“Artist B makes the better record but won’t come out of their room. Artist A is Madonna…”
This week Chris Wright is joined by one of the most successful music producers in the world whose career ignited when he produced Sade’s debut album “Diamond Life”. Sir Robin Millar is also a highly successful businessman, and he is the Chair of Scope UK, the national charity representing the 16 million disabled people in the UK.
The conversation jumps straight into the deep end of things with the problems of cancel culture and the issues caused when people in business, and life, hold grudges against you. They then explore the significance of Robin having a West Indian mother and how this impacted his outlook and life experiences.
They then discuss the painful subject of Robin’s blindness and the difference between being born blind and developing blindness like Robin did. Chris then asks about the formative years of his career that led him to the vast success he has enjoyed for several decades, including his breakthrough in getting a job at the Château d’Hérouville recording studio in the Northwest of Paris. Robin tells his story of Sade. Producing on Diamond Life with her was what took Robin from being a successful producer to the stratosphere of being sought after around the globe.
This then opens up a fascinating discussion about the two-tone music of the late 70s/early 80s that Chris Wright was instrumental in reviving, having signed record deals with bands like the Specials (famous for the song ‘Ghost Town’ among many others). They return to Sade where Robin explains how she became a hit in America and then what it entails for an artist and their records to become mega-famous. They finally talk in-depth about the business of music including the ins and outs of their business partnership at Chrysalis and a possible new venture together!
We’d love to hear what you think of the episode at email@wrightonthenail.fm, or get in touch if you just want to say hi!
Thanks for listening,
WOTN Team
‘I Hit The Nail Right On The Head’ by Billy Bremner.
© Fridens liljor/Micke Finell.
Rock around the clock productions AB.
This episode was produced by Tom Platts
In this episode we discuss:
- Cancel culture.
- The beauty of having an Irish father and a West Indian mother.
- The difference between being born blind and developing blindness like Robin did.
- How Robin built his career.
- Producing Diamond Life by Sade.
- Talking Two-tone music.
- What’s required to be a mega-successful artist.
- Behind the scenes of the music business.
