FEATURE| MAXIMUM NOSTALGIA: An Ode to a Musical Mastermind

MAXIMUM NOSTALGIA: An Ode to a Musical Mastermind

Hannah Angeli Fernandez Mendoza

Whether you may want to admit it or not, all of us have, at some point, become a slave to the sick beats, the mellow feels, and the in-betweens of this magic called music. Having one for every mood and occasion, each genre becomes a handy life companion throughout the years. But no brass, wind, percussion, or electronic instrument can ever come alive without a brilliant human mind—so virtually take my hand, or the words in my writing, at the very least—give in to the blinding lights, and let me to take you to the universe of the genius that is Max Martin.

Much is being said when it comes to popular music, mostly making waves in the United States or the United Kingdom before reaching other worldly borders. But a singer alone cannot take all the credit for a song’s success, as there can be other people working behind the scenes making a huge contribution to all the splendor. Such is the case for Max Martin, who is considered to be the greatest music producer to ever live. Born Karl Martin Sandberg on February 26th, 1971, the Swedish hitmaker has written hundreds of today’s popular songs since the start of his career in 1985.

During his childhood years, a number of Swedish artists such as Abba, Ace of Base, and Roxette were taking over the international music scene, and after deciding to drop out of high school, the young Sandberg was eventually taken under the wing of record producer Denniz PoP in his label, Cheiron Records, in 1993.

After 2 years of learning the ropes of the industry, Max Martin would go on to include songs by the likes of Britney Spears (with her debut song, “…Baby One More Time” being Martin’s first chart-topper), the Backstreet Boys (“I Want it That Way”, “As Long as You Love Me”, “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back”)), Katy Perry (“Hot n’ Cold”, “I Kissed A Girl”, “Teenage Dream”), Taylor Swift (“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together), and BTS (“My Universe”, with British rock band Coldplay) in his discography. In recognition of his immense musical talent, he has won a total of 5 Grammy Awards, 9 Songwriter of the Year Awards by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (AS- CAP), and was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2017.

It can be easy for us to be able to memorize lyrics, sing at the top of our lungs, and have a good time, following the restless rhythm, but with the stories they tell, a sense of realism awakens in each of us—an element of music that only a true legend can bring to the table. Raise your glass, as I have unfolded the tale of the Swedish Pied Piper whose hits never go out of style.

Graphics by: Jasmine Bernadette R. Bembo