John Robie's journey through music began at age five during The Beatles era, which fundamentally changed his perspective on artistic expression. His initial exposure to electronic music came through a chord organ, leading him to simultaneously master both guitar and keyboards.

In the 1960s, Robie formed the band 'Backdoor Man,' supported by his father's investment in a Farfisa organ. His musical evolution continued post-college when he met Ray Jones, who introduced him to the Moog synthesizer, marking his deeper dive into electronic music.

Robie emphasizes the impact of cultural immersion on his musical development. Initially skeptical of disco and hip-hop, he gained appreciation through direct exposure to street and club cultures. This diverse experience transformed him from a mere keyboardist into what he calls a "sound architect."

A pivotal moment came when his track 'Vena Cava' caught the attention of R. Rodriguez at Disconet. This led to a connection with Tom Silverman and Arthur Baker, resulting in the recording of the influential 'Planet Rock.'

Today, Robie advocates for continued artist innovation while warning against settling for mediocrity in music. He observes that when something becomes fashionable, it often leads to conformity, potentially lowering creative standards across the industry.

Key lessons from Robie's career:

• Cultural immersion enhances musical perspective
• Innovation should prevail over conformity
• Diversity naturally existed in the 80s music scene
• Simplicity in electronic instruments can be more effective than complexity

Regarding modern synthesizers, Robie believes they've become overly complex: "Today's synthesizers are way over-sophisticated. There are too many bells and whistles — too many post-effects channels. It's overkill."

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