Introduction to Giles Martin’s Work
Giles Martin, the son of the legendary "Fifth Beatle" George Martin, has been working on restoring famous Beatles appearances for almost 20 years. He first supervised the music with his father for the 2006 Beatles Cirque du Soleil show, Love. Since then, he has worked on various projects, including anniversary editions of albums and the so-called "Last Beatles Song" with "Now and Then" in 2023.
Emmy Nomination for Sound Mixing
Martin has secured his third Emmy nomination for Sound Mixing for his work on the documentary Beatles ’64. This recent nomination is both confirmed and surprising, says Martin, considering that it is one of the most technically difficult archive Beatles projects he has taken on. The material he had to work with was of poor quality, and he had to do a lot of work to make it audible. He considers it a "surprising and massive honor" that his work is being recognized.
Restoration Process
The same technology used by Peter Jackson for Get Back and Now and Then was used for Beatles ’64. Martin took 60-year-old live recordings from the early days of Beatlemania and meticulously extracted individual stems from Ringo Starr’s drums or John Lennon’s singing, improving them while keeping their authentic sound. He compares the job to time travel, naming the process both fascinating and "a bit scary." He remembers a moment when he was working on a 1964 Washington DC concert in the Washington Coliseum, and he thought, "I’m actually hearing something that nobody has heard for 50 years."
Responsibility and Goal
Martin emphasizes that the work "has to be done for a certain reason" due to the responsibility that comes with restoring archives. The goal is to have a subtle enough touch that no audience would notice that he did a lot of work at all. When he plays a mix that he has made, he wants the last thing people think about to be that his mix sounds like him, so he knows that it is not done correctly. Instead, he wants people to just think about how the song feels.
Conclusion
Giles Martin’s work on restoring Beatles appearances is a testament to his dedication and expertise. His Emmy nomination for Sound Mixing is a recognition of his hard work and commitment to preserving the Beatles’ legacy. By using advanced technology and meticulous attention to detail, Martin is able to bring new life to old recordings, making them sound fresh and authentic for new generations of fans.
