<![CDATA[ Latest from MusicRadar in Music-theory-songwriting ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/tutorials/music-theory-songwriting Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000 en <![CDATA[ “He would often arrive at sessions with two banners, which he placed either side of his kit while recording, reading ‘You done hired the hit-maker’”: From the Purdie shuffle to its extended jazz chords - analysing Steely Dan's Babylon Sisters ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/he-would-often-arrive-at-sessions-with-two-banners-which-he-placed-either-side-of-his-kit-while-recording-reading-you-done-hired-the-hit-maker-from-the-purdie-shuffle-to-its-extended-jazz-chords-analysing-steely-dans-babylon-sisters VVZLDXiyxS5GVf2XCDUoVj Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000 Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:18:54 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I think it's one of the greatest pop songs ever made. It makes me feel nostalgic, but also if it came out yesterday, it would be an absolute smash”: Dua Lipa’s favourite Britney Spears song was a massive hit, but the writing process was "torture" ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-think-its-one-of-the-greatest-pop-songs-ever-made-it-makes-me-feel-nostalgic-but-also-if-it-came-out-yesterday-it-would-be-an-absolute-smash-dua-lipas-favourite-britney-spears-song-was-a-massive-hit-but-the-writing-process-wasnt-easy CqqAc4TgttGVrmQ6Rzboza Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:24:47 +0000 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:08:47 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Let It Happen is prog in its purest form. I stand by that one as decidedly progressive”: The inventive music theory of one of Tame Impala’s most dazzling songs ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/let-it-happen-is-prog-in-its-purest-form-i-stand-by-that-one-as-decidedly-progressive-the-inventive-music-theory-of-one-of-tame-impalas-most-dazzling-songs tQ57ABnnckkcvgf8zUKE9D Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:47:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ "He started trying to play chords on it and he said ‘Malcolm! Bob! What’s wrong with this instrument? It only plays one note at a time!’": Dissecting the musical magic of Superstition, the song Stevie Wonder just couldn’t let go ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/he-started-trying-to-play-chords-on-it-and-he-said-malcolm-bob-whats-wrong-with-this-instrument-it-only-plays-one-note-at-a-time-dissecting-the-musical-magic-of-superstition-the-song-stevie-wonder-just-couldnt-let-go Wr9RnujhnEAGJcUDEYhhqK Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:04:54 +0000 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:05:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I absolutely hate synthesizers. They're really bad - horrible. I can take their existence from a live point of view now, but if they didn't exist, I'd be delighted”: The surprising music theory that underpinned a Talk Talk classic ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-absolutely-hate-synthesizers-theyre-really-bad-horrible-i-can-take-their-existence-from-a-live-point-of-view-now-but-if-they-didnt-exist-id-be-delighted-the-surprising-music-theory-that-underpinned-a-talk-talk-classic 27kKQKCtXhDRVSLtzoh79G Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:03:17 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He obviously wanted to do something like that for Billie Jean and he did his own version of that groove”: John Oates agrees with Daryl Hall that I Can’t Go For That was the inspiration for one of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/he-obviously-wanted-to-do-something-like-that-for-billie-jean-and-he-did-his-own-version-of-that-groove-john-oates-agrees-with-daryl-hall-that-i-cant-go-for-that-was-the-inspiration-for-one-of-michael-jacksons-greatest-hits Zy3mZMYzLwAQZzRrNafo7T Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:18:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I spent my entire career searching for this, but it didn’t exist – so I built it for myself”: Can this $149 deck of cards help you write better songs? ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/tutorials/music-theory-songwriting/i-spent-my-entire-career-searching-for-this-but-it-didnt-exist-so-i-built-it-for-myself-can-this-usd149-deck-of-cards-help-you-write-better-songs eZzJEoHuwakSNPzG859xCL Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:40:29 +0000 Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:39:38 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I can identify any note. I'll say what it is or you can ask me what a note is and I'll sing it”: 8-year-old musician Lake Anthony challenges Charlie Puth to a ‘perfect pitch battle’ ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-can-identify-any-note-ill-say-what-it-is-or-you-can-ask-me-what-a-note-is-and-ill-sing-it-8-year-old-musician-lake-anthony-challenges-charlie-puth-to-a-perfect-pitch-battle nEfgTBvpUZrGvrkxQ79XqB Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:59:24 +0000 <![CDATA[ "So much time is wasted by producers that have tons of unfinished tracks. At the end of the day, one finished song is better than 100 half-finished!” 12 artists on how they beat writer's block and actually finish songs ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/tutorials/music-theory-songwriting/the-point-when-i-want-to-kill-myself-is-usually-a-good-indicator-that-the-track-is-finished-12-artists-on-how-they-beat-writers-block-and-finish-songs HtSPcsVzmN5TsxEMWDgcXn Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:42:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ “She has perfect pitch. If she hears a song, she’ll be like, ‘Play it again,’ and then she’ll teach herself”: Jay-Z says that his daughter Blue Ivy is a “crazy pianist” who has a rare musical gift ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/she-has-perfect-pitch-if-she-hears-a-song-shell-be-like-play-it-again-and-then-shell-teach-herself-jay-z-says-that-his-daughter-blue-ivy-is-a-crazy-pianist-who-has-a-rare-musical-gift aC4tVtqRRQfTg4g5dr5jnD Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:05:23 +0000 <![CDATA[ Want to finally finish that track? Here’s how to escape the 4-bar loop trap and actually make some music ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/tutorials/music-theory-songwriting/want-to-finally-finish-that-track-heres-how-to-escape-the-4-bar-loop-trap-and-actually-make-some-music Gd7gYMuuhcUovFLyq927pE Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:33:48 +0000 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:54:20 +0000 <![CDATA[ Klang.io says Transcription Studio is the "world’s first" AI music tool that can transcribe multiple instruments simultaneously ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/klang-io-says-transcription-studio-is-the-worlds-first-ai-music-tool-that-can-transcribe-multiple-instruments-simultaneously 8PKJdWGZV2KsRDQw3YZrKf Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:45:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We wrote 24K Magic when Uptown Funk was No 1. So if you hear the same spirit in that song, that's why”: A decade on, we look back at the musical theory and retro gear that shaped Bruno Mars’ 2016 classic ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/we-wrote-24k-magic-when-uptown-funk-was-no-1-so-if-you-hear-the-same-spirit-in-that-song-thats-why-a-decade-on-we-look-back-at-the-musical-theory-and-retro-gear-that-shaped-bruno-mars-2016-classic XgEpCapWdTrD3hxqQhPtrk Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We never wanted David Bowie to write the score. It would have been a cliché”: Why Ryuichi Sakamoto’s spellbinding theme from Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence remains so captivating ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/we-never-wanted-david-bowie-to-write-the-score-it-would-have-been-a-cliche-why-ryuichi-sakamotos-spellbinding-theme-from-merry-christmas-mr-lawrence-remains-so-captivating bwGGjKnzaBy3egUwkQMwfh Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:10:39 +0000 <![CDATA[ "Music in general right now I feel has lost the art of dynamics. There’s so much storytelling that can be embedded in a song through just having it very soft and then growing it": In an era of loudness, Laufey is flying the flag for light and shade ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/music-in-general-right-now-i-feel-has-lost-the-art-of-dynamics-theres-so-much-storytelling-that-can-be-embedded-in-a-song-through-just-having-it-very-soft-and-then-growing-it-in-an-era-of-loudness-laufey-is-flying-the-flag-for-light-and-shade qRvie3BX8ocsWF5AB6ckT5 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:08:27 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Merely a commonplace ‘circle of fifths’ chord progression”: Miley Cyrus’s lawyers bring music theory to the fore in a fresh attempt to show that her hit song Flowers doesn’t copy Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/merely-a-commonplace-circle-of-fifths-chord-progression-miley-cyruss-lawyers-bring-music-theory-to-the-fore-in-a-fresh-attempt-to-show-that-her-hit-song-flowers-doesnt-copy-bruno-mars-when-i-was-your-man XuRMkzVvrsBEH3c5H7HrKf Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:59:02 +0000 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:58:17 +0000 <![CDATA[ ​​“I’m looking at this ‘hot chick’ who's got everything going on – or at least that’s what you think – and she wants the song about being Beautiful? How vain is that?”: How Christina Aguilera ended up recording a Linda Perry song that she's now reclaimed ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/im-looking-at-this-hot-chick-whos-got-everything-going-on-or-at-least-thats-what-you-think-and-she-wants-the-song-about-being-beautiful-how-vain-is-that-how-christina-aguilera-ended-up-recording-a-linda-perry-song-that-shes-now-reclaimed fcSFoeLE9yuU3CkFGAbpna Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:08:16 +0000 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:44:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We play the machines, and sometimes the machines play us”: Delving into the inner workings of the title track from Kraftwerk’s most influential record ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/we-play-the-machines-and-sometimes-the-machines-play-us-delving-into-the-inner-workings-of-the-title-track-from-kraftwerks-most-influential-record 9SrFGCfDeuziUKPk5Da4v3 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:23:44 +0000 <![CDATA[ “One of the greatest national anthems ever”: How Charlie Puth used jazz harmony to “pull off something pretty spectacular” at the Super Bowl - and send online music theory educators into a frenzy ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/one-of-the-greatest-national-anthems-ever-how-charlie-puth-used-jazz-harmony-to-pull-off-something-pretty-spectacular-at-the-super-bowl-and-send-online-music-theory-educators-into-a-frenzy ZyVxpX5FPq2hRpvMWPA3nH Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:55:47 +0000 Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:51:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I didn't even mean to release it - I was working on another song and came up with the riff and then I just started freestyling”: A decade on, we analyse the inner workings of one of Beck’s most potent bangers ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-didnt-even-mean-to-release-it-i-was-working-on-another-song-and-came-up-with-the-riff-and-then-i-just-started-freestyling-a-decade-on-we-analyse-the-inner-workings-of-one-of-becks-most-potent-bangers maZdpwDBKENDDQwNYNsZqF Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:59:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ Can ROLI's new AI Music Coach really match up to a human piano teacher? We get the exclusive first look ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/can-rolis-new-ai-music-coach-really-match-up-to-a-human-piano-teacher-we-get-the-exclusive-first-look cCexM9DLV2v9SZYhckzhKM Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:58:37 +0000 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:33:23 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I turned to him and said, ‘Where did you come up with that amazing bass line?’ He turned to me and said, ‘Oh, you like that?’ Like he didn't know”: The influential Chic classic that spawned one of the most recognisable basslines of all time ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-turned-to-him-and-said-where-did-you-come-up-with-that-amazing-bass-line-he-turned-to-me-and-said-oh-you-like-that-like-he-didnt-know-the-influential-chic-classic-that-spawned-one-of-the-most-recognisable-bass-lines-of-all-time HkMCcwkhpWtBXmwYkqfPqn Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:54:11 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The reaction was overwhelming. We didn’t think it was going to be a big hit, but people were loving it”: How a range of musicians revitalised their careers by shaking up their attitude to songwriting ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/the-reaction-was-overwhelming-we-didnt-think-it-was-going-to-be-a-big-hit-but-people-were-loving-it-how-a-range-of-musicians-revitalised-their-careers-by-shaking-up-their-attitude-to-songwriting umCudnAhruHfUThxz3kM6X Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:22:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Pretty sure that's the SexyBack snare. Timbaland, thank you": Producer Ryan Tedder on the classic Justin Timberlake drum sound he used in Tate McRae's Greedy - and the Omnisphere preset that features throughout ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/pretty-sure-thats-the-sexyback-snare-timbaland-thank-you-producer-ryan-tedder-on-picking-up-a-classic-00s-drum-sound-and-using-it-in-tate-mcraes-greedy-and-the-omnisphere-preset-that-features-throughout N64UH6mjTSmCcfpRoThXxj Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:06:31 +0000 Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:23:20 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I kept a lid on my feelings at school but, when I was 18, dropped out of everything and couldn't even be bothered to get out of bed. I poured all this into the song”: The intricate music theory and lyrical depth of a Tears for Fears classic ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-kept-a-lid-on-my-feelings-at-school-but-when-i-was-18-dropped-out-of-everything-and-couldnt-even-be-bothered-to-get-out-of-bed-i-poured-all-this-into-the-song-the-intricate-music-theory-and-lyrical-depth-of-a-tears-for-fears-classic hU44jQXnXVZjtonZDWPngT Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:29:06 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It’s like this little country tune, played with triads on the piano... I thought, ‘how do I make those chords bloom with this very simple melody?’": How Prince and The Revolution turned the bare bones of Purple Rain into a lighters-in-the-air epic ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/its-like-this-little-country-tune-played-with-triads-on-the-piano-i-thought-how-do-i-make-those-chords-bloom-with-this-very-simple-melody-how-prince-and-the-revolution-turned-the-bare-bones-of-purple-rain-into-a-lighters-in-the-air-epic dYEFHzcaZvNqQsb3Y8npYH Fri, 09 Jan 2026 15:42:17 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Even though it sounds gigantic, this song is literally drums, bass, fresh elements… and then one of the greatest singers of our time”: Producer Mike Sabath reveals the surprisingly limited instrumentation in Raye's Where Is My Husband! ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/even-though-it-sounds-gigantic-this-song-is-literally-drums-bass-fresh-elements-and-then-one-of-the-greatest-singers-of-our-time-producer-mike-sabath-reveals-the-surprisingly-limited-instrumentation-in-rayes-where-is-my-husband sfUPc24GS7HNw2pqpQfWZQ Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:52:39 +0000 Fri, 09 Jan 2026 11:36:47 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A professor in my pocket who only wants to do what I ask it”: Slipknot’s Shawn Crahan says he’s been using AI “my whole life” ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/bands/a-professor-in-my-pocket-who-only-wants-to-do-what-i-ask-it-slipknots-shawn-crahan-says-hes-been-using-ai-my-whole-life 9xxTk98EZWKSpD8iuiYVBW Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:23:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I lay on my floor one night and wrote the whole thing": 40 years on – the making of West End Girls ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/recording/i-lay-on-my-floor-one-night-and-wrote-the-whole-thing-40-years-on-the-making-of-west-end-girls gH6xbrDunDGmDxodgbhC3d Fri, 02 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 09:49:40 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I had a No 1 single with a song about a robot prostitute and no one knew”: You’ll never listen to this Gary Numan classic in the same way again ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-had-a-no-1-single-with-a-song-about-a-robot-prostitute-and-no-one-knew-youll-never-listen-to-this-gary-numan-classic-in-the-same-way-again GQGL28rme2rBgw796e8py5 Fri, 26 Dec 2025 19:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Lily arrived with the song titles, which is really unusual. She would come in and say, ‘I want to write a song called Dallas Major,’ and we’re like, ‘OK, let’s have some backstory”: The group songwriting sessions that yielded Lily Allen’s West End Girl ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/lily-arrived-with-the-song-titles-which-is-really-unusual-she-would-come-in-and-say-i-want-to-write-a-song-called-dallas-major-and-were-like-ok-lets-have-some-backstory-the-group-songwriting-sessions-that-yielded-lily-allens-west-end-girl VV7At4tjhLPP7UFxzRbssV Thu, 25 Dec 2025 19:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It’s jokingly the worst rap album in history because there are no lyrics on it at all”: There’s a reason why André 3000 turned up at the 2025 Met Gala with a grand piano on his back ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/its-jokingly-the-worst-rap-album-in-history-because-there-are-no-lyrics-on-it-at-all-theres-a-reason-why-andre-3000-turned-up-at-the-2025-met-gala-with-a-grand-piano-on-his-back H3FWDv8iGxFuTaTFCKqN2o Thu, 25 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I'm 90% grammar police…. and then 10% I really couldn't care less”: Alanis Morissette reveals what she thinks is “the real irony” of the fuss caused by the lyrics in her 1996 hit ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/im-90-percent-grammar-police-and-then-10-percent-i-really-couldnt-care-less-alanis-morissette-reveals-what-she-thinks-is-the-real-irony-of-the-fuss-caused-by-the-lyrics-in-her-1996-hit 6YW9pYEa49sQFQJc3H5gbj Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:39:43 +0000 <![CDATA[ “She's one of the world's great musicians. She was Prince's right-hand woman for years”: How Wendy Melvoin’s bass playing became the “secret weapon” on Sombr’s 12 to 12, which began life on a Korg Triton ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/shes-one-of-the-worlds-great-musicians-she-was-princes-right-hand-woman-for-years-how-wendy-melvoins-bass-playing-became-the-secret-weapon-on-sombrs-12-to-12-which-began-life-on-a-korg-triton 9RpntChqNZLLBM2ELQTdUT Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:04:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ “People think it’s a power ballad, but it isn’t. The production is sparse. It doesn’t need power chords or big orchestrations: all the power is in Marie’s voice”: Roxette’s It Must Have Been Love isn’t what you thought it was, says the man who wrote it ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/people-think-its-a-power-ballad-but-it-isnt-the-production-is-sparse-it-doesnt-need-power-chords-or-big-orchestrations-all-the-power-is-in-maries-voice-roxettes-it-must-have-been-love-isnt-what-you-thought-it-was-says-the-man-who-wrote-it gQ76Y9oJJzYedbJWXGTraH Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:40:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Add the weird chord progression and key change, and call men stupid in as many ways as you can”: Sabrina Carpenter offers her songwriting advice as she accepts Variety’s Hitmaker of the Year award ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/add-the-weird-chord-progression-and-key-change-and-call-men-stupid-in-as-many-ways-as-you-can-sabrina-carpenter-offers-her-songwriting-advice-as-she-accepts-varietys-hitmaker-of-the-year-award yFrRWwbhxUoUQssMNXtGoL Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:25:43 +0000 Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:03:20 +0000 <![CDATA[ "Humans will be doing all the serious music transcription for the foreseeable future": Songscription review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/humans-will-be-doing-all-the-serious-music-transcription-for-the-foreseeable-future-songscription-review 6Ph6cxPif9svsmkfBS7RWE Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:33:47 +0000 Mon, 08 Dec 2025 11:28:44 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It's amazing what you can do with a drum machine - and two of the most expensive sampling and production workstations ever made”: Unpacking the technical genius behind one of the most iconic rock songs of the 1980s ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/its-amazing-what-you-can-do-with-a-drum-machine-and-two-of-the-most-expensive-sampling-and-production-workstations-ever-made-unpacking-the-technical-genius-behind-one-of-the-most-iconic-rock-songs-of-the-1980s vfuYPQBvkbgbNyR9Lb8tkT Sat, 06 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I remember my assistant putting on his headphones in the studio, and he took them off after a few minutes, looked at me and said, ‘Wow, this song is crazy’”: Dan Nigro says that he always knew that Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club was something special ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-remember-my-assistant-putting-on-his-headphones-in-the-studio-and-he-took-them-off-after-a-few-minutes-looked-at-me-and-said-wow-this-song-is-crazy-dan-nigro-says-that-he-always-knew-that-chappell-roans-pink-pony-club-was-something-special QpchFtvtP5CwedGNtpgfgS Sat, 06 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “They said, ‘Well, that's all we've got, but if you could round it off and complete it, that would be great”: Greg Lester on how he used a Gibson Chet Atkins to turn a keyboard melody into a classic nylon-string guitar solo in the Spice Girls’ 2 Become 1 ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/they-said-well-thats-all-weve-got-but-if-you-could-round-it-off-and-complete-it-that-would-be-great-greg-lester-on-how-he-used-a-gibson-chet-atkins-to-turn-a-keyboard-melody-into-a-classic-nylon-string-guitar-solo-in-the-spice-girls-2-become-1 HLRdMFQUdkCgCYC5HbywVG Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:23:02 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I'm sure that sound influenced the Daft Punk song Get Lucky, because it uses the same trick”: The fascinating music theory behind the kicked-around track that Prince shaped into a hit ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/im-sure-that-sound-influenced-the-daft-punk-song-get-lucky-because-it-uses-the-same-trick-the-fascinating-music-theory-behind-the-kicked-around-track-that-prince-shaped-into-a-hit gbaaQtprdXAaTvBFuF29f Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:17:07 +0000 <![CDATA[ The band didn't like the English lyrics, the record company didn't want to release it as a single, and the song had no chorus: The story of the 'foreign language song' that became an international hit ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/the-story-behind-99-red-balloons QfebR9ynALm23eDutmAPMn Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:54:24 +0000 Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:41:07 +0000 <![CDATA[ “By the end of the process I sort of felt like I was squeezing blood from a stone, trying to get every last drop of liquid life out of an idea I had already been sat with for years prior”: Charli XCX reveals the extent of her post-Brat creative comedown ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/by-the-end-of-the-process-i-sort-of-felt-like-i-was-squeezing-blood-from-a-stone-trying-to-get-every-last-drop-of-liquid-life-out-of-an-idea-i-had-already-been-sat-with-for-years-prior-charli-xcx-reveals-her-post-brat-creative-comedown Q8UCrsMvRVBR6nHiYvrRZM Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:35:02 +0000 Fri, 14 Nov 2025 09:37:01 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The Purple Rain guitar was in the corner, his lava lamps were everywhere and the mixing desk had been used by Sly and the Family Stone”: Fine Young Cannibals confirm that She Drives Me Crazy was recorded at Paisley Park using Prince’s studio gear ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/the-purple-rain-guitar-was-in-the-corner-his-lava-lamps-were-everywhere-and-the-mixing-desk-had-been-used-by-sly-and-the-family-stone-fine-young-cannibals-confirm-that-she-drives-me-crazy-was-recorded-at-paisley-park-using-princes-studio-gear 7N9ZZcUVPdE4JQqYcoh4ti Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:59:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I sent him some songs… he recorded something and sent it to me. And it was… well, it made me cry”: Charli XCX on how a phrase John Cale once used about the Velvet Underground’s music led to their new Wuthering Heights collaboration ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-sent-him-some-songs-he-recorded-something-and-sent-it-to-me-and-it-was-well-it-made-me-cry-charli-xcx-on-how-a-phrase-john-cale-once-used-about-the-velvet-undergrounds-music-led-to-a-wuthering-heights-collaboration mahCrCLD4wHyWq6HXcbBKe Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:10:14 +0000 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:46:16 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Once we had that chorus, it’s like everything came from that. Some songs you agonise over, but this was not one of them”: Boy Meets Girl on how having one song rejected led to them writing Whitney Houston’s biggest ‘80s hit ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/once-we-had-that-chorus-its-like-everything-came-from-that-some-songs-you-agonise-over-but-this-was-not-one-of-them-boy-meets-girl-on-how-having-one-song-rejected-led-to-them-writing-whitney-houstons-biggest-80s-hit atzRwAeNSnG3F4ZY8PXHDa Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:42:10 +0000 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:38:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We started with the drum beat and I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to do something kind of like The Way You Make Me Feel.' And I sat at the Wurly and I went, ‘duh-du-duhh’”: Olivia Dean on writing Man I Need and the Michael Jackson hit that helped to inspire it ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/we-started-with-the-drum-beat-and-i-was-like-yeah-i-want-to-do-something-kind-of-like-the-way-you-make-me-feel-and-i-sat-at-the-wurly-and-i-went-duh-du-duhh-olivia-dean-on-writing-man-i-need-and-the-michael-jackson-hit-that-helped-to-inspire-it cjDjEJr5tRzCymipM257Dj Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:47:26 +0000 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:03:41 +0000 <![CDATA[ "Michael picked up the music stand and threw it at the wall. He picked up a chair and threw it, too, then angrily pushed over a baffle": New book claims that Michael Jackson "trashed the studio" as he was forced to re-record lines in a 1996 hit single ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/michael-picked-up-the-music-stand-and-threw-it-at-the-wall-he-picked-up-a-chair-and-threw-it-too-then-angrily-pushed-over-a-baffle-new-book-claims-that-michael-jackson-trashed-the-studio-as-he-was-forced-to-re-record-lines-in-a-1996-hit-single CbMBeFzpaLt2s7Am3Z8BZN Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:39:35 +0000 Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:40:41 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The vocals are either only in your left ear or only in your right ear. No vocals are straight down the middle - I’m calling this my retro pop vocal production”: Raye breaks down the head-spinning vocal arrangement in her hit single Where Is My Husband! ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/the-vocals-are-either-only-in-your-left-ear-or-only-in-your-right-ear-no-vocals-are-straight-down-the-middle-im-calling-this-my-retro-pop-vocal-production-raye-breaks-down-the-head-spinning-vocal-arrangement-in-her-hit-single-where-is-my-husband 4se7eDttgonaZuzGvFQkmd Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:29:23 +0000 Wed, 22 Oct 2025 10:36:58 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I expected to hear something weird and melodic. What he played me instead, with two fingers… at first I began to laugh”: After 50 years, the Jaws theme remains iconic, but when Steven Spielberg heard it for the first time, he thought it was a joke ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-expected-to-hear-something-weird-and-melodic-what-he-played-me-instead-with-two-fingers-at-first-i-began-to-laugh-after-50-years-the-jaws-theme-remains-iconic-but-when-steven-spielberg-heard-it-for-the-first-time-he-thought-it-was-a-joke PPiPm8aaWsQpKZbyeSSneC Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:43:08 +0000