was recorded in a weekend of performances at BC Studio for the actual anniversary in 2016 by close to 50 musicians who'd worked there over the decades. These were developed into pieces and songs in the following year, as opposed to being purely live recordings
In 2014 he toured in support of a feature-length documentary about BC Studio, ''[[Sound & Chaos: "The Story Of BC Studio"]]'', directed by [[Sara Leavitt]] and [[Ryan Douglass]].<BR />
In January 2016, Bisi celebrated the 35 year anniversary of his BC Studio with a weekend of performances by close to 50 musicians who'd worked there over the decades. These were recorded and then worked into an album called ''BC35'', released on April 20, 2018 on [[Bronson Recordings]]. <BR /> More material from the 35 year anniversary sessions was released as ''BC35 Volume Two'' in April 2019 <BR />
Bisi continues to tour in support of ''BC35'' with his band, called Martin Bisi band, which involves a revolving cast of musicians


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 18:27, 25 April 2024

Martin Bisi
Background information
Born1961 (age 62–63)
OriginBrooklyn, New York, U.S.
GenresAlternative rock
Punk rock
Psychedelic
Electro funk
Years active1981–present
LabelsNew Alliance / SST
Celluloid
Black Freighter [1]
Bronson Recordings[2]
WebsiteOfficial website

Martin Bisi (born 1961) is an American producer and songwriter.[3] He is known for recording records by Sonic Youth,[4] Swans, John Zorn, Material, Bill Laswell, Helmet, Unsane, The Dresden Dolls, Cop Shoot Cop, White Zombie, Boredoms, Angels of Light, J.G. Thirlwell, and Herbie Hancock's Grammy-winning song "Rockit".

Early life[edit]

Martin Bisi was born in 1961 to Argentinian parents and grew up in Manhattan. His mother was a concert pianist who specialized in Liszt and Chopin and toured extensively, and his father played tango-style piano as a hobby. As a child in the 1960s his parents sent him to a French school, gave him music lessons, and took him to performances by the New York Philharmonic and the opera, all of which he rebelled against.[5]

Career[edit]

In 1981, he started B.C. Studio (initially named OAO, Operation All Out, Studio)[6][7] with Bill Laswell and Brian Eno in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn,[8][9] where he recorded much of the No Wave, avant garde, and hip-hop of the early 1980s including Lydia Lunch, Live Skull, Fred Frith and Afrika Bambaataa. In 1982, he recorded the instruments for the first song Whitney Houston recorded as a lead singer, "Memories" off of Material's One Down LP.
Soon after recording Herbie Hancock's "Rockit", Bisi split from Bill Laswell but continued working from BC Studio till present time, with a specialty in loud, dense, often noisy sound, with a focus on local NYC music such as White Hills (band), Clone and Weeping Icon

In 2021, he worked with the Hypnagogia album of Travis Duo.[10]

Documentary film[edit]

in 2014, Sound & Chaos: The Story Of BC Studio [11] was released, directed by Sara Leavitt and Ryan Douglass. It followed Bisi's path via the recording space itself, and the music scene and changing urban landscape around it

Solo career[edit]

Bisi also recorded his own material

The 35 year anniversary of BC Studio was marked by the release of 2 albums BC35 (2018) and BC35: Volume Two (2019) on Bronson Productions. The material on both was recorded in a weekend of performances at BC Studio for the actual anniversary in 2016 by close to 50 musicians who'd worked there over the decades. These were developed into pieces and songs in the following year, as opposed to being purely live recordings

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Black Freighter". Discogs.
  2. ^ "Bronson Recordings". Bronson Recordings.
  3. ^ "MARTIN BISI – Bronson Recordings". Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  4. ^ Sacher, Andrew (August 9, 2021). "This week on our Ch 66 show: a Sonic Youth deep dive with Lee Ranaldo". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  5. ^ "the Martin Bisi Biography". www.martinbisi.com.
  6. ^ Hubert, Craig (2020-10-23). "Locals Get a Refresher Course, With Few Answers, About the Proposed Gowanus Rezoning". Brownstoner. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  7. ^ "BC Studio". Discogs.
  8. ^ Duggan, Kevin. "New song pays homage to Gowanus Canal's toxic 'Black Mayo' • Brooklyn Paper". www.brooklynpaper.com. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  9. ^ "Martin Bisi". Discogs.
  10. ^ "Trevor Dunn and Jarvis Earnshaw Announce New Album Hypnagogia as Travis Duo for September 2021 Release -". mxdwn Music. 2021-08-16. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  11. ^ "Sound & Chaos: The Story Of BC Studio".

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Martin_Bisi&oldid=1220753808"