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Little Mix, Jay-Z and Demi Lovato are a typical part of our day jobs | Little Mix, Jay-Z and Demi Lovato are a typical part of our day jobs |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Imagine your working day involves messaging Little Mix so you can channel the emotion of Perrie and Zayn Malik's break-up. | |
Or the most surreal moment in the office involves a conga line with Nicki Minaj and Beyonce while Jay-Z plays the Grease soundtrack off a laptop. | Or the most surreal moment in the office involves a conga line with Nicki Minaj and Beyonce while Jay-Z plays the Grease soundtrack off a laptop. |
But that's the life of leading songwriters Sam Romans and Kamille, who help some of the biggest stars in the world create their massive hits. | But that's the life of leading songwriters Sam Romans and Kamille, who help some of the biggest stars in the world create their massive hits. |
"Jay-Z was playing Summer Nights. It was a bit weird," says Sam (known as Romans), who's signed to the rapper's Roc Nation company. | "Jay-Z was playing Summer Nights. It was a bit weird," says Sam (known as Romans), who's signed to the rapper's Roc Nation company. |
Warning: The rest of this article contains strong language | Warning: The rest of this article contains strong language |
Romans and Kamille got together with Irish singer-songwriter Ruth-Anne Cunningham to share the secrets of their success. | Romans and Kamille got together with Irish singer-songwriter Ruth-Anne Cunningham to share the secrets of their success. |
They're all singers in their own right but they work with some huge acts including: | They're all singers in their own right but they work with some huge acts including: |
• Little Mix • Clean Bandit • Elton John • Niall Horan • Jennifer Hudson • One Direction • John Legend • Demi Lovato • Jonas Blue • Alicia Keys • Mary J Blige • Jess Glynne... and many more | • Little Mix • Clean Bandit • Elton John • Niall Horan • Jennifer Hudson • One Direction • John Legend • Demi Lovato • Jonas Blue • Alicia Keys • Mary J Blige • Jess Glynne... and many more |
'I was so angry for Perrie' | 'I was so angry for Perrie' |
One job of a songwriter is to get into the headspace of the artist they're writing for and Kamille is essentially the fifth member of Little Mix. | One job of a songwriter is to get into the headspace of the artist they're writing for and Kamille is essentially the fifth member of Little Mix. |
She worked with the band loads, including on their latest album LM5 and is also in a WhatsApp group with the girls. | She worked with the band loads, including on their latest album LM5 and is also in a WhatsApp group with the girls. |
"Before we get into an album I'll be asking them what is happening with them. I like to know exactly how they're feeling," she tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. | "Before we get into an album I'll be asking them what is happening with them. I like to know exactly how they're feeling," she tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. |
As most people imagined, Shout To My Ex was a reaction to Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik's break-up. | As most people imagined, Shout To My Ex was a reaction to Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik's break-up. |
"I remember being on the piano in Los Angeles and I wrote Shout Out To My Ex for Perrie. I was so angry for her, and how she felt, that it was the only thing I could have written at the time. | "I remember being on the piano in Los Angeles and I wrote Shout Out To My Ex for Perrie. I was so angry for her, and how she felt, that it was the only thing I could have written at the time. |
"The girls are very much part of everything that I do. When they're not around, I take their ideas and everything becomes part of their songs." | "The girls are very much part of everything that I do. When they're not around, I take their ideas and everything becomes part of their songs." |
No fangirling | No fangirling |
All three say they have to resist the urge to become best mates with the artist they're working with. | All three say they have to resist the urge to become best mates with the artist they're working with. |
"You have to act chill," says Kamille. "You can't be a groupie around these people because the last thing they want is for you to be fangirling. | "You have to act chill," says Kamille. "You can't be a groupie around these people because the last thing they want is for you to be fangirling. |
"You have to transfer their innermost thoughts into an amazing hit." | "You have to transfer their innermost thoughts into an amazing hit." |
Ruth-Anne says working with Jennifer Hudson was scary. | Ruth-Anne says working with Jennifer Hudson was scary. |
"She asked me to sing the demo the way I would sing it and I felt like I was on The Voice and she was going to give me a critique." | "She asked me to sing the demo the way I would sing it and I felt like I was on The Voice and she was going to give me a critique." |
One of Romans' biggest moments came when he worked with his idol Elton John. | One of Romans' biggest moments came when he worked with his idol Elton John. |
"That was a strange experience," he says. "We were there with Clean Bandit. | "That was a strange experience," he says. "We were there with Clean Bandit. |
"Elton's method is to have a lyricist (usually Bernie Taupin) and he puts the lyrics to music. But for this session we were sat around a piano singing weird melodies. | "Elton's method is to have a lyricist (usually Bernie Taupin) and he puts the lyrics to music. But for this session we were sat around a piano singing weird melodies. |
"For him, it was an alien process. It was interesting seeing someone as legendary as that also feeling slightly uncomfortable." | "For him, it was an alien process. It was interesting seeing someone as legendary as that also feeling slightly uncomfortable." |
Friendships | Friendships |
For Kamille, her working relationship with Little Mix has turned into a true friendship and the band asked her to appear on their track More Than Words. | For Kamille, her working relationship with Little Mix has turned into a true friendship and the band asked her to appear on their track More Than Words. |
"It's one of the reasons I love them," she says. "I can't think of any artist that's featured their writer on a song." | "It's one of the reasons I love them," she says. "I can't think of any artist that's featured their writer on a song." |
Likewise, Ruth-Anne has struck up a strong friendship with Niall Horan and he even invited her on stage in Dublin to sing the song they co-wrote together, | Likewise, Ruth-Anne has struck up a strong friendship with Niall Horan and he even invited her on stage in Dublin to sing the song they co-wrote together, |
An unexpected hit | An unexpected hit |
All three songwriters admit it's disappointing when a track you get hyped about fails to do the business. | All three songwriters admit it's disappointing when a track you get hyped about fails to do the business. |
They say it's far better to have a song that does so much better than you expected it to. | They say it's far better to have a song that does so much better than you expected it to. |
In Ruth-Anne's case, it was Work Bitch by Britney Spears. | In Ruth-Anne's case, it was Work Bitch by Britney Spears. |
"Anyone who knows me would wonder how I'm a part of that song because I'm so emotional. | "Anyone who knows me would wonder how I'm a part of that song because I'm so emotional. |
"It was a novelty song that I helped write in about 20 minutes. I didn't think it would turn into anything and then suddenly I was on a call to Britney. | "It was a novelty song that I helped write in about 20 minutes. I didn't think it would turn into anything and then suddenly I was on a call to Britney. |
"It was one of those Frankenstein songs where different parts were put together to create something iconic." | "It was one of those Frankenstein songs where different parts were put together to create something iconic." |
She also says she never expected Niall Horan's Slow Hands to be a hit while Kamille says Power by Little Mix was made "off the cuff, last minute and it was probably one of the biggest songs off Glory Days". | She also says she never expected Niall Horan's Slow Hands to be a hit while Kamille says Power by Little Mix was made "off the cuff, last minute and it was probably one of the biggest songs off Glory Days". |
Giving a banger away | Giving a banger away |
One of the most challenging parts of being a songwriter is coming up with a huge hit and then giving it to someone else. | One of the most challenging parts of being a songwriter is coming up with a huge hit and then giving it to someone else. |
Ruth-Anne reveals JoJo's Too Little Too Late was originally intended to kick-start her own musical career. | Ruth-Anne reveals JoJo's Too Little Too Late was originally intended to kick-start her own musical career. |
"The song didn't feel like me," she says. "I was offered record deals because of it but I always had in my mind that JoJo would sing it. | "The song didn't feel like me," she says. "I was offered record deals because of it but I always had in my mind that JoJo would sing it. |
"I don't follow fame and I've never regretted giving it away." | "I don't follow fame and I've never regretted giving it away." |
Kamille agrees that "songs come to us" and if a song is meant for another artists then "give it away". | Kamille agrees that "songs come to us" and if a song is meant for another artists then "give it away". |
She admits it can sometimes be tough seeing people she's worked with hit the big time. | She admits it can sometimes be tough seeing people she's worked with hit the big time. |
"I wanted to be an artist from day one. I used to be a vocal coach on The X Factor and helped other people become artists. | "I wanted to be an artist from day one. I used to be a vocal coach on The X Factor and helped other people become artists. |
"I used to cry in the toilet as you have to give yourself to these artists and then you have to watch their success. | "I used to cry in the toilet as you have to give yourself to these artists and then you have to watch their success. |
"But it taught me about patience and it told me about giving. You have to be quite selfless as a writer. | "But it taught me about patience and it told me about giving. You have to be quite selfless as a writer. |
"It's not about you. You have to be humble and write an amazing song for someone else and let them have their moment. | "It's not about you. You have to be humble and write an amazing song for someone else and let them have their moment. |
"That's an amazing part of who we are as writers. Writers should be celebrated." | "That's an amazing part of who we are as writers. Writers should be celebrated." |
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. |
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here. |