The muscle behind hits by The Weeknd, Britney Spears and Taylor Swift shares his secrets.
Max Martin has given an insight into his working process in a rare interview with Swedish newspaper Di Weekend – the super producer’s first interview in 16 years.
The 2016 Polar Music Prize winner is the Swedish producer and songwriter behind hits like The Weeknd’s ‘Can’t Feel My Face’, Britney Spears’ ‘…Baby One More Time’ and Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’. Martin has seen 58 of his songs reach Billboard’s Top 10, with 21 of them making it to the #1 spot.
In the new interview, Martin reveals the secrets to penning the perfect track, explaining that “a great pop song should be felt when you hear it.”
“You can hear songs that are technically great, songs that tick all the boxes. But for a song to be felt, you need something else,” he offers. “It’s incredibly important to me that you remember a song right after the first or second time you hear it. That something sticks to you, something that makes you feel: ‘I need to hear that song again’. That’s fundamental. Something you want again. And again.”
Martin also stresses that “there shouldn’t be too much information in the overall sound. There should never be too many new elements introduced at the same time. One at a time. Like in a movie. You can’t introduce ten characters in the first scene. You want to get to know one before you’re ready for the next.”
He suggests changing up the chorus: “If you listen to the first, second and third chorus of a song, they don’t sound the same. It’s the same melody and all that but what really happens is that the energy changes. It’s all about getting the listener to keep his or her concentration.”
To Martin, vocals are of prime importance. “As a producer, I’m very present whenever we record the vocal track,” he explains. “Singing involves a great deal of psychology. If the artist isn’t having a great day or finds it all boring, my role becomes that of a coach. Getting the very best out of the artist.”
He also talks about working with NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears in the early days and how he divides his time when he’s not working, among other things – read the full article.
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