Musicians are endlessly unique, and so is their music. When one of their creations falls perfectly into place, it enters the pantheon of enduring classics. These songs seem predestined, as though their existence is inevitable and immaculate. The truth is anything but, and music comes into being through a wide variety of happenstances. Examining how these pearls of divine art get pieced together is often surprising and enlightening.
Frank Joseph must have been mulling this notion when he dreamed up AKG Stories Behind the Sessions. “It’s gone through multiple iterations,” remarks the Senior Director of Marketing in North America for HARMAN Professional Solutions regarding the breakthrough podcast. A renowned audio electronics hardware company, HARMAN has a bevy of brands under its wing, including microphone and headphone manufacturer AKG. Eventually, Joseph developed the podcast’s mission—get artists and producers behind some of the most iconic tunes ever in front of the camera to reveal their most fascinating origin stories.
For the interviewer slot, Joseph enlisted Los Angeles based radio host and TV presenter Nic Harcourt. Among other endeavors, Harcourt’s also worked as a music journalist, manager, and music supervisor for movies and TV shows. The Birmingham, England-born presenter had a preexisting relationship with Joseph. Harcourt hosted a podcast series for Guitar Center that ran between 2010 and 2014, and during that time Joseph was working for the retail giant. Harcourt was enticed by the prospect of hosting an interview series apart from the standard promotional treadmill. Rather than gabbing ad nauseam about an artist’s current release, he delves deep into genuine untold music industry history. “It’s not a dog and pony show,” as Harcourt puts it.
The content first went live two years ago, with the inaugural video spotlighting producer Neal Pogue. Recognized for his work with Outkast and Tyler, the Creator, Pogue opened up about the after-hours session that birthed TLC’s 11-time platinum single “Waterfalls.” For the second installment, Harcourt got inside the mind of Walter Afanasief, who detailed the unusual circumstances surrounding the writing and production of Mariah Carey’s holiday perennial, “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”
Both these videos were recorded from a trailer during NAMM, and each remains less than stellar from a technical perspective. A decision was quickly made to film at HARMAN’s Professional Experience Center. The 6,000-square-foot soundstage gives the series a requisite professional sheen. Despite the high-powered equipment at play, the podcast avoids technical discussion. Joseph emphatically states, “We steer clear of that at all costs.”
Chats normally run around 30 to 40 minutes, then get edited down. Earlier entries in the series are on the shorter side. The episode featuring Pogue is under 11 minutes. The final entry for season one, featuring Moby, is over 26. Viewers have become accustomed to the longer playtimes, absorbing the content in smaller bites and coming back later to revisit favorite episodes.
The first season came stuffed with talent. Besides the aforementioned guests, there’s Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Cliff Martinez, Quiet Riot bassist Rudy Sarzo, plus 311 singer and guitarist Nick Hexum. Fans were inspired by anecdotes from Garry Beers of INXS, No Doubt’s Adrian Young, and legendary producer Robert Margouleff. Season two recently kicked off with Jackson Browne and Lisa Loeb. One of Harcourt’s personal favorites is his sit down with Curt Smith of Tears for Fears.
To date, AKG Stories Behind the Sessions has reached over 5.1 million views. As word spreads, people have independently begun reaching out and expressing their desire to be involved. The show’s creators think carefully about whom they’ll feature. “We’ve mentally made short lists of people that have made a significant contribution to music,” Joseph notes. “That’s something Nic and I talk about all the time.” It helps that Harcourt possesses a wealth of industry contacts. “I think we’re going to be getting bigger and bigger artists,” chirps the interviewer, hinting that something Earth-shaking is in the works.
Once a musical luminary is set to appear, Harcourt meets with that person to review expectations so there are no surprises. The crew toils hard to make subjects feel at ease, even offering to let them hang out at the Experience Center whenever they wish. “I think that comes through in the show,” discloses Harcourt. “The ease with which most of our guests are able to speak is because of those conversations. We’re chill by the time the camera starts rolling.”
Regarding interview techniques, Harcourt stresses the importance of intently listening to his subjects and not thinking about his next question. “That’s something I learned a long time ago in live radio,” he reveals. Harcourt further notes that, when artists are having a hard time expressing themselves, it’s usually wisest to remain silent and let them figure it out on their own. “We try to dig out something that’s not in 300 other interviews. We have jumping off points and a bit of structure, but my goal is to have it feel like you’re listening in on a conversation.”
“Everyone who’s come in has been so gracious and excited,” finishes Joseph. “It’s been a blast.”
See the entire series at youtube.com/akgacoustics or wherever podcasts are available.
