Unveiling the Musical Journeys of Five Grammy-Nominated Artists
‘Obsessive about the sounds’
The panelists come from diverse backgrounds but share a real dedication to their craft. Legend, who went to college at 16 and was homeschooled before, emphasizes the importance of caring about details and understanding the history. Allen, too, delves into what makes her favorite songs tick, like the key change in "Please Please Please". Nigro shares a detail in "Good Luck, Babe!" where Chappell's panting in the background adds to the feeling. Clark, who produced her album herself, is obsessive about the sounds, like having her friend play a sick fill on "Broken Man" and then replaying it with Electrical Audio sounds. Each artist brings a unique perspective to the art of music.
They also discuss karaoke, with Legend sharing his early demo days of covering "Burning Down the House" and the pitfalls of doing it as a professional. Nigro, who was intimidated by karaoke until 34, even stole the timbales at his cousin's wedding. These anecdotes add a personal touch to their discussions about music.
‘Unruly in a good way’
The panelists ponder which musical era they wish they'd been around for. Smith mentions Earth, Wind & Fire and the Ohio Players era. Legend wishes he were alive during Stevie Wonder's mid-'70s albums that won three album of the year Grammys. Clark points out how different recording was back then, with vocalists having to be locked in from the start. Nigro reflects on how our ears have become adjusted to perfection and how he dealt with the desire for it on the Chappell album.
They discuss the difference between the songwriter and producer moments, with Nigro saying he doesn't care about production when writing but will make edits later. They also explore songs like Calvin Harris and Rihanna's "We Found Love", where the melody and chords remain the same but the song still propels. Allen notes the difficulty of this trick.
‘The best version of herself’
Last year, Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer" topped the Hot 100 after years, and other old songs like "Pink Pony Club" have also seen a resurgence. Nigro changed "Femininomenon" six months after it came out due to dissatisfaction with the drums. Clark remade her latest album in Spanish to meet her fans halfway.
When writing with an artist, Allen realized she was making it too hard and now writes from their perspective. Legend shares how his daughter is into Sabrina Carpenter and how the chemistry between artists leads to the best version of themselves. Smith emphasizes the importance of the relationship in creating music.
‘The vision is clear’
Chappell, Sabrina, and Charli XCX are examples of artists who finally made it big this year. Legend believes the labels are not the gatekeepers anymore and the audience has power. Smith discusses the balance between art creation and the influence of social media. Nigro talks about artists who want to appease everyone and those who do what they want.
They also reflect on Sabrina's sixth studio album and how it took time for her to find her voice. Willow looks back at her debut single and how her music has evolved. Allen emphasizes the importance of the world being ready for a song to have an impact.
‘I wish I made this song’
Excluding themselves, the panelists share songs they loved this year. Legend loves Tyler, the Creator's album with his mom's storytelling. Smith was blown away by Esperanza Spalding and Milton Nascimento's album. Nigro wishes he made "Million Dollar Baby". Allen loved Adrianne Lenker's new album that defies pop writing rules. Clark listens to the new MJ Lenderman record.
They also discuss Christmas music, with Legend finally making a Christmas album after 14 years of saying he would. Clark wrote a sad Christmas song on her last record. Allen and Smith share their ideas for a Christmas song from a different perspective. Legend notes the pressure of making a new Christmas song stand up to the classics.