Mark Blevis

For a couple of reasons, I’ve been speaking with the creators of The Wire, CBC’s award-winning eight-part audio documentary of the impact of electricity on music.  The stories and the production ideas that Paolo Pietropaolo, Chris Brookes and Jowi Taylor have shared are the kinds of stories everyone in media production should be hearing — particularly those who have claimed themselves to be part of the new media world.  My plan is to edit these conversations together into a making-of documentary about The Wire.  It will likely take a few months before the final product is ready.

One story is worth sharing now.

I asked Jowi about his interview technique and being able to connect (something I consider to be one level beyond engagement) with his guests.  It was something that Chris and Paolo had raved about to me, noting that Jowi is a listening interviewer.  As part of his answer, Jowi relayed a story that has shaped his approach.

While working a Sunday morning shift in a health food store in Toronto many years ago, Jowi noticed Brian Eno (yes, THE Brian Eno) was walking about the store.  He was obviously looking for something that he couldn’t find.  Before Eno left, Jowi intercepted him explained that the album Ambient 4 had changed his life and that Remain in Light was the best pop album ever produced.

Eno looked back at Jowi and said “Thank you very much.  Do you know where I can get good croissants?”

Even before Jowi explained the relevance of the story for interviewers and people in general, I felt intruiged by the idea of Eno looking for pastries and felt that I knew something more about the person that creates incredible music.  Which, of course, is what Jowi was getting at in the telling of the story.  Interviewers tend to spend too much time getting to the wizardry and the status of individuals and forget about what connects us as human beings.

Who doesn’t love a good croissant?

In addition to my own approach, and that of other podcasters I’ve been speaking with, I’ll be discussing some of the workflow and creative process used in The Wire as part of my presentation at PodCamp Toronto.

Note: You can hear a interview with Paolo Pietropaolo on Inside Home Recording episode #66.