Quiz: This Week on ‘For the Record’
Tag: Spotify Singles
DJ Snake and Dhee Light Up the World With the First Spotify Single From India
Spotify Singles recently hit a milestone of 5 billion streams. In just four and a half years, the program has boasted more than 630 recordings from more than 300 artists across all genres and in countries around the world. Artists such as Tove Lo, John Legend, LeAnn Rimes, Zara Larsson, Sting, Ed Sheeran, Lauv, and Norah Jones have taken advantage of the opportunity to record a version of their own song or to cover a favorite hit—and in the process, they’ve created something new and special while also opening up the discoverability of the song to more listeners in newer markets.
Now there’s a new set of artists getting in on the mix and opening doors to the Spotify Singles program in its newest market: India. On World Music Day, June 21, Spotify launched “Enjoy Enjaami – Spotify Singles,” a collaboration between India-based Tamil artist Dhee and popular French record producer and icon DJ Snake.
Dhee’s original track “Enjoy Enjaami” is a Tamil-language song featuring Arivu, who also wrote the lyrics, and was produced by Santhosh Narayanan. The track went viral with more than 15 million streams on Spotify, marking a milestone for a regional artist’s debut single. The track was not only streamed heavily in the Tamil-speaking city of Chennai, but also across other cities in India, and global cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Toronto, and London. By bringing Dhee together with DJ Snake, who has a huge following in India, the new Spotify Singles track is a way for both artists to reach an even wider audience in India, France, and beyond.
“I love that people across the world are vibing to this version of ‘Enjoy Enjaami,’” DJ Snake told For the Record. “The first time I heard the song, I knew I wanted to work on it. Once the opportunity did arise, it took me all of two hours to re-create it for a global audience. Even though many listeners may not understand the lyrics, it only further confirms that music is borderless. The fact that streams are coming from across the world makes me so happy.”
In its first 10 days on platform, the single amassed more than 1.4 million streams in India and France, but also in markets like Germany, Mexico, Japan, and Brazil, among others. It has featured in over 60 Spotify editorial playlists, including 30 New Music Friday playlists and more than 10,000 user playlists across the world. The artists and the track also featured on Spotify’s Times Square billboard in New York during the release week.
Echoing DJ Snake’s sentiments, Dhee said, “I am so grateful and mindblown just thinking about how many people across the world are listening to this song. This song means a lot to us and it’s also my debut single. After all the beautiful feedback we’ve gotten from India, I am overwhelmed with the response from listeners all over the world—it’s so heartwarming. Spotify’s global reach has opened up opportunities for artists like me to put music out and truly bring people together.”
This single is not the first border- and genre-crossing collaboration of its kind. Recently, Korea RADAR artist AleXa partnered with MENA RADAR artist Bader for the program’s newest single. Initiatives like these two allow rich music cultures to cross-pollinate and reach new listeners in 170+ markets around the world.
From India’s emerging independent artists to larger established ones, Spotify has supported the local music ecosystem not just within the market, but around the world. This is just the first of hopefully many Spotify Singles from India—something that will help us accelerate the discovery of more genres of local music.
Want to feast your eyes on the visuals of Enjoy Enjaami combined with DJ Snake’s international music vibe? Check it out here.
‘Spotify: For the Record’ Takes a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Success of Spotify Singles
In May, For the Record shared that Spotify Singles collectively hit over 5 billion streams. The premise of the program is simple: We bring an artist into the studio to record a reimagined version of one of their own songs as well as a cover song—an homage to the two-sided 45 record. Spotify Singles has amassed a playlist of more than 650 songs across dozens of genres that features the biggest stars and emerging artists.
To celebrate this monumental milestone, the Spotify: For the Record podcast is taking listeners inside the rooms where those recordings were made for an intimate look at the creative process. In the episode, artists and Spotify employees closely involved with the program share some of the stories behind these successful tracks.
- Ed Sheeran, English singer-songwriter and the most-followed artist on Spotify, explains the full-circle moment that occurred when cellist Yo-Yo Ma covered his hit song “Shape of You” for Spotify Singles.
- Jon Batiste, an Oscar-winning American jazz musician, shares his experience recording 2pac‘s “Changes” on the piano.
- Nina Nesbitt, a Scottish pop singer-songwriter who has participated in two Spotify Singles sessions, explains what it was like to record in legendary spots like London’s Metropolis Studio.
- William Garrett, an experienced audio engineer and the Senior Producer for Spotify Singles, shares what it’s like for an artist to reimagine a fresh new take on one of their own classics. He also shares some fun stories about recording with artists like Elton John, Alanis Morissette, and Wilco.
- Michele Santucci, Recorded Music Lead at Spotify, talks about how the covers allow for a crossover between genres and open up new audiences for the Spotify Singles artists. She also gives a sneak peek of who’s up next for future Spotify Singles recordings.
Hear these tales and more on “Spotify Singles: The Path to 5 Billion Streams.”
Quiz: This Week on ‘For the Record’
Spotify Singles, 5 Billion Streams Later
Spotify Singles has been home to music you love from creators you adore—recorded in ways you’ve never heard—since 2016. To date, there have been more than 630 recordings from more than 300 artists across all genres. And now Spotify Singles has collectively hit over 5 billion streams.
The Spotify Singles program was created to provide artists with the opportunity to re-record one of their existing songs in a fresh new way, as well as cover a song of their choice by one of their own musical heroes. It’s been an outlet for artists to express themselves, engage their fans with new content, and connect with new listeners.
Get in the Holiday Spirit with Dolly Parton, Jose Mari Chan, Black Pumas, and More
In a year that’s brought unprecedented challenges, Spotify data suggests that listeners may be seeking comfort from holiday music earlier than usual in 2020. While festive playlists usually snowball in December, we’re seeing our most popular holiday playlist, Christmas Hits, streamed at a higher rate in September and October compared to previous years. Many think it’s never too early to crank yuletide tunes, and it shows: Listeners have already streamed more than 6.5 billion minutes of Christmas tracks this year.
In this episode of our podcast, Spotify: For the Record, we look at which songs are making it to the top of our listeners’ Christmas lists. One favorite is “Last Christmas,” which was originally released in 1984 by Wham! To date, there are about 1,200 covers of the hit on Spotify.
In addition to digging into the data, we also get in the spirit by chatting with some iconic artists about their holiday hits, including Dolly Parton, who recently released her first Christmas album in 30 years. In the episode, the country legend joins us to talk about the inspiration behind A Holly Dolly Christmas and what it was like to duet with Michael Bublé in the song “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas.”
Aside from Parton, we also chat with beloved Filipino artist Jose Mari Chan. Known as “The Father of Christmas Music” in the Philippines, Chan shares the inspiration behind his iconic holiday tunes, which have been a staple of festive celebration in the country for the last three decades.
This episode is no longer available as of November 2021, however you can get more great stories and news delivered audibly by following our podcasts, Spotify: For the Record, Spotify: Mic Check, and Spotify: Discover This.
Céline Dion on Her New Album, ‘Courage,’ and How She Chose the Songs for Her Spotify Singles
You probably know Céline Dion’s iconic song “My Heart Will Go On” from the 1997 movie, Titanic. But what many may not know is that the French-Canadian singer has seen a music career that goes on… and… on.
Céline was discovered at just 12-years-old when her brother, Michel—one of her 13 siblings—sent a tape of her singing to Artist Manager René Angélil. As a teenager, she released several French-language albums throughout the 1980s that gained traction all over the world. She started recording her first English studio album, Unison back in 1990. Since then, she’s created hit songs like “Because You Loved Me,” “Taking Chances,” “Miracle,” and consistently recorded new albums.
This past November, Céline released her latest album, Courage. But she also recorded some personal firsts—two Spotify Singles—including a new take on her own “Imperfections” and a cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.” Listen to them now, only on Spotify.
Can’t get enough of the Canadian creator? We sat down with Céline to get an inside look at her Spotify Singles and new album Courage.
When you were approached to record the Spotify Singles, how did you select your song “Imperfections,” and then the cover of “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak featuring Chris on backing vocals?
I chose “Imperfections” because at first, when the song was proposed to me, it was more simple than the production that ended up on the album. I wanted to kind of give fans a bit of the album, but make it more the way that I heard the song the first time.
I chose “Wicked Game” [for my Spotify Singles] because it’s one of my favorite songs of all time for many, many, many reasons. But also I love the black and white music video for the song, of Chris Isaak and Helena Christensen on the beach. It makes me think the whole world wants to be them.
What should your fans be looking for in your cover that’s different than the original “Wicked Game?”
Sometimes you take a song that’s not yours and you make it your own. But sometimes you decide not to. I’ve loved this song so much for so long that I decided to not change it much, I wanted to just respect the original version, which I still think is perfection.
What are you hoping that Chris Isaak’s reaction is going to be like? What about your fans’?
I hope he’s going to like it. And I hope my fans are going to like it. Obviously I sing for myself because I love it, but at the end of the day, I sing for my fans.
Why are you especially proud of your new album, Courage?
I was so involved in the creation and the creativity of it. I’ve never taken so long to record an album, and the new writers, songwriters, and producers were all phenomenal. It’s the same Celine, but there are some different sounds and I’m trying different things that might be new for fans.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
I don’t really do karaoke much, but I have to admit that during sound check, when I’m trying to get myself comfortable on stage, I like to make people laugh and just laugh myself. So I pick a Cher song, usually “Believe,” to sing during that.
Take a listen to Céline Dion’s Spotify Singles and latest album Courage, below.
Liam Payne, Tori Kelly, Jose Mari Chan and More Record New Takes on Festive Favorites in Spotify Singles: Holiday Playlist
Spotify listeners love streaming festive music this time of year—and who can blame them? Whether they’re searching for holiday classics or new wintertime hits, our playlists have a little bit of something for everyone. One holiday favorite is our Spotify Singles: Holiday Collection, which includes new spins on the songs they know and love from artists we invite to Spotify Studios around the globe.
We’re excited to announce the 2019 additions to our ever-growing Spotify Singles: Christmas Collection: 13 freshly-recorded tracks from artists of all ages and genres, including Liam Payne, The Lumineers, Tori Kelly, Reik, and Adam Lambert.
While Payne has carved out a successful solo career with EDM-inflected bops, when he arrived at the studio in New York City in September, he brought a very different vibe. The xx-year-old “Strip That Down” singer channelled Dean Martin for his own version of the crooner’s classic “Let it Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”
American singer-songwriter Tori Kelly may have decided on a song ahead of time, but she chose to come up with the arrangement on the fly while in New York’s Electric Lady studio.
“I’ve always loved the song ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’ but I’ve never actually done my own version of it,” she said. “I thought it would be fun to play around with the chords and use live musicians to bring my version to life.”
Swedish R&B Star Cherrie Releases New Spotify Singles with Fans as Backup
In April, Sweden’s R&B queen Cherrie posted on Instagram that she’d be recording two new Spotify Singles—and she invited fans to be her backup singers. Nearly 300 people responded. Seven were chosen to join Cherrie in the studio to record her brand-new song, “Ledaren,” or “The Leader,” available today on Spotify.
“Seven of my girls hung with me in the Spotify studio and their sick, heavy energy made this song very special,” says Cherrie. “The studio is my favorite place in the world, so I’m glad to have shared my world for a day with my sisters.”
Benjamin Ingrosso Takes Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” to the Club in New Spotify Singles
Spotify’s studio at our Stockholm headquarters opened just a year ago, but we’ve already seen plenty of talent—including First Aid Kit, Seinabo Sey, Hov1, Lykke Li, Linnea Henriksson, and Lukas Graham—pass through the doors to record covers and new versions of their own hits. This past week, we welcomed our newest Spotify Singles artist, none other than Swedish singer Benjamin Ingrosso.
Recently, Benjamin opened the final show of Sweden’s annual Melodifestivalen song competition—which attracts over 3.6 million TV viewers, or 40 percent of the entire country! He and compatriot Felix Sandman were already a hard act to follow, but all the more so after they teamed up to perform a unique cover of Lionel Richie’s classic “All Night Long.” Many took to social media after the performance to ask Benjamin to release the cover. Little did they know the plan was already in the works.
Now you can make that Melodifestivalen moment last all night long with Benjamin’s new Spotify Single recording of the track. Take a listen to both the cover and original, and see what Benjamin had to say about his cover of choice.
“When I was asked to record a Spotify Single, I knew I wanted to make a timeless cover that felt ‘eighties’ and ‘me’ at the same time,” says Benjamin. “Lionel Richie is a legend, and I think there are many people who have such positive memories of that song. I think I’ve managed to create a more modern version that still has the same party vibe.”
Along with his club-style take of “All Night Long,” Benjamin released a duet version of his track “I’ll Be Fine Somehow” with Norwegian star Julie Bergan. Their two-person harmonies add an extra level of sentimentality to an already emotional song about getting over a breakup.
“When I wrote ‘I’ll Be Fine Somehow,’ I thought about how magical it would sound as a duet and with strings,” says Benjamin. “I had two incredibly fun days with Julie Bergan remaking the song in Spotify’s studio. It’s a song that means a lot to me, and with this new version, more so than ever.”
“Benjamin is an artist I have followed since I was a child, and it was so great to be asked to participate in his Spotify Singles,” says Julie. “I love the new version more and more every time I hear it.”
We hope you do, too.
Cultura Profética trae un sonido soul a las grabaciones de Spotify Singles
La legendaria banda de reggae puertorriqueña, Cultura Profética, se ha mantenido en gran medida lejos de los reflectores desde su álbum de estudio de 2010, La Dulzura. Pero, al igual que sus fanáticos, conocen las recompensas de aplazar el deseo. Su canción con más streams, “Ilegal”, habla de un amor que se cocina a fuego lento. Ésta es la canción que la que la banda eligió para volver al estudio, optando por grabar una interpretación down-tempo de su éxito durante su primera sesión individual de Spotify.
La renovada alineación de la banda (sólo tres de los miembros actuales estaban en la banda original), visitó el estudio de grabación de Spotify en la ciudad de Nueva York a fines del año pasado, para realizar una nueva versión de “Ilegal”, así como un cover del clásico “Love and Happiness” del maestro de R&B Al Green. Hablamos con el líder de la banda, Willy Rodríguez, sobre su elección de canciones y por qué abrazaron un sonido soul. También, obtuvimos un vistazo de lo que viene para Cultura Profética.
“Elegimos ‘Ilegal’ para esta sesión porque es un clásico que adoptaron nuestros fans en nuestros shows en vivo. Han pasado muchos años desde nuestro último álbum y tuvimos que volver a encender esa conexión creativa entre nosotros. Encontramos esa chispa en esta nueva versión, con una melodía modificada y una estética más emocional a través del piano. El resultado fue un sonido muy diferente al que estábamos acostumbrados, pero nos sentimos muy contentos”.
“Escogimos un clásico de Al Green para nuestra segunda canción porque, aunque venimos del reggae, estamos muy inclinados hacia el soul. Queríamos honrar el original de Al Green mientras le dábamos un giro a esta canción, una nueva energía que ayudó a lograr un sonido diferente”.
“Ponemos toda nuestra pasión en cada canción. Aunque hicimos cada una con un estilo diferente, se sienten como parte de un todo, hay un hilo común. Estamos acostumbrados a hablar sobre temas sociales en nuestras canciones, pero también somos románticos de corazón”.
“Esta sesión ha sido importante para nosotros, para lo que planeamos hacer en el nuevo álbum. Nos conectamos como grupo y nos sentimos muy felices de ver cómo todo fluyó de forma natural”.
Cultura Profética Brings New Soul to Spotify Singles Recordings
Legendary Puerto Rican reggae band Cultura Profética has largely kept out of the spotlight since their 2010 studio album, La Dulzura. But like their fans, they know what it’s like to postpone desire: their top-streamed song, “Ilegal,” speaks to the slow burn of a love that takes its time. This is the track the band chose to return to in the studio, opting to record a down-tempo rendition of the hit in their first-ever Spotify Single session.
The band’s renewed lineup (only three of the current members were in the original band) visited Spotify’s New York City recording studio at the end of last year to perform a recently released re-imagining of “Ilegal,” as well as a cover of the classic “Love and Happiness” from R&B master Al Green. We spoke with front man Willy Rodriguez about the band’s song choices and adding soul to their sound. We also got a glimpse of what’s on the horizon for the group.
“We chose ‘Ilegal’ for this session because it’s a cultural classic. It’s been many years since our last album, and we had to re-spark that creative connection. We found it in this new version with a changed melody and more emotional aesthetic through the piano. The result was a very different sound from what we were used to, but something we were very happy with.”
“We chose a classic by Al Green for our second song because, although we come from reggae, we are very inclined toward soul. We wanted to honor Al Green’s original while giving this song a twist, a new energy that helped to achieve a new sound.”
“We put all our passion into each song. Although we made each with a different style, they’re still part of a whole—there is a common thread. We are used to talking about social issues in our songs, but we are also romantics at heart.”
“This session has been important for us, for what we plan to do on the new album. We connected as a group and we felt very happy to see how everything flowed naturally.”
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