OneRepublic [NBC]
In addition to talking about OneRepublic’s upcoming projects, frontman Ryan Tedder recently discussed music he has been developing with other high-profile artists.
“The amount of stuff I have coming on other artists’ records is the most I’ve had in eight years,” says Tedder in an interview with Newsweek. All in the last three months: Camila Cabello, Selena [Gomez], Jess Glynne, Foster the People, U2, Pink; it’s been so much fun. Every day is a different artist.”
Tedder specifically noted that Cabello has “blown [his] mind.”
“She’s not only an incredible singer, but she’s also the most talented young artist I think I’ve worked with in songwriting in the longest time,” notes Tedder. “Her songwriting skills are unbelievable—if a lyric is a B+ she can spot it. She’ll go, ‘No, let’s change it.’
“It’d be an injustice if she didn’t write her whole album, or co-write it, because she’s such a good writer. She’s been the most shocking—when you work with a girl from a girl group, you don’t know what to expect. I just sent her a new song and we’re both ecstatic about it.”
Tedder also showered praise on Gomez.
Regarding her forthcoming album, he notes that he has “heard song after song that could be a single.”
He also praised the superstar’s lack of ego and abundance of authenticity.
“The thing that I discovered with her is she is the opposite of pretentious…no ego,” says Tedder. “She’s genuine and authentic. If a song is a huge hit, but if she hears it and goes, ‘I don’t know if I want to say that,’ she says pass.
“She knows what her sound is, she knows what’s honest and she’s sticking to that.”
Tedder’s other notable projects include a song for Liam Payne’s forthcoming solo album. Tedder notes that Payne has been making “really high quality” pop music that includes sonic elements of music from artists like Usher and The Weeknd.
“So Liam is [making] pop, and doing it in a fantastic fashion,” trumpets Tedder. “He has a killer voice.”
As for OneRepublic, Tedder’s band is releasing a new song called “No Vacancy” this week.
OneRepublic also recorded a cover of Oasis’ classic “Champagne Supernova” that will be released in conjunction with a Hilton campaign this summer.
Check out the full Newsweek interview here.