With the press of a button, the room filled with sound: somber guitar arpeggios over a slow, sleek hip-hop beat, with layers of falsetto harmonies leading to a big, glittery, instantly memorable chorus.
Tor Erik Hermansen,
Sarah Hudson, Then came Ne-Yo’s next hit, “Sexy Love,” then Rihanna, then Beyoncé. Artists: But there are a growing number of well-known white R&B producers, including Scott Storch, Mark Ronson and Jonathan Rotem, as well as performers like Justin Timberlake, Amy Winehouse and Robin Thicke (who is also a successful producer).
“I’m thinking Jennifer,” the executive said. Arranger:
Pitch Perfect (Movie)
Perfect for year-end concerts, too. Results: After tweaking some instrumental tracks, the producers convened with a co-writer over lyrics to a new song, and recorded it a couple of hours later.
After about 40 minutes, the singer leaped out of his seat. It speaks of people that are full of life and fire inside---and make you go "Ah!" Writer: Khalid Robinson, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Jamil Chammas, Ryan Vojtesak. Related News. A young member of Ne-Yo’s entourage who was surfing the Internet on a studio computer caught Mr. Eriksen’s eye and asked him if they have a MySpace page.“Don’t have time,” Mr. Eriksen said, and began punching buttons at the mixing board.The producers Tor Erik Hermansen, left, and Mikkel S. Eriksen, a k a Stargate.Mikkel S. Eriksen, left, and Tor Erik Hermansen, a k a Stargate, at Sony Music Studios in Manhattan.
But I never had a problem with these guys. track, the guitar laid out a palette of bright, bold chords and the weaving melody that remains a focal point throughout the song.
Working in a modest room so crowded with recording gear that they spend much of their time toiling inches apart, Mr. Hermansen and Mr. Eriksen say they usually finish up by midnight or 1 a.m. — around the time many of their competitors might be beginning their own sessions.Life in a recording studio can be slow and numbingly repetitive, but on a recent afternoon Stargate was a blur of musical multitasking. Norwegian record producers and songwriters Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen, better known as the production duo Stargate, have bought a modern home in Venice for $5.25 million. Katy Perry Arranger:
Hermansen and Mr. Eriksen dismiss the idea that their remarkable productivity might be helped by songwriting formulaics.
“We’re like players who just got off the bench and started scoring,” Mr. Hermansen said. “No matter what I do,” Ne-Yo sang, “I can’t stop the rain.” Stargate’s speed is a big attraction to clients. For Ne-Yo, Stargate’s strength has as much to do with the music it makes as the music it doesn’t.“You hear some tracks where the producer is absolutely trying to be the star,” he said, “the way they do so much with the track that it’s almost difficult to write — you can’t find any space to put a song in there. They are the epitome of simple and to the point.”For their recent writing session with Ne-Yo, in Studio D at Sony Music, Mr. Hermansen and Mr. Eriksen brought a CD with sketches of 11 songs. Alexandra Burke Composers: Tor Erik Hermansen, Arranger:
You plug in the right top-line writer and you got one plus one equals three.” Arriving at noon at their studio on West 25th Street six days a week — “We get Sundays off,” Mr. Eriksen said — the men of Stargate keep the music industry’s equivalent of banker’s hours. Mikkel Eriksen,