Hothead engineer Roy Harter recently composed and produced all ofthe original music for the redesign of Noggin, a children’s network.Harter selected a group of musicians (including members of Stiff LittleFingers, Polygraph Lounge, Moby and Paul Simon’s band) to play the newmusic according to very strict rules: Only household objects could beused as percussion; no reverb (for intimacy); only one microphone at atime (to encourage spontaneity); all strings had to be under 2 feettall; and toys were encouraged as instruments.
The result: The Alley Pond Park Ensemble (named after Harter’s localplayground in Queens, N.Y.). Harter and Hothead director and engineerJim Stauffer are currently recording all of the Noggin character voicesand voice-overs, as well as choosing new character sound effects.
“Laura Corby, Matt Perrault and Doris Grieder [Nogginproducers] really gave us free rein,” Harter said. “It wasa pleasure working with producers who really trusted our musicalinstincts. It put all of the musicians at ease and really made thesessions a party.”
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