Rob Bisel | |
|---|---|
 Bisel in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Bisel |
| Born | 1992 |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2015–present |
| Website | robbisel |
Rob Bisel is an American music producer, engineer, mixer and songwriter. A Grammy award winner and 13-time nominee, he has worked with artists including SZA, Doja Cat, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Harry Styles, and Don Toliver. [1] [2]
Bisel was raised in Moraga, California. Although he sang in the school choir and played bass, he was mainly interested in music production. He began recording friends in his bedroom when he was 14, and at 17 got an internship at Studio 880 in Oakland. [3]
Bisel studied music at the University of Michigan. During the summers, he interned for Mark Needham, an engineer and mixer who had worked with artists including Fleetwood Mac and The Killers. Bisel learned from watching Needham mix and later cited him as an influence. [4]
Following his college graduation Bisel moved to LA, where he met Dana Nielsen, an engineer who worked frequently with Rick Rubin at Rubin's Shangri-La studio. He was hired as a runner at the studio in 2014, and later worked with Rubin as an assistant engineer and engineer. Bisel said that Rubin inspired him, "fueling his hunger to dive deeper into production." [3]
In addition to Rubin, at Shangri-La Bisel engineered for artists and producers including Mark Ronson, Travis Scott, and Harry Styles. He also served as an engineer on Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers during the six-month period that Lamar recorded at Shangri-La. In 2022, he worked with Lamar once again, earning a Record of the Year Grammy nomination for "The Heart Part 5" and an Album of the Year nomination for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Bisel was nominated for Grammy awards in the same two categories for engineering Doja Cat's album Planet Her and the single "Kiss Me More" the previous year. [5] [3]
In 2020, Rubin recommended Bisel to SZA, who had booked Rubin's studio and home in Kauai to begin recording her second album, the follow up to her multi-platinum debut, Ctrl They spent a week in Kauai, "just vibing and coming up with song ideas", before returning to Los Angeles. They picked up their collaboration in LA and were working at SZA's home in Malibu at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. SZA invited Bisel to shelter-in-place at her house, and together they continued to work on the album. [6] In a 2023 interview, Bisel said: "It was a pretty crazy situation, because she was used to going to big studios with tons of people coming in and out, and suddenly it was just the two of us, and I had to step into much more of a Rick Rubin producer role than just be the typical engineer. It gave me the space to present beats to her that I had made, alone or with others. If she liked the beat, she recorded over it. She also ended up really liking the way I recorded and mixed her vocals, which led to me mixing songs as well.” [3]
The album, SOS , was released in December 2022. Bisel engineered the album, mixed 10 songs, and co-produced 11 of the album's 23 tracks. He also co-wrote 15 songs, including the double-platinum single I Hate U and Kill Bill, which was the #1 song on the US Hot R&B/Hip Hop charts for 23 weeks, breaking the chart's record for weeks at #1. [7] [8] The album was #1 on the Billboard charts for ten weeks, [9] and #1 on the R&B/Hip Hop for a record-breaking 41 weeks. [10] Bisel hit #1 on the R&B producer chart in May 2023. [11] He was nominated for eight Grammy awards for his work on SOS in 2024, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. [12]
Bisel lives in Los Angeles. His recording studio, Ponzu, is named after his dog. [3]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | SOS (SZA) | Album of the Year | Nominated | [5] |
| SOS | Best Progressive R&B Album | Won | [5] | |
| "Kill Bill" (SZA) | Best R&B Performance | Nominated | [5] | |
| "Kill Bill" | Record of the Year | Nominated | [5] | |
| "Kill Bill" | Grammy Award for Song of the Year | Nominated | [5] | |
| "Snooze" (SZA) | Best R&B Song | Won | [5] | |
| "Ghost in the Machine" (SZA and Phoebe Bridgers) | Best Pop Duo/Group Recording | Won | [5] | |
| "Low" (SZA) | Best Melodic Rap Performance | Nominated | [5] | |
| Girls Night Out (Babyface) | Best R&B Album | Nominated | [5] | |
| 2023 | Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers | Album of the Year | Nominated | [5] |
| "The Heart Part 5" (Kendrick Lamar song) | Record of the Year | Nominated | [5] | |
| 2022 | Planet Her (Doja Cat album) | Album of the Year | Nominated | [5] |
| "Kiss Me More" (Doja Cat song) | Record of the Year | Nominated | [5] |
| Year | Artist | Title | Credit | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Ruen Brothers | Point Dune | Mixing Assistant | [13] | |
| 2016 | DRAM | Big Baby D.R.A.M. | Engineer | [13] | |
| Kanye West | The Life of Pablo | Production assistant | [13] | ||
| 2017 | Eminem | Revival | Editor/Assistant Engineer | [13] | |
| Neil Young & Promise of the Real | The Visitor | Assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| Jovanotti | Oh, Vita | Assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| Billy Corgan | Ogilala | Assistant Engineer | [13] | ||
| Brent Faiyaz | Sonder Son | Engineer | [13] | ||
| Warbly Jets | Warbly Jets | Engineer | [13] | ||
| Sonder | Into | Mastering | EP | [13] | |
| 2018 | The Smashing Pumpkins | Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun | Editor, assistant engineer, mixing assistant | [13] | |
| Muse | Simulation Theory | Assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper | A Star Is Born (soundtrack) | Assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| The Ruen Brothers | All My Shades of Blue | Mixing Assistant | [13] | ||
| Neil Young & Promise of the Real | Paradox (soundtrack) | Assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| Towkio | WWW. | Engineer/mixer | [13] | ||
| Garren Sean | End of the Night | Mixing, mastering | [13] | ||
| Brent Faiyaz | Make Luv | Engineer, mastering | [13] | ||
| Sonder | "One Night Only" | Mastering | [13] | ||
| 2019 | JackBoys | JackBoys | Engineer | [13] | |
| Harry Styles | Fine Line | Engineer | [13] | ||
| Neil Young & Crazy Horse | Colorado | Assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| Madison Ryann Ward | Beyond Me | Engineer | [13] | ||
| Daniel Caesar | Case Study 01 | Engineer | [13] | ||
| Jovanotti | Jova Beach Party | Engineer | [13] | ||
| Tyler, The Creator | IGOR | Assistant Engineer | [13] | ||
| Bakar | "Hell n Back" | Assistant Engineer | Single | [13] | |
| Kate Tempest | The Book of Traps and Lessons | Assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| Asante | sleek boy | Mastering | Remixes EP | [13] | |
| Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real | Turn Off The News (Build A Garden) | Assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| Mark Ronson | Late Night Feelings | Assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| Laundry Day | Homesick | Engineer | [13] | ||
| The Avett Brothers | Closer Than Together | Editor, assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| Santana | In Search Of Mona Lisa | Editor, assistant engineer | EP | [13] | |
| 2020 | SZA | "Good Days" | Vocal producer, engineer | Single | [13] |
| Megan Thee Stallion | Good News | Engineer | [13] | ||
| SZA | "Hit Different" | Songwriter, additional production, engineer | [13] | ||
| The Strokes | The New Abnormal | Assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real | Naked Garden | Assistant engineer | [13] | ||
| Louis Tomlinson | Walls | Engineer | [13] | ||
| 2021 | SZA | "I Hate U" | Producer, songwriter, engineer mixing, mastering | Single | [13] |
| Jean Dawson | "Ghost"" | Producer | Non-album single | [13] | |
| SZA | "The Anonymous Ones" | Producer, engineer | Single | [13] | |
| Kali Uchis | Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) | Engineer, mixing | [13] | ||
| James Blake | Friends That Break Your Heart | Engineer | [13] | ||
| Summer Walker | Still Over It | Engineer | [13] | ||
| Isaiah Rashad | The House Is Burning | Engineer, mixing | [13] | ||
| Various Artists | Space Jam: A New Legacy | Engineer | Soundtrack | [13] | |
| Baird | "Beluga v2 (feat Berhana)" | Mixer, mastering | Single | [13] | |
| Sonder and Jorja Smith | "Nobody But You" | Mixer, mastering | Single | [13] | |
| Doja Cat | Planet Her | Engineer | Grammy-nominated for Album of the Year and Record of the Year (for "Kiss Me More") | [13] [5] | |
| Santana | Blessings and Miracles | Engineer | [13] | ||
| 2022 | SZA | SOS | Producer, songwriter, engineer, mixer guitar, keyboards | [13] | |
| SZA | "Kill Bill" | Producer, writer, engineer, mixer | Single | [13] | |
| Fousheé | Softcore | Producer | [13] | ||
| Chloe George | Penny | Producer | EP | [13] | |
| Babyface | Girls Night Out | Producer, keyboards, drum programming | [13] | ||
| SZA | Ctrl | Mixer | Deluxe edition | [13] | |
| ImaniCarolyn | Into the Blue Light | Mixer | [13] | ||
| Doechii | She / Her / Black Bitch | Engineer | EP | [13] | |
| Kendrick Lamar | Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers | Assistant engineer | Grammy-nominated for Album of the Year | [13] [5] | |
| Kendrick Lamar | "The Heart Part 5" | Engineer | Grammy-nominated for Record of the Year | [13] [5] | |
| Baird | BIRDSONGS, Vol. 3 | Mixer | [13] | ||
| 2023 | Don Toliver | Love Sick | Producer | [13] | |
| Reneé Rapp | "I Hate Boston" | Songwriter | [13] | ||
| Wallice | Mr. Big Shot | Producer | [13] |
Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) is an American independent record label. Specializing in hip hop and R&B artists, TDE is based in Carson, California. The label was founded in 2004 by record producer Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, who is the chief executive officer. His son, Anthony "Moosa" Tiffith Jr., and Terrence "Punch" Henderson are the presidents of the label.
Solána Imani Rowe, known professionally as SZA, is an American singer-songwriter. She first gained recognition through her self-released EPs See.SZA.Run (2012) and S (2013), which helped her become the first female artist to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment. Her third EP, Z (2014), was her first project to be released to digital retailers and reached the top-ten on the U.S. Independent Albums chart.
Ctrl is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released on June 9, 2017, by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and RCA Records. The album features guest appearances from Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, James Fauntleroy, and Isaiah Rashad. Production was handled by Craig Balmoris, Frank Dukes, Carter Lang, Scum, and ThankGod4Cody, among others. The album was supported by five singles: "Drew Barrymore", "Love Galore", "The Weekend", "Broken Clocks", and "Garden ", all of which are certified Platinum or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The discography of American singer-songwriter SZA consists of two studio albums, one reissue album, three extended plays (EPs), one live album, and 45 singles.
"Good Days" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA on December 25, 2020, as the lead single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). SZA wrote the song alongside Jacob Collier, who provides background vocals, and with producers Carter Lang, Los Hendrix, and Nascent.
Planet Her is the third studio album by American rapper Doja Cat. It was released on June 25, 2021, by Kemosabe Records and RCA Records. The album, titled after a fictional planet created by Doja Cat, is an amalgamation of pop, hip hop, and R&B styles. Lyrically, the album touches on femininity, solitude, romance, and sexuality, among other topics.
"Shirt" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the third single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). Produced by Darkchild and Freaky Rob, it is an R&B song, with elements of trap music, backed by synthesizers and 808 beats. The lyrics are about a toxic relationship that consumes SZA and entices her to return, despite leaving her directionless and mentally exhausted. They include themes present throughout SOS: deep introspection, the pursuit of perfection, and the conflict between love and hatred. A snippet of "Shirt", prior to its official release, spawned a viral dance challenge on TikTok, where over a million videos used the sound. After being first previewed online two years beforehand, the song was released on October 28, 2022.
"Kiss Me More" is a song by American rapper and singer Doja Cat featuring American singer SZA from the former's third studio album Planet Her (2021). It was released on April 9, 2021, as the album's lead single through Kemosabe and RCA Records. "Kiss Me More" was written by the artists alongside producers Yeti Beats and Rogét Chahayed, as well as Tizhimself and Carter Lang, who both provided additional production, and Lukasz Gottwald. It has been described as a disco or rap influenced pop song.
"I Hate U" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the second single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It was released on digital streaming platforms on December 3, 2021, after being uploaded on SoundCloud on August 22. "I Hate U" is an electro-R&B song with a "crunching", light instrumental, containing a relaxed, "ethereal" chorus, and hip hop-influenced verses. A break-up song, it finds SZA detailing what went wrong in a past relationship, expressing resentment towards an ex-partner but acknowledging that she still misses them.
"Blind" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It is a beatless R&B and folk-pop song, featuring an orchestral production that consists of acoustic guitars, violas, and trumpets. SZA's vocal performance combines a rap cadence and slow falsetto vocals, with added vocal runs. In the song, SZA explores the duality of love and muses on a former relationship, as she expresses her disappointment to a toxic past partner while also expressing her continued attraction to him. For the chorus, SZA admits her insecurities in spite of seeking validation through sex, feeling empty and unable to find self-love within herself as a result of a failed romance. "Blind" also incorporates several pop culture references to figures such as Bob Saget and Jesus.
SOS is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released on December 9, 2022, by Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. The album features guest appearances from Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. SZA worked with a variety of record producers and songwriters such as Babyface, Jeff Bhasker, Rob Bisel, Benny Blanco, Darkchild, DJ Dahi, Ant Clemons, and Lizzo. It serves as the follow-up to SZA's debut album Ctrl (2017).
"Nobody Gets Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the fourth single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It was sent to Italian radio on January 6, 2023, and US contemporary hit radio four days later. The song peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the Canadian Hot 100, and the Official New Zealand Music Chart.
"Kill Bill" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the fifth single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It is a pop and R&B murder ballad, built around a midtempo, groovy rhythm and a detuned melody. Guitars, a bassline, and a flute that was sampled from a Prophet-6 synthesizer constitute the song's production, which is influenced by the boom bap subgenre of hip hop. Mirroring the plot of the Kill Bill film duology (2003–2004) after which the song is named, the lyrics discuss a fantasy to kill an ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend out of jealousy, and they employ humorous irony alongside violent imagery that contrasts with SZA's soft vocals. "Kill Bill" was sent to US radio on January 10, 2023, after achieving success on streaming services.
"Snooze" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the sixth single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It is an R&B song with a midtempo rhythm, featuring an instrumental that consists of bass, guitars, drums, and synthesizers. The main vocals are complemented by several layers of harmonies beneath, and a riff appears at the song's beginning. The lyrics are about SZA's obsessive devotion to a love interest who does not reciprocate her intense feelings of yearning, despite her willingness to prove her love with violence. "Snooze" was sent to radio on April 25, 2023, and a four-track single was released on digital streaming platforms on August 25. An acoustic version featuring Justin Bieber followed on September 15.
"Ghost in the Machine" is a song by the American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022), featuring the American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers. The song is a ballad that falls within the indie pop and R&B genres; music critics described it as a cross between Bridgers's and SZA's respective sounds. Written in a conversational style, the lyrics express disillusionment with inauthentic relationships, the inhumane behavior of other people, and artificial intelligence. They also portray SZA asking her lover to provide an escape from a world she sees as having been consumed by vanity.
"Special" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022).
"Low" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second album, SOS (2022). It was written alongside Jozzy and producers Rob Bisel, Aire Atlantica, & Alessandro Buccellati, and features adlibs from fellow American singer and rapper Travis Scott. It charted in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, with a number 24 peak on the Billboard Global 200. The song received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 66th ceremony.
"F2F" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022). "F2F" is a rock song that draws influence from genres such as country, pop rock, and grunge. SZA wrote the song with Lizzo, who provides background vocals, and producers Rob Bisel and Carter Lang. The song was one of around five rock-inspired songs SZA created for SOS, out of a desire to experiment with various genres outside of her usual R&B music. The song begins with acoustic guitar strums before transitioning into a chorus backed by drums and power chords from electric guitars. The lyrics talk about having sex with someone to cope with breaking up with a former partner.
"Open Arms" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022), featuring American rapper Travis Scott. It is a ballad backed by an acoustic guitar, conceived as part of an effort to explore soundscapes outside of SZA's usual R&B-leaning music. The lyrics are addressed to a former lover, whom the narrator leaves for the sake of her self-esteem despite her persistent feelings of attachment to him. A tribute to SZA's deceased grandmother, Norma Rowe, begins the song, done in the form of a skit; Rowe's vocals featured prominently on SZA's debut album, Ctrl (2017)
"Saturn" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA, released as the lead single from Lana (2024), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022). It is a song about nihilism and escapism, discussing one's lamentations about why bad things happen to good people and wishes to leave Earth for another planet, Saturn, where they could possibly live a better life. "Saturn" features a twinkly instrumental, a result of a combination of arpeggios and beaming synthesizers. The song was surprise-released on February 22, 2024, after its official debut at the year's Grammy Awards ceremony over two weeks prior. "Saturn" is nominated at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance. The cover is a reference to the cover of her song "Love Galore" (2017).