I had the incredible opportunity to talk with songwriter, Melanie Fontana! She wrote the first track on BTS’s new album “Love Yourself: Answer” which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. She’s also credited with reviving Aaron Carter’s music career, after his 12-year hiatus and so much more. We talked about her songwriting process and how she broke into the industry. Let’s get into it!
Before we get into your incredible successes, how did you get into the songwriting industry?
My intro into the industry was through a big producer living in LA who I met on the internet while I was living in New York. I eventually moved out to LA and started working with him – he already did huge songs for big artists and I thought it was going to be some quick journey to the top but it was not. Everything he promised hadn’t come true, he wouldn’t even answer my calls. So my 21 year-old self knew I had to leave and go save my money. I maintained all my relationships I made through this producer and spent a year singing on a cruise ship. When I came back to LA, I dove head first into songwriting sessions and I ended up meeting the song writer, Nasri, now the lead singer of MAGIC!, through a connection from that first producer. He ended up managing me along with his brother for two years.
What was your big break? You have now written songs for names such as Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and Aaron Carter – was there a specific moment or experience that brought you to the next level?Â
Working with Nasri was definitely my big break and the best part was that he wasn’t even ‘Magic’ at the time – he was just the guy who wrote ‘As Long As You Love Me’ for Justin Bieber at the time. He wrote all of the initial Bieber records at the time and he really opened up the door for me and broke me down as a writer. I learned how to be mentored through him.
You have the incredible credit for reviving Aaron Carter’s music career, having wrote every track on his “Love” album after his 12 year music hiatus. How does that feel? Was there a specific goal you had when writing this album?
My specific goal for this album was to legitimize Aaron again and get him out of the ‘I Want Candy’ mindset because at the time he was going to colleges and performing and I wanted to break him out of living with his past success – I wanted the whole team to legitimize him because he is legitimate and just as good as any other great musician. He is actually quite prolific and genius in the studio and I think he was at a point in his career where he was banking off of his past success. We met when we were 16 because we had the same booking agent and ever since then we kept working together. We remain like brother and sister and are always working together in the studio.
Most recently, you co-wrote BTS’ single “Euphoria,” which became the theme of their latest album “Love Yourself: Answer.” What work went into this single?
With this song we worked with a producer DJ Swivel and Candice Sosa who started the idea but it was unfinished. And Swivel, who I have known since I lived in NYC, called me because he had just moved to LA after co-producing ‘Closer’ for the Chainsmokers, and told me about this song idea. He said it may be great for maybe Justin Bieber or The Chainsmokers, but I have a feeling you will be able to do this with me. So I went into the studio and basically rewrote on top of this idea and then we all finished it. Two months went by and I got a email from him saying this was going to be a single for BTS. Mind you, we wrote the song in English and a very talented Korean lyricist re-wrote it in Korean.
What does a typical song writing process look like for you?
There are many different ways it could happen. It could be similar to the writing process for ‘Euphoria’ or you could go into the studio with a guitar and sit around a piano. I write all my songs in notes, but I like to come up with a lyric, punchline or a concept first and work from the title down. Then you can write the mood of those melodies from the concept. I like fitting the melodies to what I am saying, I think the words are most important. Poetry first and then music.
You are also the co-writer for all music on Nick Jr’s “Shimmer and Shine,” the number one preschool show in the world last year. Additionally, you are also the singing voice of two of the lead characters. How did you land this spot? And for those who aren’t familiar with the show, could you tell them a bit about it?
It is a preschool show on Nick Junior and rated number one in all of the U.S. I had no idea how big the show was – when you are so involved in the creative part of it you don’t often lift your head up to notice how big it is. Until you’re walking down the toy aisle at Target and there is a kid squeezing a doll and your voice is coming out of it. I landed the show because my friend Jolene Bell, has some great connections and asked her to do music for the pilot. When it got picked up by Nickelodeon, they called me in. That was just pure luck. That has been going on for the last four years as well, it has been great.
Let’s do a rapid fire Q&A! Can we look forward to you releasing your own EP or singles in the future?
Yes!
You’ve written some pretty big hits for some pretty big musicians. Are there any other artists you would like to collaborate with?
Absolutely! I would love to work with Ariana Grande, Louis the Child, Katy Perry, Britney Spears and Post Malone.
What songs and artists are always on your go-to playlist?
I love ‘Summer on You’ by PrettyMuch. Another incredible song I am loving right now is ‘Trust Fund Baby’ by Why Don’t We and the White Panda Remix version. And ‘Better Not’ by Louis the Child.
Check out John Dahlbäck’s new single released last Friday, featuring Melanie!
And be sure to keep up with Melanie on social media as well!
Instagram: @melaniejoyfontana
Twitter: @MELANIEFONTANA
