Quotes from Max Martin

Sometimes you have to think about letting people move on.

My tastes have always been pretty cheesy. I like Def Leppard. At the same time, my tastes might be pretty universal. I don't know.

If nobody recognizes you, if nobody cares, it's easier to avoid getting carried away. That's way harder if you're a famous artist.

It's incredibly important to me that you remember a song right after the first or second time you hear it. That something sticks to you, something that makes you feel, 'I need to hear that song again.' That's fundamental. Something you want again. And again.

I've learned that things change. The whole boy band thing almost turned into a stock market crash.

If the chords change a lot over the course of a song, it's better to stay within the same melodic structure.

You need a balance at all times. If the verse is a bit messy, you need it to be less messy right after. It needs to vary. 'Shake It Off' is a good example, where the math behind the drama is pretty clear.

If you've got a verse with a lot of rhythm, you want to pair it with something that doesn't.

I spent two years day and night in that studio trying to learn what the hell was going on.

I thought it was so cool that all you knew about Prince was about his artistry and music.