Drum Machines, Synths, Tape to Digital, AI & the Future of Music (Plus MJ, Janet, Prince)
Jimmy Jam — one half of the legendary production duo Jam & Lewis — is responsible for some of the most beloved and commercially successful recordings in pop and R&B history. A multi-Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, and musician from Minneapolis, Jimmy Jam's work with Janet Jackson across Control, Rhythm Nation 1814, janet., and beyond defined an era. Add collaborations with Michael Jackson, Prince, Boyz II Men, and Mariah Carey, and you have a catalogue that is virtually without peer.
In this fascinating conversation with Elmo, Jimmy Jam digs into the technology that shaped his craft — from the earliest drum machines and synthesizers he and Terry Lewis used in their Minneapolis studio, through the tape-to-digital revolution, all the way to his present-day thinking about AI and what it means for the future of music creation. He talks about how embracing new tools while maintaining emotional honesty has always been the key to staying relevant.
He also opens up about his personal relationships with Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Prince — three of the most singular artists in the history of pop music — and what working intimately with each of them taught him about artistry, perfectionism, and the pursuit of greatness.
"One of music's greatest producers talks technology, legacy, and what it really means to make a record that lasts."
How the Roland TR-808, the LinnDrum, and early synthesizers became the foundation of the Jam & Lewis sound, and why embracing those machines early gave them a defining advantage in the '80s pop landscape.
The full transition from analog tape to digital recording, what was gained and what was lost in that shift, and how Jimmy Jam thinks about warmth, depth, and feel in the context of modern production.
His candid perspective on artificial intelligence in music creation, what he thinks AI can and cannot do, and why he believes the emotional core of great songs will always require human experience.
The story of their decades-long creative partnership — from Control's groundbreaking independence anthem to Rhythm Nation's social commentary — and what made their working relationship so uniquely productive.
Personal memories of working with and knowing two of the most gifted musicians who ever lived, what set them apart from every other artist, and the specific lessons he took from those relationships.
Jam & Lewis's foundational creative philosophy — starting from the groove, serving the artist's vision, and knowing when a song is truly done — and how that approach has remained consistent across four decades.
The story behind the famous Minneapolis recording studio and how a small room in a cold city became the center of '80s pop production.
Jimmy Jam's detailed explanation of how the Jam & Lewis drum machine and synth workflow actually functioned, and why it created such a distinctive sonic signature.
His raw, personal memories of Prince — a complex figure who inspired and challenged everyone around him — and what their relationship as fellow Minneapolis musicians was really like.
The making of Rhythm Nation 1814 — what Janet brought to that record and how it almost didn't come together the way it did.
His honest and nuanced take on AI-generated music: where he sees the line between tool and replacement, and what he's most concerned about for young musicians.
A personal story about Michael Jackson's perfectionism in the studio that illustrates just how singular MJ's creative process truly was.
Available on all major platforms.