MBW’s World’s Best Songwriters collection celebrates the composers behind the globe’s greatest hits. This outing we speak to Amy Allen, composer of hits by Harry Kinds, Lizzo, Selina Gomez, Halsey and lots of extra – and one of many nominees for the primary Songwriter of the 12 months Award at this yr’s Grammys. World’s Greatest Songwriters is supported by AMRA – the global digital music collection society which strives to maximize value for songwriters and publishers in the digital age.
Within the final couple of years, it’s been inconceivable to overlook Amy Allen’s success as one in all pop’s biggest songwriters. Until, that’s, you’re Amy Allen herself.
“Typically I’ll go residence and my sisters might be speaking about some tune that I wrote,” she laughs, Zooming in from Los Angeles as she fights off jetlag from an Australia journey. “And I’m shocked that they’ve even heard of it! Typically I fully lose context of what’s on the playlists or what’s doing properly on streaming. I simply attempt to keep out of it and be pleasantly stunned if one thing’s doing properly…”
Allen has been having lots of nice surprises recently. She by no means checks her streaming numbers or radio provides – telling her supervisor Gabz Landman that she doesn’t need to know any updates, “except it’s loopy good or no one’s listening in any respect” – so enable us to spherical up just a few key profession stats.
Adore You, the Harry Kinds tune she co-wrote with Tyler Johnson and Child Harpoon, topped the US Pop Songs radio chart and is RIAA-certified double platinum. Again To You, the monster Selena Gomez hit she co-wrote with Gomez and others, has over 912 million streams on Spotify alone. With out Me, one other co-write with a number of hitmakers, topped the Sizzling 100 for Halsey. After which there’s Matilda (Kinds), My Thoughts & Me (Gomez), 10.35 (Tiesto that includes Tate McRae), If You Love Me (Lizzo), For My Buddies (King Princess), Transfer Me (Charli XCX), Vicious (Sabrina Carpenter) and lots of, many extra.
Oh, and there’s the small matter of being one of many 5 nominees for the inaugural Songwriter of the 12 months, Non-Classical Grammy Award – an achievement so weighty that even Allen is conscious of it. After she’d been persuaded it was price going for, after all.
“I used to be combating my supervisor on placing me up for the nomination to start with,” she grins. “I used to be like, ‘Don’t, it’s embarrassing, what if I don’t get it?’ After which I ended up being one of many 62 [long-listed writers] and I used to be like, ‘OK, it was price it!’”
Certainly, the Grammy nomination marked a uncommon event when Allen phoned her household to inform them of her achievement, slightly than the opposite method spherical.
“All my family and friends would say I hardly ever get excited for something, as a result of I don’t wish to jinx issues in my thoughts,” she says. “Songwriting is an emotional rollercoaster on a regular basis, however this was the very first thing the place, proper upon listening to about it, I used to be immediately elated and simply making an attempt to experience the nice, optimistic wave. I do know it’s an enormous accomplishment for all songwriters, not simply me.”
Allen professes to not be overly involved about whether or not she truly wins the Grammy – she’s both associates with, or a fan of all the opposite nominees (Tobias Jesso Jr, Nija Charles, The-Dream and Laura Veltz) and hopes they’ll type a solidarity “kumbaya circle” on the night time. Win or lose, she plans to hit a bar along with her household and “have a good time, Maine fashion – nothing too fancy”.
Sarcastically, Allen had initially deliberate a low-key 2022, solely to search out every little thing she touched turned to gold – or platinum. However then this native of Windham, Maine, has by no means carried out issues conventionally.
She and her sisters had been pure athletes at college, however when her siblings fashioned a band, 10-year-old Amy persuaded her dad and mom to purchase her a bass guitar for Christmas and practised till she received the slot. Mentored by legendary Maine musician Carter Logan, she was taking part in bluegrass gigs in Irish pubs aged 13, singing songs she’d written herself. Which presumably had been good?
“if anyone heard the songs I used to be writing at 15, 16, no one would let me within the door of a studio ever once more.”
“No, they had been horrible!” she hoots. “Now I hearken to artists which might be 16 years outdated they usually’re writing songs that blow my thoughts. But when anyone heard the songs I used to be writing at 15, 16, no one would let me within the door of a studio ever once more…”
Allen initially went to nursing school earlier than persuading her dad and mom to let her drop out and audition on the ultra-prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston. She handed the audition, thanks largely to an authentic tune she’d written. At school, she began a band (Amy & The Engine) and appeared destined for cult indie rock standing till she met Shawn Mendes/Camila Cabello co-writer Scott Harris, who took her beneath his wing and persuaded her to strive songwriting.
Her artist profession continues – she’s presently engaged on a brand new report – whilst her songwriting goes from energy to energy. Certainly, she believes her band background means artists don’t simply see her as “an LA trade pop songwriter” in periods.
And so, as Allen – a deep thinker who fastidiously ponders every query earlier than answering – settles down to speak to MBW and fizzes with enthusiasm about each side of her profession, it’s clear there are much more successes to return. Even when she’ll in all probability must depend on her sisters to inform her about them…
DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE SUCH A BIG YEAR?
No! I used to be truly making an attempt to deal with writing with artists I like slightly than artists which might be already on the prime of the charts. Typically that’s a entice we are able to fall into as songwriters, simply eager to work with whoever’s on the prime. And, whereas which will yield some nice outcomes, that’s how I discover myself getting burned out.
So, I used to be actually making an attempt to deal with working with artists that encourage me, like King Princess and my good friend Alexander 23. However after all, co-writing Matilda with Harry was a spotlight of the yr. That tune feels so sincere and uncooked, I really feel very grateful to have been part of that and, after all, the Lizzo tune as properly.
IS IT IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN THAT BALANCE OF SUPERSTAR PROJECTS AND EMERGING ARTISTS?
I’ve gone by means of spells the place I’m working with extra folks whose names anyone all over the world would know. However I be taught and develop much more when I’ve a steadiness. As a result of there’s all the time one thing to be taught.
There’s a special vitality within the room for those who’re working with a extremely established family identify, versus working with an artist who’s not so well-known, however equally gifted. I like attending to bounce round in each of these rooms.
SURELY WHEN YOU WORK WITH SOMEONE LIKE HARRY STYLES YOU CAN BE PRETTY CONFIDENT IT WILL GO WELL?
It’s exhausting, as a result of whether or not it’s Harry or some other artist, they’re tremendously gifted and writing 100 unbelievable songs for the album. So it’s not, ‘I’m attending to work with Selena and this tune’s for certain’. It’s about studying to go in, naked your soul and be OK if nothing occurs with it.
After which it’s an enormous cherry on prime for those who hear the tune is within the 20 prime contenders for the album. After which, after all, the actually thrilling second is when it’s on the album and beginning to get lots of fan love and appreciation – that’s the very best information. It’s all the time a journey, it doesn’t ever really feel like a stable footing however it’s thrilling, nonetheless.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO WRITE SONGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE?
I used to be doing the artist factor all by means of school and I beloved it. However, by the point I completed school and moved to New York, I used to be making an attempt to place the items collectively of what my life was going to seem like.
I’d carried out the ten,000 hours of being within the van with my associates, taking part in a present to 5 folks after which driving residence, spending all my cash on fuel. I beloved it, I’ve all the time beloved it and I’ll nonetheless proceed writing my very own songs, however there was one thing intriguing about taking a step again, making an attempt to write down a tune and never feeling like I wanted to connect it to my very own artistry.
It’s simply so liberating. You may be taught a lot since you’re not boxed in to, ‘That is my sound and my artistry.’ Co-writing Again To You, the primary tune I had that ever went to radio, sparked the love that I’ve. When that occurred, I used to be immediately like, “I like this rollercoaster a lot, I’m all the way down to strap in and be on this for a very long time.”
YOU, KID HARPOON, DAN NIGRO… WHY DO INDIE ROCK ARTISTS MAKE SUCH GOOD POP SONGWRITERS?
[Laughs] I don’t know! I grew up on lots of traditional rock with my dad. We lived an hour away from faculty, so I had an hour automobile experience every method and he was all the time taking part in Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones… traditional rock Dad music which I’ve grown as much as completely love. It’s all the time my go-to after I’m on a drive or a run.
Once I’m within the studio, I like having a guitar in my hand and making music that might make sense on stage. I can hear a band taking part in it and it helps me to have that understanding of the tune. However as a songwriter, as soon as I’m carried out co-writing, I stroll away. I don’t have an enormous say within the manufacturing.
I’d wish to suppose that each tune I’ve co-written, for those who had been to strip away the manufacturing, you’d be capable of hear it as an indie rock tune. Nevertheless it’s a really cool and thrilling course of to step away from it after which hear how producers could make it with out me! I bear in mind seeing With out Me come collectively within the studio and being so in awe of [producer] Louis Bell. It already sounded prefer it was going to be on the radio and that’s such an inspiring factor to listen to.
WITHOUT ME WAS YOUR FIRST NUMBER ONE – DID YOU THINK IT WOULD BE SUCH A MASSIVE HIT?
I by no means suppose! I by no means, by no means, by no means suppose! I’m all the time shocked when one thing occurs with a tune I’ve written. I do bear in mind me and my good friend DeLacey, who I used to be co-writing it with, had been actually excited concerning the tune that day.
I simply bear in mind leaving and us each being like, ‘This fucking rocks, we love this’, and it felt very private to each of us. We left with an vitality that day and that’s the one tell-tale signal I ever have. I had it with Adore You too.
MOST OF YOUR SONGS ARE PRETTY DARK. SO WHERE DID ADORE YOU COME FROM?
My Mother all the time says that to me: ‘You’re such a cheerful individual, simply write a cheerful tune!’ That was probably the most thrilling half about that tune popping out. I used to be like, ‘That is the primary feelgood tune I’ve ever been part of.’
Each different tune I’d ever had, had been a heartbreak tune or had a heaviness to it. That tune was the primary time all my associates had been like, ‘Once I play this tune, I really feel unbelievable.’ That’s to not say I don’t write these songs – a tune with a optimistic message simply hadn’t related but.
“Harry is among the finest songwriters I’ve ever met in my whole life.”
And Harry is among the finest songwriters I’ve ever met in my whole life. I’m a cheerful individual, however most songwriters can agree, if you go in to write down a tune and also you’re making an attempt to conjure up what feels sincere, typically it’s the tougher feelings that you just go to. I immediately go to one thing I’m coping with proper now or one thing in my previous that I’m nonetheless desirous about continuously.
Once I’m working with an artist, it’s the identical factor – we’ll speak for a few hours and my antenna goes up after I can see they’re speaking a couple of topic they may speak about for a very long time. We’re undoubtedly writing about no matter it’s you’re venting about proper now!
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A DOWNER ON CO-WRITING, BUT YOU CLEARLY ENJOY IT…
I like collaborating! In Hollywood, you’ll be able to throw a stone and hit a songwriter. Another locations, it’s not a well known profession, so I get lots of messages saying, ‘If in case you have one takeaway for folks eager to do what you do, what would you say?’ And the factor I all the time say is, ‘Collaborate as a lot as humanly attainable.’
That being stated, I wish to hold the room to a few or 4 folks, max. If I get a session inquiry that’s 5 folks or extra, I normally don’t do it, as a result of there’s a threshold with too many individuals being in the identical room without delay. I’m in awe of individuals that may sit in a room and write a masterpiece by themselves – that’s virtually inconceivable to do. However the magnificence in music for me is to collaborate and make it a studying course of.
DOES THE INDUSTRY APPRECIATE SONGWRITERS ENOUGH?
I’m endlessly grateful for each songwriter that’s repeatedly combating for songwriters’ rights and to enhance how songwriters are handled. Songs are the engine of the music trade and generally folks can lose sight of that.
“songs are the issues that carry music from era to era and that’s why folks nonetheless love music.”
It’s an thrilling time to be part of this nomination for Songwriter of the 12 months, as a result of it’s an vital acknowledgement that, whereas tendencies come and go and there’s a brand new artist each single day, songs are the issues that carry music from era to era and that’s why folks nonetheless love music.
It’s not due to what radio thinks is scorching, it’s as a result of songwriters and artists are making songs that individuals hook up with. And, so long as we are able to hold writing songs that individuals have an emotional connection to, music is all the time going to be vital for human beings to have of their life.
DO YOU HAVE A VIEW ON THE CATALOG RIGHTS SALE BOOM THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS?
It’s undoubtedly on pattern, isn’t it? I’ve had presents, however it does appear to be a type of issues the place persons are like, ‘Do it now as a result of it may not occur in two years, we’re already seeing it not be a factor…’ And, every time that’s being stated, is after I normally ake a step again and I’m like, ‘No, this doesn’t really feel proper, I’m too nervous an individual to enter one thing like that.’
And there’s one thing thrilling about attending to the tip of my profession and nonetheless having all my songs. However, after all, folks have one million explanation why they’re doing it and I’m to be taught extra about it.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT TODAY’S MUSIC INDUSTRY, RIGHT HERE AND NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
It’s a disgrace that a lot of the trade is situated in just some locations. We’d have extra attention-grabbing, extra genuine music if that was extra dispersed. Now we have London, New York, Nashville, LA and Sweden and pop music in america is essentially comprised of these locations. However what would the music trade seem like if there have been 30 hubs as an alternative of 5? Wouldn’t that be rather more reflective of who all of us are?
AMRA is the first of its kind — a global digital music collection society, built on technology and trust. AMRA is designed to maximize value for songwriters and publishers in today’s digital age, while providing the highest level of transparency and efficiency.Music Enterprise Worldwide
