Robbie Williams, Andra Day and the Songwriter Roundtable

Andrew Wyatt is a songwriter and producer who has labored with Woman Gaga, Bruno Mars and Miley Cyrus. Andrew Watt is also a songwriter and producer who has labored with Woman Gaga, Bruno Mars and Miley Cyrus. They typically get mistaken for  one another. “I get congratulated for profitable an Oscar, and he doesn’t,” Watt says of Wyatt, who gained the 2019 greatest unique music Academy Award for “Shallow,” from A Star Is Born. “Folks come as much as me and say, ‘I like your work with The Rolling Stones,’ ” Wyatt says, referring to Watt, who labored on Mick Jagger and firm’s 2025 Grammy-nominated Hackney Diamonds and is nominated himself for producing songs for Pearl Jam and Gaga and Mars. He provides: “At this level, actually I’m so sick of correcting folks. I simply say thanks.”

Watt could joke about masquerading as an Oscar winner, but it surely might very properly turn out to be actuality: The music he co-wrote for the doc Elton John: By no means Too Late is one among 14 tracks on the Academy’s shortlist. He created “By no means Too Late” with Brandi Carlile, Bernie Taupin and John, an EGOT on monitor to win his third Oscar.

Wyatt virtually gained his second Oscar practically a 12 months in the past for co-penning Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Simply Ken” however misplaced to a different Barbie music — Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For.” He’s again this 12 months with The Final Showgirl, for which he scored and likewise co-wrote the film’s most important music, “Stunning This Means,” by Cyrus. For The Hollywood Reporter’s Songwriter Roundtable, the Andrews are joined by two-time Oscar nominee Andra Day, who stars in Exhibiting Forgiveness and wrote the unique monitor “Bricks”; Robbie Williams (whose “Forbidden Street” for his biopic, Higher Man, was later deemed ineligible for incorporating present materials); and French musician Camille, who composed music alongside her associate Clément Ducol for Emilia Pérez and is the Oscar frontrunner with two songs in rivalry (“El Mal” and “Mi Camino”).

I needed to begin with this query as a result of it superbly showcases the facility of music. Andra, I used to be at your Amazon Music taping, and as you carried out your final music — all of us had goose bumps — there was a girl within the viewers bawling. You locked eyes together with her, gave her a hug and also you each walked backstage. May you are taking me again to that second? 

ANDRA DAY It was a reminder, to me, that music is therapeutic. As an individual of religion, I reference this scripture the place there was a village that was sick, there was a drought, and no matter water they’d was sick. They usually introduced this prophet in to heal the water. I like the story as a result of the very first thing the prophet says is, “Deliver me somebody to play the lyre,” which was a harp or possibly guitar again then. It wasn’t till a musician got here, performed, that he was capable of really heal the water. I like the concept music is designed to be therapeutic — and I feel for her in that second, it actually was. She opened as much as me and expressed some issues that she had actually been scuffling with. It was a reminder within the second that that’s why I’m there. All the opposite stuff is superb. I’m tremendous grateful for it. It’s enjoyable and it’s thrilling, however that connection is why I do what I do. I imagine in divine appointments. 

For the remainder of you, have you ever had that sort of visceral expertise by means of a efficiency or a music that you just labored on?

CAMILLE I wrote a music for Emilia Pérez known as “Papa,” and it says “Hueles como papá.” The little boy tells Emilia, “You scent like papa.” She’s really his papa, however he doesn’t know. And so I [remembered] how my dad smelled. My dad handed away 12 years in the past, and it actually impressed me. I’m really speaking about my dad [in the song], mixing it with some smells I think about in Mexico: piedrecitas, like stones and the solar; cigarro, my dad is French and would smoke cigars; guacamole, some clichés like that, however candy, you already know? A man got here to me the opposite day and informed me, “That music, you already know, I dwell other than my dad, who lives in South America, and it smells precisely like my dad.

DAY Wow.

ROBBIE WILLIAMS It’s unbelievable — you simply stated one phrase with 4 letters, and it was “papa,” and earlier than you’d defined the music itself, all of us understood what it was. For me in that second, a tear was forming in my eye earlier than you’d even stated it. I feel it was — (pointing to Andra) to speak about what you have been speaking about — is the magic and the majesty and the therapeutic of music.

My largest music is a music known as “Angels,” and each time I carry out, I’m stepping up and giving the folks what they need. It takes quite a bit out of me — whether or not you imagine that or are bothered in any respect, it does. I’ll look into the viewers, and there’ll be a number of those that might be in tears as a result of they’re desirous about their grandma who’s not right here or they’re desirous about their mother or they’re desirous about their father, greatest pal, sister, brother.

Was there a music for you, Andrew Wyatt, that had that form of a response? 

ANDREW WYATT I used to be in Russia, they usually introduced my band [Miike Snow] over there, sort of as a part of the Sochi Olympics. I’ll always remember wanting on the response at the back of that crowd, and it sort of speaks to what Andra was saying. 

While you first become involved in music, you’re doing it since you’re a child and also you’re like, “I’ll most likely by no means get to do that, however I’ll attempt.” And you are attempting to get someplace with all of it, and it’s extra about your verdicts and the way do these verdicts have an effect on me and my life path? Let’s face it, we’re all sort of like that. Then, upon getting been doing it for a minute, you begin to absorb different elements of it. 

This was a kind of moments the place in a really possible way I noticed music’s necessary to folks. Like, it’s really actually giving life to folks. Like Kanye used to say, “For those who make him dance, you bought an opportunity.” I feel for a very long time I believed folks wanted meals and shelter, and music’s sort of non-compulsory, but it surely’s probably not non-compulsory if you wish to dwell the great life. It actually modified the way in which I felt about music.

You’ve all had superb movie songs come out just lately. Let’s begin with you, Camille: What was it like engaged on the music in Emilia Pérez with Zoe Saldaña?

CAMILLE Zoe’s undoubtedly a singer. She stored telling me, “I’m a dancer, I’m an actress, however I’m not a singer.” I stated, “Sure, you’re a singer, Zoe.” And she or he’s not solely a singer, she’s a performer. When she sings on the display screen, it’s as if she was onstage. She actually takes management of the scenes and actually sings to the general public dwell; it actually seems like a dwell present. I cherished working together with her. 

What was it like while you watched the movie again and noticed the music woven into the scenes?

CAMILLE I used to be surprised. It felt like getting back from [a battle] and everyone’s saying, “Ah, it’s nice.” And I used to be exhausted and glad to see that folks associated to the film with their hearts. That’s why I preferred that film a lot. I feel it’s nice technically, however greater than something it touches folks’s feelings, hearts.

WILLIAMS Can I ask a query? 

CAMILLE Yeah. 

WILLIAMS So that you’re saying you expertise watching a film again, and a whole lot of the time when folks get to the highest of the mountain, they will have an empty feeling. Was it an empty feeling or was it a wonderful feeling? Was it a mix of each? 

CAMILLE We gained the [battle].

WILLIAMS So it stuffed your coronary heart? 

CAMILLE Sure. It’s the sensation of getting labored and that folks have been of their feelings, however you come again from work, you already know what I imply? So I used to be mainly stuffed with the quantity of labor we’d performed and really nonetheless wanting on the movie prefer it was work, “Oh, this, oh, this.”

Robbie, what was it like watching again your movie, during which a “performing monkey” portrays you? 

WILLIAMS I’m a narcissist, so I cherished it. OK, so the primary time sitting down, as a result of it’s 50 years within the dwelling, seven years within the making, there’s a lot expectancy from me that I want this factor to facilitate the third act of my profession. And I’ve been excited, excited, excited. After which I sat down to observe it, and I used to be like, “Oh, what if it’s shit?” That was my most important concern. After which I disappeared into the film, and on the finish of it, it’s and was higher than I might have ever anticipated. I used to be relieved. It was surreal. It was emotional. It was unbelievable. 

[For the music,] I despatched a bunch of songs to Michael Gracey, the director, and he would then ship them again and inform me mainly, kindly, they weren’t ok. And I do know this story about 8 Mile when Eminem despatched “Lose Your self,” and the director stated it’s not ok, after which it turned “Lose Your self.” And in my head I used to be like, “That is ‘Lose Your self,’ and you’re improper, really.” However I didn’t have a chook’s-eye view of the movie. I didn’t know what was wanted. We noticed the movie, and mainly what it wants is a hug, so we [gave it] a hug as a result of by the point you get to the tip of the film, you’ve been by means of quite a bit and also you want a hug. 

Had been you all the time on board to do a biopic?

WILLIAMS Mate, yeah, no matter: movie, ebook, documentary. I’m an expert attention-seeker. That is what we do. 

ANDREW WATT While you’re watching your story and also you see the monkey, do you end up forgetting that it’s a monkey that’s enjoying you in any respect? 

WILLIAMS While you watch Bohemian Rhapsody, you’re very conscious that he’s doing an important job as Freddie Mercury. The identical with Rocketman; he’s doing an important job as Elton John. As a result of it’s the monkey, you’re not even considering he’s doing an important job as Robbie Williams — it removes you considerably. Plus, we’re extra compassionate to animals, so that you empathize with me on a stage that you just wouldn’t empathize with me if it was pores and skin and bones. 

WYATT I don’t know, I’m empathizing quite a bit with you. My coronary heart is melting proper now. 

WILLIAMS I really feel it. OK, query: In my movie, a monkey performs me, so what animal would your spirit animal be? 

DAY It might be a sloth.

WYATT Oh, no, no, no.

DAY It’s the animal that I like probably the most. 

WATT Joe Pesci.

DAY It’s bought to be an animal.

WILLIAMS Joe Pesci’s an animal? OK, honest sufficient. Anyone else?

CAMILLE A wolf.

WYATT I feel you bought the hair. I used to be going to say the wolf, too, however we will’t actually do two. I might say a wolverine. Wolverine’s somewhat harder than me, although, to be completely honest.

Andrew Watt, you’ve labored with Elton earlier than — was the session for “By no means Too Late” totally different out of your others?

WATT Yeah, completely. The best way Elton writes songs is he will get the lyrics after which sees an image in his thoughts; he’s described it like a film scene virtually. He places them up on the piano after which writes the music to the lyrics. 

[John and Taupin] sort of invited Brandi into that course of, and Elton sang the lyrics that they got here up with collectively, which have been fully based mostly on his life and this Elton documentary she noticed. And all of us sort of noticed this early model of it, and she or he wrote this superb factor about his life. And I’m sitting there writing a music that’s actually about him. It’s simply a tremendous factor to witness.

Andrew Wyatt, what was your course of when writing “Stunning This Means”? 

WYATT I landed on this specific groove that was somewhat bit martial, which means (gestures drumming) like “dun dun-dun-dun,” after which additionally had some sort of dreaminess to it, which permeates the entire movie. I attempted to make a music that might talk what the character [played by Pamela Anderson] has been by means of but in addition really feel prefer it was a part of the tapestry of the remainder of the movie. All of the rating, that was actually my response to the photographs that I used to be seeing, which have been sort of these lovely however one way or the other unhappy photographs.

What was it wish to work with Miley Cyrus once more?

WYATT She’s superb. The factor about Miley is each syllable that she sings appears like her life is dependent upon it. That’s so unbelievable about her as a singer. The opposite factor about her is that she’s nonetheless so younger, however she’s had such a storied profession already, and so there are such a lot of layers to her voice. And in that means, her voice has the identical stage of gravitas of Pamela’s character, who’s enjoying somebody who’s means additional down the street in years than Miley is now, however it could possibly really carry that. So it could possibly really inform that very same story, which is a part of the phenomenon that’s Miley.

Andra, you play a singer in Exhibiting Forgiveness who’s engaged on the music “Bricks,” which you wrote for the movie. What was it like appearing and creating music for the movie?

DAY I learn the unbelievable script, and I bought to speak to [director] Titus Kaphar daily, watch them develop these characters. And one of many issues that struck me most in regards to the story was — and I used to be shocked that I by no means considered it earlier than — it’s known as “Bricks,” and the road says, “Constructing with bricks that we have been by no means given.” As a result of I feel one of many nice miracles of life is the flexibility to create a life or a future or construct a household that you just’ve by no means really seen or skilled. How do you create a family of peace and of nurturing when all you’ve ever identified is abuse and chaos? The film exemplifies that. 

The legendary Quincy Jones just lately handed and also you labored with him not way back, Andrew Wyatt. What was that like?

WYATT Very fortunate to have the ability to try this with him and Chaka Khan on the similar time. He clearly was unbelievable. We did this music for his [2018 documentary Quincy] that [his daughter] Rashida Jones directed, and we tried to do it justice by having the musicality that he all the time had and was all the time very ardent about bringing to every little thing. Nothing improper with that three-chord music, however he was not a three-chord-music sort of man. So we tried to layer it up like that. Speak about a surreal second. 

WATT Did you discover in that have that you just’re like, “OK, they requested me to be right here, so I ought to simply say what I feel, proper?”

WYATT Completely, yeah. That’s what it’s. In any other case, you’re going to waste everyone’s time. You’ve bought to step up in some unspecified time in the future and simply …

WILLIAMS Do the factor.

WYATT Soar in and discover ways to swim after.

WATT Working with bands is enjoyable and humorous … since you need to assist them. “It’s a serious chord. No, it’s a minor chord.” Then I began realizing it’s simply min-jor. Simply allow them to do their factor.

Andrew Watt, you’ve labored with many modern acts, however what has it been wish to have legends like The Stones, Elton, Pearl Jam, Ozzy and Iggy Pop name you to supply their newest albums? 

WATT It seems like a bizarre dream sequence, actually, even listening to these names collectively. It’s the enjoyment of my life. I’m a fan — all the time have been an enormous fan of all these acts. And I assume that’s what I’m there to do once I’m there: characterize the followers.

WILLIAMS As these names have been reeled off: How outdated have been you while you got here round to my home — 19, 20?

WATT Like 19 or 20 years outdated. [Editor’s note: Watt is 34 now.] And you by no means fucking known as me again!

WILLIAMS No, no, no. However you have been pretty and are pretty. I’m simply considering as this younger man left my home, “Good lad, I hope he does OK.” Wow. Congratulations.

WATT You have been superior to me then. 

Andrew Wyatt and Andrew Watt — have you ever guys labored collectively but? 

WYATT We did work on one music with Bruno, proper?

WATT Yeah.

WYATT And I don’t suppose it’s out but. 

For those who all might choose any artist, useless or alive, to put in writing a music for or collaborate with, who would that be?

WILLIAMS I wish to write a brand new Rat Pack album. I feel I would do it. And whether or not they take part or not, it’s as much as their estates, however we’ll see.

CAMILLE I’m a solo artist, so [Emilia Pérez was] the primary time I wrote songs for different singers. I loved it very a lot working for all of them, particularly Selena Gomez, as a result of she already has a singing profession. And we bought on. I don’t dare to inform her, however she conjures up me.

WILLIAMS Inform her.

CAMILLE I’ll inform her. And there’s one other lady that touches me — that’s Celine Dion. As a result of she has been by means of onerous instances, having troubles together with her voice. And that is very touching for a singer to have the ability to, possibly, write about what it seems like dropping your voice or discovering it again and what you’re going by means of. What does it imply when it occurs, generally that instantly you lose your voice? It hasn’t occurred a whole lot of instances to me, but it surely has occurred. And also you all the time surprise, “Why am I being silent?” 

WILLIAMS More often than not we take artists without any consideration as a result of they’re simply there they usually’re in our lives. It wasn’t till the Olympics when Celine got here once I was reminded, “Oh my Lord, this can be a very particular individual.” I agree with you; it’s best to write a music and collaborate together with her.

DAY It could possibly be somebody useless or alive? My useless reply would completely be Billie Vacation [whom Day portrayed in The United States vs. Billie Holiday]. I might be positive together with her cussing me out within the studio. I’m like, “That’s positive.” [Also] Michael Jackson, clearly, and Quincy. Alive? Positively Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott. They have been like the brand new Billie for me, and Ella, and the brand new Sarah Vaughan. These three girls have been actually important in my self-discovery [and] turning into a girl.

WYATT Lifeless: Jimi Hendrix. He’s the best individual you may most likely spend a day or per week or a month with, so it must be him. Alive is … (appears at Watt), “Didn’t you do one thing with Stevie Surprise just lately?”

WATT I did, yeah. He’s the best.

WYATT Stevie Surprise was my absolute god. I had posters above my mattress. So generally you’re like, “Do you actually need to do work with somebody that you just actually seemed as much as as a god?” However I feel I might most likely do it anyway. One of many largest regrets I’ve is, really, we have been supplied to do that efficiency [with Stevie], however we couldn’t do it. For some motive, any individual within the band determined they couldn’t do it. We have been going to carry out on the Tremendous Bowl, just like the Budweiser sideshow or one thing, and Stevie Surprise was additionally performing. They usually’re like, “There’s just one factor: It’s a must to comply with do one music with Stevie Surprise.” I used to be like, “What?” So there went my likelihood.

Andrew Watt, what’s your reply?

WATT Such a tough query. 

WILLIAMS You’ve performed it, haven’t you?

WATT Siouxsie Sioux, I like. Haven’t heard music from her in a very long time; simply to even speak to her.

WILLIAMS How about Robbie Williams, please? Please. I encourage now.

Nicely, Robbie’s bought an album popping out. Is it too late? 

WILLIAMS No, no. By no means too late.

WATT That’s the title of my [Oscar-shortlisted] music. There we go. 

This story first appeared in a January stand-alone difficulty of The Hollywood Reporter journal. To obtain the journal, click on right here to subscribe.