Matthew Koma talking about working with Britney, Tinashe and Shania Twain on new music:
On Britney:
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You had some studio time, or you’re continuing to, with Britney. What is that like?
She’s extremely talented. It’s funny getting to work with her sometimes, you know, because you just think about the history and how much of pop music is influenced today by things she’s done and invented.
It’s gotta be surreal.
It’s super surreal to sit there and hear Britney Spears sing one of your songs. It’s like — it’s one of those things on the checklist. You know, I checked off Kelly Clarkson too. There are very few of those marquee artists where it’s like, okay, check, that’s really cool. It just feels like…it holds a different weight.
I love working with new artists because you’re always getting to start with a clean palette and something that hasn’t been treaded on yet, but when you’re working with artists like that…I’m producing Shania Twain’s album right now, and that’s another complete—
Wow, that’s out of left field!
Yeah! You go back and you’re like “Let me reference one of her old records to see what they were doing on ‘Man, I Feel Like A Woman.’” It’s like…jeez. It’s crazy!
Before I get to Shania, which I’m very interested in, everyone’s always fascinated: What is Britney like in the studio, and what is the recording process like?
Super, beyond pro. Beyond sweet. Comes in. Nails it. Knows the tunes. With her, it’s been a very different thing, case by case. There are songs where she has a lot of input, as far as “I wanna go for this vibe and this is what I’m listening to, and this is what I’m into and this is what I want to execute,” and there are other times where she’s like “This song speaks to me. I learned it and I wanna kill it.” And she does. She’s been wonderful.
There’s one song that’s inspired by…
Squeeze.
Squeeze, yeah. What is that all about? That seems entirely unlikely.
It’s cool. It’s a little left-of-center. I’m a huge Squeeze fan, so anytime I can — no pun intended — try to squeeze them or Elvis Costello into some sort of influence in whatever it is we’re doing, the happier I am. I’m excited about how the music’s coming out.
On Tinashe:
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And you’re working with Tinashe as well?
Great voice.
Potential superstar.
Oh, absolutely. She’s one of those cases where, after you meet with her, it’s not an if, it’s a when. She’s just doing it. People catch on as they catch on because she’s just good. Just real. Another example of a voice bringing a song to life, where you’re just like “Wow, she brought another texture and another dimension to something that I had.” It’s an amazing thing to feel like “Okay, you took something that I had and made it way better.”
Humbling!
Every step of the way.
On Shania Twain:
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Back to Shania — I couldn’t see that coming. How did that happen?
I randomly saw a tweet one day, and it was a photo of her in her car saying she was singing along to “Suitcase,” one of my songs. She had heard my music through her son. I went to go see her show in Vegas. We wound up hanging out for a bit, connected and starting working on music together. It just clicked. Before I knew it, we were in the Bahamas starting pre-production and listening to a bunch of her songs. It’s just been a great relationship. It’s been really fun. She’s been touring a ton and I’ve been touring a ton, so we’ve had to do a lot of it remotely. So we just talk a lot and keep sending ideas back and forth and we’ll block out chunks of time to connect in person. You don’t find a sweeter person. You can just sit there and talk to her for days — about her experience, about that table — she’s just such a well-rounded, great person. It’s been such a pleasure to work with her.
And she holds a best-selling record for her album (Come On Over)…
And you would never know. You would never, in a thousand years, think that she was anybody different than someone who went to college and got a degree and pursued whatever it is they’re passionate about. She just looks at it as a gift and loves what she does, and loves the craft, and is married to the craft. Truly. Maybe more than anybody I’ve ever met. Just married to the craft and the art of songwriting and creating. It’s all about that for her…it’s truly sincere.
Does that mean we’re getting electronic Shania?
No, not at all. No, no. It’s definitely a departure in some ways from some things she’s been a part of previously, but in no way is it an insincere stretch. It’s her vision that I’m hoping to execute.
I heard So ****ing Romantic a couple of days ago on Spotify, it isn't that great but it's bearable. Hopefully he's working on something great with those three ladies.
Confirmed:
1) Chantal Kreviazuk
2) Ian Kirkpatrick
3) DJ Mustard
4) Matthew Koma
5) Sam Bruno
6) Simon Wilcox (Spidermlik)
7) Alex Da Kidd
Rumoured
1) Diplo (Jack U)
2) Skrillex (Jack U)
3) William Orbit
4) Roccstar
5) The Invisible Men (for other songs)
6) Rock Mafia
7) Giorgio Moroder (for other songs)
8) Calvin Harris
9) Steve Aoki
Confirmed:
1) Chantal Kreviazuk
2) Ian Kirkpatrick
3) DJ Mustard
4) Matthew Koma
5) Sam Bruno
6) Simon Wilcox (Spidermlik)
7) Alex Da Kidd
Rumoured
1) Diplo (Jack U)
2) Skrillex (Jack U)
3) William Orbit
4) Roccstar
5) The Invisible Men (for other songs)
6) Rock Mafia
7) Giorgio Moroder (for other songs)
8) Calvin Harris
9) Steve Aoki
I hope the Britney tracks are good!
