Max Martin
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Martin "Max Martin" Sandberg (born February 26, 1971) is a music producer and songwriter. He was born in Stockholm, Sweden and is best known by his artistic name Max Martin. As a producer and songwriter, he crafted a string of worldwide hits for pop-artists like the mega boyband Backstreet Boys and the pop princess Britney Spears, among many others, in the late 1990s to mid 2000s. His trademark is a bouncing, piano/synth-heavy pop sound that's taking influence from Europop and Italian house and mixing them in with classic American Bandstand pop arrangements.
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Musical career and personal life
Early life and career
Martin Sandberg grew up in the suburbs of Stockholm. As a teenager he sang in several bands before joining a glam-style metal band called It's Alive in 1985 as their singer and frontman. It's Alive were formed by ex LAZY members Per Aldeheim and Kim Björkgren on guitars, and John Rosth who had been a member of Lineout. Martin eventually dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music with his band under the nickname "Martin White". In 1988 they participated in the national rock championships and also played as the in-house band at a disco in Cyprus. The band got a breakthrough in 1991, as Dave Constable of Megarock records offered them to make a demo-record. The later debut album was originally pressed in 1000 copies and later on given away as a free cover tape in the UK by the Metal Forces magazine.
The decision to focus on a music career paid off as they landed a record deal on producer Denniz PoP's label Cheiron Studios, a BMG affiliate. After recording their second album Earthquake Visions, they released three singles in conjunction with the record (including "I'm Your Man" which featured the bonus cut of a cover of KISS' "Parasite") and toured through Europe in 1994 supporting Kingdom Come. Earthquake Visions eventually sold a disappointing 30,000 copies, despite being released in as many as 30 countries. More importantly though, Martin also began collaborating on songs with PoP. Recognising a talent for writing pop songs in the young rocker, PoP renamed his new charge Max Martin and eventually became Martin’s mentor.
Working at Cheiron
In 1992 Martin was hired by Cheiron Studios as a producer and spent some time learning the basics, before the first production collaboration between PoP and Martin with the Rednex track "Wish You Were Here" in 1995. They both worked on Ace of Base's second album The Bridge shortly thereafter, as well as on albums by 3T, Army of Lovers and Leila K. To date, The Bridge has sold more than six million copies worldwide, including two million in the United States (which still was a far cry from the 21 million copies of the band's previous album, Happy Nation/The Sign). When Martin eventually left his band It's Alive in late 1995, he was replaced by Anders Jansson.
In 1996 Cheiron Studios was hired to work on Backstreet Boys's debut album Backstreet Boys. Martin was part of the production of "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)", a single which quickly went platinum and climbed to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as the singles "As Long As You Love Me" and "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" (interesting to note, the latter sounds remarkably like classic It's Alive). The album initially flopped in the U.S., but caught on all across Europe eventually selling around 8 million copies. This led to the Backstreet Boys being relaunched in their home country later on, this time more successfully. Later that year Martin also co-produced Robyn’s hit "Show Me Love" which ended up on the Billboard top 10.
In 1998 Cheiron Studios worked on albums by 5ive, *NSYNC, Bryan Adams and Jessica Folcker. Jessica Folcker was engaged as a backing singer for Ace of Base and Dr. Alban when she started working with Martin, and her debut album Jessica became an instant hit with singles like "Tell Me What You Like" and "How Will I Know Who You Are" which both sold platinum. After Denniz PoP died of cancer that summer, Martin took over as director of Cheiron Studios. He soon started working with writer/producer Rami Yacoub, who has been his partner since. A few months after he started working with Rami, he also started to team up with Jay Orpin.
Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears
Image:Millennium cover.jpg 1999 was a very big year for Martin. First off, he co-produced and co-wrote most songs on the albums Millennium by Backstreet Boys and he gave its unique, surreal sound to it. "I Want It That Way", written and co-produced by Martin, became the Backstreet Boys's biggest single to date and it is still popular and timeless today ("I Want It That Way" was voted #10 in the MTV/Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Pop Songs."). The album Millennium sold over 1.1 million units in its first week in the United States, setting a record for most albums sold in its debut week (that record was later beaten by the bands next album Black & Blue.
Image:Britney-BOMTSingle.jpgThe same year, Martin also wrote the Britney Spears' international hit ...Baby One More Time for her debut album with the same name (the hit single was originally offered to the group TLC to record, which they passed on because they were 'taking time off'). Both albums Millennium and ...Baby One More Time have sold around 13 million copies each in the U.S. to this date, certifying Diamond Status. Also, within a year of its release, ...Baby One More Time had become the best-selling LP by a teenager in history and the debut hit single with the same name remains to be Spears' biggest U.S. (and international) hit to date.
When working on her own solo album to be released in 2001 on Stockholm Records, Lisa Miskovsky wrote the text for Backstreet Boys new hit single "Shape of My Heart" with Max Martin and Rami. The song, originally written for Miskovsky’s own album, was passed along to Backstreet Boys by Max Martin when Miskovsky determined it didn’t fit her style. The song became the first single off the new album Black & Blue by Backstreet Boys. In the first week of release, "Shape of My Heart" immediately jumped into the Top Five in Sweden (#1), Norway (#1), Canada (#1), Germany (#2), Switzerland (#4), Austria (#5) and Holland (#5). Black & Blue, containing several songs produced and written by Martin, sold 1.6 million units in its first week in America.
Startup of Maratone
Despite the success, Cheiron Studios was closed down in 2000. The reason behind the decision to close it down was, according to the press release on their homepage, that the heart and soul of the studio had been lost with the death of Denniz PoP. Another reason for closing the studio down was for the people at Cheiron Studios to be able to do more experimental music work without the weight of the now infamous name Cheiron upon their shoulders.
Max Martin and Tom Talomaa started a new production company together named Maratone in January 2001. Also, David Kreuger and Per Magnusson started A Side Productions and Kristian Lundin started the production-company The Location and the publishing-company Location Songs together with Jake Schulze at the same location as Cheiron Studios. The first songs to be written and produced at Maratone were four tracks for Britney Spears´ third album "Britney". The Maratone production crew now consists of producers/songwriters Max Martin, Rami, Alexandra and Arnthor.
Kelly Clarkson goes to Sweden
Image:SUBG.jpg In 2004 Kelly Clarkson, the former American Idol winner, went to Sweden to collaborate with Max Martin and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald on songs for her album Breakaway. They decided to make songs that were rockier than anticipated by the fans, as can be heard on the hit singles "Since U Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes". "Since U Been Gone" became a huge hit and remains the biggest hit of Clarkson's career, and one of the biggest hits of 2005. The next single "Behind These Hazel Eyes" actually reached the top-ten of the Billboard Hot 100 while the single "Since U Been Gone" was still there.
In 2005 Martin co-produced Swedish singer Darin Zanyar's first album, and worked on another three songs for Backstreet Boys' comeback album Never Gone. In 2006 Martin has written and produced songs for P!nk's fourth album I'm Not Dead, again working together with Lukasz Gottwald.
Songwriting
Written songs (Cheiron)
Written songs (Maratone)
- Britney Spears - Britney - "Overprotected" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Britney Spears - Britney - "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman" (with Rami Yacoub, Dido)
- Britney Spears - Britney - "Cinderella" (with Rami Yacoub, Britney Spears)
- Britney Spears - Britney - "Bombastic Love" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Celine Dion - One Heart - "Love Is All We Need" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Celine Dion - One Heart - "Faith" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Celine Dion - One Heart - "In His Touch" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Ana Johnsson - The Way I Am - "Don't Cry For Pain" (with Ana Johnsson)
- Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway - "Since U Been Gone" (with Lukasz Gottwald)
- Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway - "Behind These Hazel Eyes" (with Kelly Clarkson, Lukasz Gottwald)
- A-ha - Analogue - "Analogue (All I Want)" (with Magne Furuholmen, Paul Waaktaar-Savoy)
- Backstreet Boys - Never Gone - "Just Want You To Know" (with Lukasz Gottwald)
- Backstreet Boys - Never Gone - "I Still..." (with Rami Yacoub)
- Backstreet Boys - Never Gone - "Climbing The Walls" (with Lukasz Gottwald)
- Backstreet Boys - Never Gone - "Siberia" (with Rami Yacoub, Alexandra)
- Darin - The Anthem - "Stand By Me" (with Alexandra)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "Break You" (with Lukasz Gottwald),
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "Here I Am" (with Rami Yacoub, Marion Raven)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "Little By Little" (with Rami Yacoub, Peter Svensson, Marion Raven)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "End Of Me" (with Rami Yacoub, Marion Raven)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "Six Feet Under" (with Rami Yacoub, Marion Raven)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "Gotta Be Kidding" (with Rami Yacoub, Camela Lievert, Marion Raven)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "In Spite Of Me" (with Rami Yacoub, Alexandra Talomaa, Marion Raven)
- The Veronicas - The Secret Life Of... - "4Ever" (with Lukasz Gottwald)
- The Veronicas - The Secret Life Of... - "Everything I'm Not" (with Lukasz Gottwald, The Veronicas)
- P!nk - I'm Not Dead - "Who Knew" (with P!nk, Lukasz Gottwald)
- P!nk - I'm Not Dead - "Cuz I Can" (with P!nk, Lukasz Gottwald)
- P!nk - I'm Not Dead - "[[U + Ur Hand]]" (with P!nk, Lukasz Gottwald, Rami Yacoub)
Productions and co-productions
Productions and co-productions (Cheiron)
- Army of Lovers - Glory, Glamour & Gold - "Sexual Revolution" (with Denniz PoP)
- E-Type - Made In Sweden - "This Is The Way" (with Denniz PoP)
- E-Type - Made In Sweden - "Fight It Back" (with Denniz PoP)
- E-Type - Made In Sweden - "Do You Always (Have To Be Alone)?" (with Amadin)
- E-Type - Made In Sweden - "Russian Lullaby" (with E-Type)
- E-Type - Made In Sweden - "Me No Want Miseria (Take Me To The End)" (with Denniz PoP)
- 3T - Brotherhood - "It's Gotta Be You" (with Denniz PoP)
- 3T - Brotherhood - "I Need You" (with Denniz PoP)
- Ace Of Base - The Bridge - "Beautiful Life" (with Denniz PoP)
- Ace Of Base - The Bridge - "Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry" (with Denniz PoP)
- Ace Of Base - The Bridge - "Lucky Love" (with Denniz PoP)
- Ace Of Base - The Bridge - "Blooming 18" (with Denniz PoP)
- Herbie - Fingers - "Right Type Of Mood" (with Denniz PoP)
- Herbie - Fingers - "Pick It Up" (with Denniz PoP)
- Herbie - Fingers - "Big Funky Dealer" (with Denniz PoP)
- Herbie - Fingers - "I Believe" (with Denniz PoP)
- Herbie - Fingers - "Rainbow Child" (with Denniz PoP)
- Herbie - Fingers - "Come Together" (with Denniz PoP)
- Herbie - Fingers - "The Skank" (with Denniz PoP)
- Herbie - Fingers - "Gangs To The Max" (with Denniz PoP)
- Herbie - Fingers - "Change" (with Denniz PoP)
- Leila K - "Electric"
- Rednex - Sex & Violins - "Wish You Were Here" (with Denniz PoP)
- Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys - "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (with Kristian Lundin)
- Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys - "I Wanna Be With You" (with Denniz PoP)
- Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys - "Nobody But You" (with Denniz PoP)
- Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys - "We've Got It Going On" (with Denniz PoP)
- E-Type - The Explorer - "Free Like A Flying Demon" (with Denniz PoP)
- E-Type - The Explorer - "I'm Not Alone" (with Denniz PoP, E-Type)
- E-Type - The Explorer - "We Gotta Go" (with Denniz PoP)
- E-Type - The Explorer - "You Know"
- Backstreet Boys - Backstreet's Back - "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" (with Denniz PoP)
- Backstreet Boys - Backstreet's Back - "As Long As You Love Me" (with Kristian Lundin)
- Backstreet Boys - Backstreet's Back - "10,000 Promises" (with Denniz PoP)
- Backstreet Boys - Backstreet's Back - "That's The Way I Like It" (with Denniz PoP)
- DeDe - I Do - "Get To You" (with Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, Kristian Lundin)
- Robyn - Robyn Is Here - "Show Me Love"
- 5ive - 5ive: The Album - "Don't You Want It" (with Denniz PoP)
- 5ive - 5ive: The Album - "It's The Things You Do" (with Jake)
- 5ive - 5ive: The Album - "Until The Time Is Through" (with Kristian Lundin)
- 5ive - 5ive: The Album - "Slam Dunk (Da Funk)" (with Denniz PoP, Jake)
- *NSYNC - "Nsync"
- E-Type - Last Man Standing - "Angels Crying" (with Kristian Lundin, E-Type)
- E-Type - Last Man Standing - "Here I Go Again" (with Kristian Lundin, E-Type)
- Gary Barlow - Open Road - "Superhero" (with Kristian Lundin)
- Jessica Folcker - Jessica - "A Little Bit Longer"
- Jessica Folcker - Jessica - "Goodbye"
- Jessica Folcker - Jessica - "Private Eye"
- Jessica Folcker - Jessica - "Tell Me What You Like"
- Jessica Folcker - Jessica - "Turned And Walked Away"
- Backstreet Boys - Millennium - "I Want It That Way" (with Kristian Lundin)
- Backstreet Boys - Millennium - "Don't Wanna Lose You Now" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Backstreet Boys - Millennium - "Don't Want You Back" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Backstreet Boys - Millennium - "It's Gotta Be You" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Backstreet Boys - Millennium - "Larger Than Life (Single Mix)" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Backstreet Boys - Millennium - "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely" (with Kristian Lundin)
- Backstreet Boys - Millennium - "The One" (with Kristian Lundin)
- Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time - "...Baby One More Time" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time - "(You Drive Me) Crazy" (with D Kreuger, P Magnusson)
- Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time - "(You Drive Me) Crazy (The Stop Remix)" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time - "I Will Be There" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Céline Dion - "That’s The Way It Is" (with Kristian Lundin)
- Gary Barlow - "For All That You Want" (with Kristian Lundin)
- Backstreet Boys - Black & Blue - "Get Another Boyfriend" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Backstreet Boys - Black & Blue - "Shape Of My Heart" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Backstreet Boys - Black & Blue - "The Call" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Britney Spears - Oops!... I Did It Again - "Oops!... I Did It Again" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Britney Spears - Oops!... I Did It Again - "Lucky" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Britney Spears - Oops!... I Did It Again - "Stronger" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Britney Spears - Oops!... I Did It Again - "Where Are You Now" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Bon Jovi - "It’s My Life"
- E-Type - Euro IV-ever - "Life" (with J Amatiello, Rami Yacoub, Kristian Lundin)
- Nick Carter - Now Or Never - "I've Got You" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Nick Carter - Now Or Never - "Blow Your Mind" (with Rami Yacoub, Per Aldeheim)
- Nick Carter - Now Or Never - "I Just Wanna Take You Home" (with Rami Yacoub, Per Aldeheim)
Productions and co-productions (Maratone)
- Britney Spears - Britney - "Overprotected" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Britney Spears - Britney - "Bombastic Love" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Britney Spears - Britney - "Cinderella" (with Rami Yacoub, Britney Spears)
- Britney Spears - Britney - "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Celine Dion - One Heart - "Faith" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Celine Dion - One Heart - "In His Touch" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Celine Dion - One Heart - "Love Is All We Need" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway - "Since U Been Gone"
- Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway - "Behind These Hazel Eyes"
- A-ha - Analogue - "Analogue (All I Want)" (with Michael Ilbert)
- Darin Zanyar - "The Anthem"
- Backstreet Boys - Never Gone - "Climbing The Walls" (with Lukasz Gottwald)
- Backstreet Boys - Never Gone - "I Still..." (with Rami Yacoub)
- Backstreet Boys - Never Gone - "Just Want You To Know" (with Lukasz Gottwald)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "Break You" (with Lukasz Gottwald)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "End of Me" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "Gotta Be Kidding" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "Here I Am" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "In Spite Of Me" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "Little By Little" (with Rami Yacoub)
- Marion Raven - Here I Am - "Six Feet Under" (with Rami Yacoub)
Charts
Top-selling singles
- Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time - "...Baby One More Time" (written by Max Martin), WW Sales: 16.2 million
- Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys - "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (written by Max Martin, Herbie Crichlow), WW Sales: 2.4 million
- Backstreet Boys - Backstreet's Back - "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" (written by Max Martin, Denniz PoP), WW Sales: 2.1 million
Awards
Awards
- Swedish Grammis Award in 1998
- ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year in 1999
- ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year in 2000
- ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year in 2001
Razzie Awards
Worst Original Song for the movie Crossroads (2002) Shared with: Rami Yacoub, Dido (Result: Won) For the song "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman".
Worst Original Song for the movie Crossroads (2002) Shared with: Rami Yacoub (Result: Nominated) For the song "Overprotected"