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{{Short description|American producer and songwriter (born 1961)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Martin Bisi
| name = Martin Bisi
Line 4: Line 5:
| background = non_performing_personnel
| background = non_performing_personnel
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1961}}
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1961}}
| origin = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States|USA]]
| origin = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| genre = [[Alternative rock]]<br />[[Punk rock]]<br />[[Psychedelic rock|psychedelic]]<br />[[Electro funk]]
| genre = [[Alternative rock]]<br />[[Punk rock]]<br />[[Psychedelic rock|Psychedelic]]<br />[[Electro funk]]
| years_active = 1981–present
| years_active = 1981–present
| label = [[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]] / [[SST Records|SST]]<br />Black Freighter <ref>[http://www.discogs.com/label/90527-Black-Freighter Discogs - ''Black Freighter'' discography]</ref> <br> [[Bronson Recordings]] <ref>https://bronsonrecordings.bandcamp.com</ref>
| label = [[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]] / [[SST Records|SST]]<br />[[Celluloid Records|Celluloid]] <br />Black Freighter <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/label/90527-Black-Freighter|title=Black Freighter|website=Discogs}}</ref> <br> [[Bronson Recordings]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bronsonrecordings.bandcamp.com/|title=Bronson Recordings|website=Bronson Recordings}}</ref>
| website = [http://www.martinbisi.com/ Official website]
| website = [http://www.martinbisi.com/ Official website]
}}
}}


'''Martin Bisi''' (born 1961) is an [[United States|American]] [[Record producer|producer]] and [[songwriter]].
'''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.[http://www.martinbisi.com/bio.html]
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 1979, he started '''''B.C. Studio''''' (initially named ''OAO Studio'' <ref>[http://www.discogs.com/label/281948-BC-Studio Discogs - ''BC Studio'' profile (and discography)]</ref>) with [[Bill Laswell]] and [[Brian Eno]] in the Gowanus section of [[Brooklyn]],<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/artist/141327-Martin-Bisi Discogs - ''Martin Bisi'' profile (and discography)]</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 Bambaata]]. 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 ==

Starting with a solo record in 1988 - ''Creole Mass'' (New Alliance/[[SST Records|SST]]) - Bisi also recorded his own material. Other solo works were ''All Will Be Won'' (LP -1992), ''See Ya in Tiajuana'' (EP -1994), ''Dear Papi I'm in Jail'' (EP -1996), ''Milkyway of Love'' (LP -1999), and more recently, ''Sirens of the Apocalypse'' (full-length -2008), ''Son of a Gun'' (EP -2010) with [[Bill Laswell]], [[Brian Viglione]] of [[The Dresden Dolls]] and [[Bob D'Amico]] of [[Sebadoh]], and ''Ex Nihilo'' (LP -2014). <BR/>
=== Documentary film===
2009 saw Bisi's first extensive touring, both in the US and Europe. <BR/>
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 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

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]]'', which was released on April 20, 2018 on [[Bronson Recordings]].<BR/>
⚫
=== Solo career ===
Bisi continues to tour in support of BC35 with his band, called Martin Bisi band, which involves a revolving cast of musicians
Bisi also recorded his own material

* ''Creole Mass'' (LP -1988 [[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]]/[[SST Records|SST]]) with [[Lee Ranaldo]] and [[Fred Frith]]
* ''All Will Be Won'' (LP -1992 [[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]]/[[SST Records|SST]])
* ''See Ya in Tiajuana'' (EP -1994 [[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]]/[[SST Records|SST]])
* ''Dear Papi I'm in Jail'' (EP -1996 [[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]]/[[SST Records|SST]])
* ''Milkyway of Love'' (LP -1999 Stripmine)
* ''Sirens of the Apocalypse'' (LP -2008 Labelship, Black Freighter)
* ''Son of a Gun'' (EP -2010 Black Freighter) with [[Bill Laswell]], [[Brian Viglione]], [[Bob D'Amico]]
* ''Ex Nihilo'' (LP -2014 Labelship, Black Freighter)
* ''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.
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==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal|Biography|Record production|Rock music}}
*[http://www.martinbisi.com Martin Bisi's official website]
*[http://www.martinbisi.com Martin Bisi's official website]
*[https://www.bcstudiobk.com BC35 official website]
*[https://www.bcstudiobk.com BC35 official website]
*[http://www.soundandchaosfilm.com official website of Sound & Chaos: The Story Of BC Studio documentary]
*[http://www.soundandchaosfilm.com Official website of Sound & Chaos: The Story Of BC Studio documentary]
*[https://www.youtube.com/iammartinbisi Martin Bisi on YouTube]
*[https://www.youtube.com/iammartinbisi Martin Bisi on YouTube]
*[https://www.facebook.com/Martin-Bisi-10025408974/ Martin Bisi on Facebook]
*[https://www.facebook.com/Martin-Bisi-10025408974/ Martin Bisi on Facebook]

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"