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Arts & Culture

SOUNDBREAKING: The Human Instrument

Adele is one of more than 150 artists featured in the SOUNDBREAKING series airing on PBS in November 2016.
© Courtesy of Sony Music Archives
Adele is one of more than 150 artists featured in the SOUNDBREAKING series airing on PBS in November 2016.

Airs Friday, Feb. 9, 2018 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV

The Series Features Over 150 Artists

SOUNDBREAKING: STORIES FROM THE CUTTING EDGE OF RECORDED MUSIC is an eight-episode PBS series that explores the extraordinary impact of recorded music on the modern world.

The series was the last project produced by legendary music producer Sir George Martin, who passed away on March 8, 2016.

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It combines unprecedented access to some of the most celebrated artists, producers and innovators from across the music spectrum, with rare archival studio footage and an extensive soundtrack, to deliver one of the most wide-ranging series on the art of music recording.

Charting a century’s worth of innovation and experimentation in the creation of music, SOUNDBREAKING offers a behind-the-scenes look at the birth of new sounds.

Linda Perry reaching over mixing board during Christina Aguilera session in studio, 2006. Linda Perry Is one of more than 150 producers and artists featured in SOUNDBREAKING.
Courtesy of Romy Suskin Photography
Linda Perry reaching over mixing board during Christina Aguilera session in studio, 2006. Linda Perry Is one of more than 150 producers and artists featured in SOUNDBREAKING.

From the invention of the microphone to the Moog synthesizer, from the phonograph to digital streaming, the series moves between past and present to tell the stories behind the sounds and reveals how innovation redefined not only what we listen to and how we listen to it, but our very sense of what music is and can be.

Viewers of all ages will hear the songs they love in a whole new way.

Freddie Mercury and Brian May are two of more than 150 artists featured in SOUNDBREAKING.
Courtesy of Queen Productions Ltd.
Freddie Mercury and Brian May are two of more than 150 artists featured in SOUNDBREAKING.

Episode 3: "The Human Instrument" - Celebrate the most essential part of a song and the most challenging to capture — the vocal track.

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This episode considers the ineffable emotional quality that makes a vocal track truly great; with Adele, Amy Winehouse and Christina Aguilera.

WATCH ON DEMAND:

Only clips from the series are available to view on demand.

Each SOUNDBREAKING episode was made available for next-day digital purchase following its broadcast via multiple platforms including iTunes, Amazon Video, Vudu, Hulu, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV and Sony Interactive Entertainment.

The series is available on DVD and Blu-ray at ShopPBS.org. The hardcover book is also available for purchase.

CONNECT:

SOUNDBREAKING is on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and you can follow @soundbreaking on Twitter. #Soundbreaking

Soundbreaking | Trailer

"The eight-part series explores the art of music recording

This series premiered on KPBS in November 2016.