Songwriter Spotlight - Savan Kotecha: Raising Generations Through Music
- Monica Soriano
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
From One Direction’s career launch to Ariana Grande’s mainstream singles, Savan is responsible for many fan-favorite pop hits within the past two decades.
Article Contributed by Monica Soriano
Savan Kotecha is a name that might not be recognized by many outside of the music industry, but the songs he’s written certainly are.
Kotecha does a marvelous job at being relatively private with his personal life, but celebrates his musical success through posts. Through his interviews, we get glimpses of how he’s been able to write the mega hits he’s credited for.
Some of those hits include One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful”, Ariana Grande’s “God Is A Woman”, and The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face”.
Who Is Savan Kotecha?
The question shouldn't be who is Savan Kotecha? It should be how did Savan Kotecha become who he is?
Kotecha moved to Austin, Texas, at a young age, and felt like a bit of an outcast, which led him to find a place in music. Neither of his parents has ties to the music industry, so in order to become successful, Savan had to have relentless dedication and perseverance.
From passing out demos to moving to Sweden, collaborating with Max Martin, to working on X - Factor, he's definitely been all around the industry.
He’s spoken about how there was a point in time when he was so broke he ate canned beans. But that is who Savan is. He's a person who refused to give up, and now the reason many artists have memorable pop hits.
X-Factor, One Direction and Boybands
Savan wrote singles for boybands such as Emblem3, The Vamps and of course One Direction.
One of his career-defining moments was when he joined X-Factor as a coach. Savan worked with One Direction since their formation and has spoken highly of those days. He is responsible for One Direction’s first single, “What Makes You Beautiful”, which he has said he wrote about his wife.
Other notable One Direction songs that he penned are “One Thing,”“Up All Night,” and “Kiss You.”
Savan attributes his liking towards boy bands and pop music to when his sister gravitated towards New Kids On The Block. Since working with 1D, he’s also worked with the band PRETTYMUCH, Simon Cowell’s new band, December 10, a fictional boyband named August Moon for the film The Idea of You, and OutStation, a new boyband by Savan’s very own label Visva Records.
Biggest Hits and His Impact on Music
An endless list of songs that were played on the radio and collaborations worthy of admiration.
“Cool for the Summer” by Demi Lovato, “Side to Side” by Ariana Grande, “How Do You Sleep?” by Sam Smith, and “Motivation” by Normani are just a few of the well-known tracks Savan Kotecha has penned.
His list of credits on Ariana Grande's discography is extensive; he has been there through different phases of her career, including the Sweetener era. Other notable artists he has collaborated with are Tori Kelly, Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran, and Ellie Goulding.
Usher’s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love,” Vanessa Hudgens’ “Say OK,” and Justin Bieber’s “Beauty and a Beat” are prime examples of his versatility in writing radio hits. Savan’s impact is continuous and large enough to keep his name cemented within this industry for future generations.
Pop Songs For Film/TV
He’s everywhere from radio to TV/Film and soon to be Broadway!
Savan is not only a master of radio hits, but he also actively writes for Film and TV. Fun tracks he has written for TV are Victorious’ “Best Friends Brother” and “Beggin’ on Your Knees,” as well as Glee’s “Loser Like Me.”
The Idea of You, which was based around a fictional boy band by the name of August Moon, released original songs written by none other than Savan Kotecha. Another film he worked on was Will Ferrell’s Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which is being developed into a stage musical with Savan composing the music.
There are more gems hidden within the credits of tv shows and films. It is praiseworthy to see someone expand their horizons and enjoy their journey as much as they do.
Kotecha and Beyond
More than a songwriter but a supporter of talent worldwide
Savan Kotecha continues to expand his music industry career. Not only is he still writing hit singles for some of the biggest artists today but he is working to develop artists himself through his label Visva Records.
He continues to speak highly of the people he collaborates with and shares his experience having a groundbreaking career. From party hits, to the crazed boyband phase to the catchy pop releases, Kotecha’s mark in the music industry has helped many people grow into themselves.
He truly is raising generations and now with his record label’s success with the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, he is creating opportunities for others to have the songs they write sung worldwide. Kotecha’s songwriting and music industry success seem to match his integrity. We will be continuing to follow his journey as he dives into different areas of this industry!