Legendary producer, musician, keyboardist and Beastie Boys' longtime collaborator, Mark Ramos Nishita, aka Money Mark, answers three questions!
Over the course of his career, Mark has done recording sessions with the Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop, Nile Rodgers, Yoko Ono, Carlos Santana, Lee Scratch Perry, Jorge Ben, Moby, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Seu Jorge, Jack Johnson, The Mars Volta and more.
As part of Synth History Issue Four.
Without further ado...
Synth History: Do you remember your first synth?
Mark: Yes! I still have practically everything I’ve ever acquired pertaining to my music life and gear. I bought a Realistic Moog synth from a music shop in Hawthorne, California called Hogan’s House of Music. I since put a strap on it a play it like a keytar. It’s pictured prominently in Eilon Paz Stompbox book. I now have three of them and modified them to have 1/4” output since originally it’s a stereo RCA output. It’s featured on my 1998 album Push The Button.
Synth History: What are your top three pieces of gear of all time and why?
Mark: That’s a tough question and almost not fair to ask [laughs]. Every genre has its specific sounds and staying in that lane is important at times. In other words, my top three pieces of gear are always changing. Currently—for my tour opening for Cornelius—it’s a Casio CT-S1000V. It’s a new Casio with a new engine and a special English language Vocaloid. Then, I’m using a Sega Liven for its beats and 16bit sounds, especially the bass sounds and its sequencing capabilities. Finally, the Maestro Rhythm King Drum Machine, famously used by Sly Stone and Timmy Thomas. My first triage of top gear was a 3340 Teac 4-Track recorder, an SM57 Shure microphone and an 88 Fender Rhodes.
Synth History: If you could recount one of your favorite memories in the studio or performing live, what would it be?
Mark: Whoa. That’s muy difficult to answer. Also an unfair question! So many.
Riding on a bus and getting lost in Japan with Lee Perry; playing in the Plastic Ono band; playing “Bennie and The Jets” at Madison Square Garden with the Beastie Boys, with Biz Markie singing; playing on Fallon with David Byrne—William Onyeabor; trading piano licks with Jagger during some down time at a Stones’ session; a full sprint and leap over my entire keyboard rig at Live Earth... To be continued.
Synth History: Here’s a bonus question. What is one tip you’d give aspiring producers and/or musicians today?
Mark: Do your own thing. Be true to your authentic self. Don’t stop. I’ve used this Scott McCloud quote: “Learn from everyone. Follow no one. Watch for patterns. Work like hell.”
Synth History Exclusive.
Interview conducted by Danz.
Part of Issue Four.