Writers You Should Know

As time goes on, new important writers have come to the forefront. Let’s discuss a few names you should be familiar with.

Michael Pollack is a writer at the forefront of pop music right now. His recent work with Miley Cyrus - “Flowers” - is a refutation of a Bruno Mars song and sat at the number 1 spot on Billboard for weeks. Cuts with Maroon 5, Justin Bieber, and Lauv have solidified his standing among young millennial artists as a go-to writer.

Steph Jones has been a consistent presence in writer’s rooms in Los Angeles and Nashville for a long while now. She is intimately involved with a cavalcade of emerging artist projects. Sabring Carpenter, Kelsea Ballerini, and Chloe Moriondo count this talent as a close collaborator.

Take A Daytrip is a writing duo comprised of David Biral and Denzel Baptiste. They are the writers who helped pen an produced Sheck Wes’s Mo Bamba a few years back which launched and defined the artist’s career. They used that success as a launching pad and have since been responsible for a large portion of Lil Nas X’s catalogue.

Ricky Reed has been a hot topic for a hot music industry minute. Partially responsible for Jason Derulo’s “Swalla” and Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts", Reed is a master of inserting new sounds into the pop landscape. That’s why artists like Camillla Cabello, Ed Sheeran, and Halsey include him in their sessions. Understanding his discography will provide an eye into what makes a great song tick.

Of course, there is a legion of songwriters helping to define the songwriting landscape of 2023. So, let me know who are your favorites? What names could have gone on this short list?