Who is Max Martin?
- Real name: Karl Martin Sandberg
- Born and raised in Sweden
- Played the French horn at school
Got started in the Music Business in 1985 as the Lead Singer of the group ‘It’s Alive'
- Dropped out of school to join the band
- Was once the in-house rock band at a disco in Cyprus
- Released 2 albums, the second of which was on Dennis Pop’s Cheiron Studios label
- Broke up in 1995
Denniz Pop saw Talent in Max Martin who also Shared a Secret Love for Pop Music
Dennis convinced Max to join him at Cheiron Studios
"I didn't even know what a producer did, "I spent two years day and night in that studio trying to learn what the hell was going on." Max
Bittersweet Year in 1998
- Got first Billboard #1 for …Baby One More Time
- Song was originally rejected by TLC and Robyn
- Denniz Pop passes away from cancer
Max has 25 #1 Songs
Britney Spear (x3), NSYNC, Pink (x2), Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry (x8), Maroon 5, Taylor Swift (x4), The Weeknd (x3), Justin Timberlake (x1), Coldplay and BTS (x1)
Total: 25 #1 songs and 75 Top 10 songs
So, What Makes Max's Songs So Special?
- Catchy, simple, and unique Melody
- Clever use of Repetition
- No more than 3 or 4 parts
- Maintaining a Balance throughout the song
- Short, quick, and memorable Intros
- Song elements introduced 1 at a time
- Every chorus is unique. The first chorus comes in by 50 seconds
The Vocal Melody Must be Simple, Catchy, and Unique (1/2)
- The sound of a melody is crucial
- The syllables must fit the notes of the melody. Does not care if the resulting line makes sense.
- A great melody can be ruined by a bad sounding lyric
The Vocal Melody Must be Simple, Catchy, and Unique (2/2)
- Here’s what Bonnie Mckee, a co-writer on Katy Perrys’ hits has to say,
- “It’s very mathematical. A line has to have a certain number of syllables, and the next line has to be its mirror image. If you add one syllable or take it away, it’s a completely different melody to Max."
‘Prince Theory’ of Repetition (1/2)
- The verse vocal melody is the same as the chorus vocal melody, with only a slight variation in the pre-chorus.
- This plays into the Mere-Exposure effect: people are attracted to something merely because they are familiar with it.
‘Prince Theory’ of Repetition (2/2)
- The reason a listener cannot tell the difference is that the ENERGY levels between the verse and chorus are completely different.
- Listener gains familiarity with only a few listeners b/c of the repeated melodic phrases
No More Than 3, at Most, 4 Parts to a Song
- Recycling catchy pre-chorus in the bridge
- Both sections build tension for the Chorus (hook)
- Once again, ENERGY levels between the pre-chorus and bridge are completely different
- Extremely hooky because of Mere-Exposure effect
Maintaining Balance between Different Sections of the Song
- If the verse melody has a lot of rhythm, then the pre-chorus following that will be unrhythmic
- If one note is used a lot in the verse, it won’t be used again in the pre-chorus
Quick, Short, and Memorable INTROS
- Songs need to be instantly recognizable from the intro by the listener with 1 or 2 seconds
- People have shorter attention spans
- Can no longer have 30 seconds of nothing
Song Elements Should be Introduced One at a Time
- Max compares a song to a movie. You need to get familiar with one character (element) before you get introduced to a second one.
- This is essential to getting the listener to keep their focus
Every Chorus is Unique (1/2)
- The chorus (hook) doesn't sound exactly the same even with the same melody because the energy level is completely different
- There’s also always an indicator to notify the listener the chorus is about to start
Every Chorus is Unique (2/2)
- The first chorus usually comes in by 50 seconds
- Sometimes makes use of a B-chorus: essentially a second chorus that plays under the main chorus in harmony. Same lyrics but less busy. If the original chorus is staccato then the B-chorus has long notes.
No Song Ever Starts With a ‘Melodic-Math’ Formula
- Songs should always come from inspiration first
- The tools and techniques discussed are mere guidelines for when you are stuck in the creative process of making a song
- The toolbox are guidelines, not solutions
Advice To Songwriters/Producers (1/2)
- Act on inspiration as soon as you get it
- Immerse yourself with other talented people to keep growing and getting better at your craft
- Sharing knowledge and helping others which will only help you in the long run
Advice To Songwriters/Producers (2/2)
- When things are not working, it’s time to pause and rethink your strategy. Between 2001 and mid-2004, Max worked on 0 top 10 hits.
- Keep your ego in check and let others inspire you.
- Imposing restrictions can make you more creative.
Impact on Modern Music (1/2)
- Max Martin has mentored some of the best songwriters and producers over the last 20 years in pop music.
- They have worked with One Direction, Kat Perry, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Jessie J, Kesha, Ed Sheeran, and Maroon 5, just to name a few.
Impact on Modern Music (2/2)
- Here’s Shellback describing how he came up with “Moves like Jagger” for Maroon 5
- Shellback and Benny Blanco are in many ways responsible for the revival of Maroon 5