Michael Marquart

Summary

Michael Marquart (also known as Mike Marquart) is a Grammy Nominated[1] American music producer, drummer, and guitarist. Marquart was a drummer in the rock band A Flock of Seagulls, active during the 1980s. In the mid 2000s, Marquart founded the rock band A Bad Think.[2] In the 2010s, Marquart founded Windmark Recording, a recording studio based in Santa Monica, with his daughter Samantha Marquart.[3] Marquart's Windmark Recording Studio has recorded many notable musical artists, including Coldplay, Jeezy, J. Cole, YG, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar.[3] ] In 2021, Marquart sold Windmark Recording to Joie Manda.

Michael Marquart
(Mike Marquart)
Background information
BornFort Atkinson, Wisconsin, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Guitarist
  • drummer
  • composer
  • singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • electric guitar
  • drums
  • keyboard
Years active1980s–present
Websiteabadthink.com

As a record producer, Marquart has worked closely with many well-known musicians and producers, including Teddy Riley and The Neptunes (an R&B duo consisting of Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams).[4] His albums have featured many notable musicians, including Jeremy Stacey, Victor Indrizzo, Fernando Perdomo, Paul Bryan, Greg Leisz, Durga McBroom, and John Philip Shenale.[5][6]

Early life edit

Marquart grew up in the town of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin and first rock band was Wonderhorse where he played drums. As a self-taught guitarist, he played in bars during his adolescent years.[4] In 1989, he temporarily played drums for the new wave band A Flock of Seagulls, and in 1990 recorded four songs with Alias[7] as a drummer before moving to Virginia Beach, Virginia. Shortly thereafter, Michael married Winnie Johnson-Marquart and had a son. Marquart also has a daughter named Samantha, who he co-founded Windmark Recording's Santa Monica location with in 2015.[3] Marquart currently spends half his time living and working in Los Angeles, California, and the other half in Virginia Beach, Virginia.[8]

Career edit

Marquart initially started Windmark Recording in Virginia Beach, which served as an important recording space for The Neptunes during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Marquart restarted Windmark Recording in Santa Monica in 2015 with his daughter, Samantha Marquart, where he served as President until Windmark Recording was acquired by Joie Manda in 2021.[9][10] In addition to Windmark, he also has a home studio called The Barn in Malibu, California;[11] the studio was constructed using wood salvaged from the old Hollywood Bowl, originally constructed in the 1920s and went on to win an Outstanding Creative Achievement – Studio Design Project award at the 33rd NAMM TEC Awards.[12][13]

In the mid 2000s, Marquart founded the underground electronic rock band A Bad Think[14] releasing a debut Album, A Bad Think, in 2006[15] which went on to get nominated for Best Rock Album of the Year at the Hollywood Music Awards.[16] Marquart released his second album, Simple Rhymes, in 2009[4] followed by his third album, Sara Lee, in 2010,[17] fourth album, Medicine, in 2012,[18] fifth album, Sleep, in 2014,[19][20] and sixth studio album, Don't Forget Us, in 2015.[21]

As his seventh studio album in 2016, Marquart produced the modern alternative rock album The Tragic End of a Dreamer, which blends diverse musical genres ranging from ambient to Southern rock, folk, and New Age music.[22] The album features Paul Bryan (bass), Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar), Durga McBroom (singer), and John Philip Shenale (composer).[5]

Released in April 2019, Marquart's eighth studio album is titled The Savior,[citation needed] which includes the single "Feel Me."[23] In November 2019, the album received a Grammy nomination for Best Immersive Audio Album.[1]

Marquart's ninth studio album, Lifelike,[6] was released April 2021 and is accompanied by a 20-minute documentary, Lifelike: The Making of An Album in Dolby Atmos.[24]

Marquart's tenth studio album, X, was released August 19, 2022 in Dolby Atmos. X was the first A Bad Think record that Bob Clearmountain mixed in Dolby Atmos and stereo.[25]

In July 2023, Short St. was released as Marquart's 11th studio album. Marquart, Dave Way, and Bob Clearmountain reunite to create, mix and produce the album in Dolby Atmos and stereo.[26][27][25]

Discography edit

Albums produced by Michael Marquart include:[28][29][6][25]

  • Short St. (2023)
  • X (2022)
  • Lifelike (2021)
  • The Savior (2019)
  • The Tragic End of a Dreamer (2016)
  • Don't Forget Us (2015)
  • Sleep (2014)
  • Medicine (2012)
  • Sara Lee (2010)
  • Simple Rhymes (2009)
  • A Bad Think (2006)
  • Screwtop Wine (1995)
  • Familiar Dreams Panic (1991)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". GRAMMY.com. November 18, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  2. ^ "Interview with the brilliant musician Michael Marquart of A Bad Think". Music Junkie Press. October 4, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Dunn, Laura Emily (February 12, 2015). "Samantha Marquart, Studio Manager, Windmark Recording". Women in Business Q&A. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Venable, Malcolm (October 13, 2009). "Low-key musician doesn't need to be a big rock star". Pilot Online. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Song River (April 6, 2017). "Michael Marquart of A Bad Think". Cowgirlz Entertainment. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Michael Marquart Rejuvenated". Mixonline. March 23, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  7. ^ Lifelike: The Making of An Album in Dolby Atmos (Official Documentary), retrieved November 24, 2021
  8. ^ Maisey, Jeff (December 14, 2016). "Dreamy New Album from Michael Marquart's A Bad Think". Veer Magazine. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  9. ^ "Producer Michael Marquart Invests in API Legacy AXS Console". ProSoundWeb. August 18, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  10. ^ Harvey, Steve (December 6, 2017). "Michael Marquart Makes His Windmark". Pro Sound Network. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  11. ^ Daley, Dan (March 6, 2017). "A Look at 4 Personal Studios of Industry Hitmakers". Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  12. ^ "The Barn Studio". Malibu, California: Nonzero Architecture. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  13. ^ "nonzero\architecture | Peter Grueneisen FAIA | nz\a Winner At The 33rd NAMM TEC Awards". Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  14. ^ "A Bad Think".
  15. ^ A Bad Think by A Bad Think, October 17, 2006, retrieved July 22, 2022
  16. ^ "EMA 2010 | ". August 12, 2014. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  17. ^ Sara Lee by A Bad Think, October 19, 2010, retrieved July 22, 2022
  18. ^ Medicine by A Bad Think, June 26, 2012, retrieved July 22, 2022
  19. ^ "The Michael Marquart Interview". Blue Bird Reviews. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  20. ^ "Sleep – interview with Michael Marquart – A Bad Think". Rock Your Lyrics. June 18, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  21. ^ Don't Forget Us by A Bad Think, April 21, 2015, retrieved July 22, 2022
  22. ^ Pilato, Giovanni "Gio" (February 12, 2017). "Diary of an Eternal Dreamer – In Conversation With Michael Marquart (A Bad Think)". Blue Bird Reviews. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  23. ^ Radic, Randall (March 22, 2019). "A Bad Think Releases 'Feel Me'". Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  24. ^ Lifelike: The Making of An Album in Dolby Atmos (Official Documentary), retrieved April 22, 2021
  25. ^ a b c "A Bad Think offers 11th album Short Street in stereo and immersive formats". clynemedia.com. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  26. ^ "A Bad Think's New Dolby Atmos Album 'Short Street' Is A Personal Odyssey Through The Past". Audioholics Home Theater, HDTV, Receivers, Speakers, Blu-ray Reviews and News. July 25, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  27. ^ read, Jonathan Cornell 07/27/2023 6 min. "A Bad Think – Short St. – Dolby Atmos | IAA". Retrieved August 1, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "Michael Marquart". AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  29. ^ "A Bad Think music".

External links edit

  • "A Bad Think official website".
  • "Windmark Recording official website".
  • Michael Marquart Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2021)