Monte Moir

Grooves, Genius, and a Little Purple Magic: A Conversation with Monte Moir

When you talk about the Minneapolis Sound, one name inevitably comes up: Prince. But behind the purple legend was a crew of equally brilliant musicians shaping the future of funk, R&B, and pop—one of them being the incomparable Monte Moir. As a core member of The Time, a songwriter behind Janet Jackson’s The Pleasure Principle, and a producer with a golden touch, Moir helped craft some of the most infectious grooves of the ’80s and beyond.

So, what was it like working in the orbit of a genius? How do you write a song that stands the test of time? And does he still have that signature Minneapolis magic? DJ Soulswede sat down with Monte Moir to find out.