Duran Duran bassist speaks on ‘sound and vision’

Sofia Hussain, Contributing Writer

People gathered at In Your Ears Studios on Thursday, Feb. 22, for a conversation and Q&A with John Taylor, lead bassist of Duran Duran, who tuned in through Zoom.

The conversation was based around the theme “sound and vision” and was hosted by Robert Milazzo, professor of the MASC 410 Media Entrepreneurship course, and 410 Productions, a production company organized by the course’s students, according to Rams Connect.

People were constantly developing original ideas in media production during the 1980s, Taylor said. 

“If you are a visual artist, chances are you saw things that stayed with you,” Taylor said. “It was a very innovative time.”

It was easy to be original with ideas for music videos in the ‘80s compared to now, Taylor said.

Taylor discussed influential music videos from artists such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift and how music video production has changed since the ‘80s. 

“Telephone” by Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé is his favorite music video from the past 20 years, Taylor said.

Music production is an industry that requires people to get out of their comfort zone in order to gain experience, Taylor said. 

“You can get a lot more done together than individually,” Taylor said. “After being in Duran Duran, I’m a big believer in teamwork.”

Taylor hopes students can recognize the importance of teamwork in music production and feels it’s important to be surrounded by people who share the same passions when beginning a career in music production, he said.

“Find people who share your goals and stay close to them,” Taylor said.

The conversation focused on Taylor’s work in music video production as a multifaceted artist, according to Milazzo.

“When I think of John Taylor I think of many types of art,” Milazzo said. “His artistic background is very interesting. Duran Duran has an important legacy in video production.”

Milazzo hopes students attending the event who are aspiring to work in media production can gain a deeper insight into Taylor’s work in video production, he said. 

It’s inspiring to see a mix of generations in the audience that have been influenced by Duran Duran, Milazzo said.

“I want people to leave knowing something about John they never knew,” Milazzo said. “I want it to ultimately be a form of education.”

The event has influenced VCU students’ perspectives on generational music, according to Kristen Furlo, fourth-year at VCU, event manager and president of 410 Productions.

The event allowed different generations to connect through Duran Duran’s music, Furlo said.

The event was inspiring from a nostalgia standpoint since fans got to witness the evolution of their music videos, said Karen Wilder, an audience member.

“They were really inspiring and their music videos were the epitome of my childhood,” Wilder said.

Duran Duran is inspiring in the way they care about their fans and how they reinvent their music, according to Jennifer Wood, an audience member.

“They always want to do amazing things for us, and that’s very inspiring,” Wood said.