Nile Rodgers With Jem Aswad (Variety) at Power Station

Legendary songwriter, producer, composer, and Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers joins Variety executive music editor Jem Aswad for an unforgettable conversation at Power Station at Berklee NYC. Filmed at the iconic Hell's Kitchen studio where Rodgers recorded some of his earliest hits, this wide-ranging discussion explores more than five decades of music history, creativity, and collaboration. Rodgers reflects on the formation of Chic with Bernard Edwards, the making of classics including “Le Freak” and “Dance, Dance, Dance,” producing David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, working with Madonna, and the lessons he’s learned from a lifetime in music. This event was co-presented by Variety and Power Station at Berklee NYC in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment as part of New York Music Month. Subscribe for more conversations and stories from Power Station at Berklee NYC. 00:00 Introduction - Returning to Power Station 03:23 Musical origins 19:45 Meeting Bernard Edwards and forming Chic 28:55 Songwriting and putting on the show 39:14 Producing David Bowie's "Let's Dance" (original demo recording) 48:59 Working with Madonna 52:40 Collaboration and creative philosophy Edited by Glenn Forsythe Director of Photography: Simon Yu Cameras: Mike Moore, Simon Yu, Glenn Forsythe Audio: Matthew Soares Producers: Janice Brown, Ryan Nava, Glenn Forsythe (Power Station) Jem Aswad: Variety