There are bigger hits at Harry Styles concerts, but Matilda offers a unique glimpse into how the superstar connects with fans, especially women. This seemingly “small” song shines a light on a young woman with strained family ties, carrying that pain wherever she goes. Styles uses his charisma to sound close and empathetic, yet it’s the lyrics and melody that give the story its authenticity and depth.
Matilda doesn’t feel like a caricature; she feels real. Styles’ talent amplifies the effect, so everyone in the stadium can feel a bit like Matilda, no matter their background.
Four creators crafted Matilda, yet it unmistakably carries the mark of one of pop’s top hitmakers, Amy Allen. If the catchy tunes of the last five years have felt unforgettable, Allen is likely behind them.
From Styles and Olivia Rodrigo to Justin Timberlake, Lizzo, Selena Gomez and Shawn Mendes, Allen is shaping the voice of pop’s next generation. She knows how to speak to today’s most sought-after audience: young people, especially women, raised on social media, who want powerful choruses with sharp, smart stories.
The writer behind the hits
In 2024 alone, Allen has dominated the charts with Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso and Please Please Please co-writing every song on Carpenter’s latest album, Short ‘N’ Sweet. Recently, APT, a duet by Rosé from Blackpink and Bruno Mars, also exploded on the charts. All three songs reached the U.S. Top 10 (with Please hitting No. 1), and Allen has also penned tracks for Justin Timberlake, country star Koe Wetzel, and the acclaimed Leon Bridges. Last year, Allen won a Grammy for Album of the Year as part of the team behind Styles’ Harry’s House. It’s no surprise the New York Times recently profiled her as “pop’s secret weapon for the next generation.”
A hitmaker on the rise
Allen was born in Maine, studied to become a nurse in Boston and was rejected by The Voice. She then studied music at Berklee College, formed a band that never took off and eventually signed a solo recording deal.
What changed her career trajectory was pop’s evolution over the past decade, spurred by artists like Taylor Swift. Rather than industry men dictating how female singers such as Britney Spears should feel, Allen is part of a new era where songwriters connect deeply with the artist to create an authentic product.
Her first breakout hits were Selena Gomez’s Back To You and Halsey’s Without Me. Allen’s gift for crafting catchy hooks wrapped in personality caught the ears of fans and industry leaders alike, leading her to work with names like Styles and Mendes.
Allen is equally careful not to overshadow the artists she works with. When the Times pressed her on who came up with the sticky-sweet chorus in Espresso, she claimed to have “forgotten,” adding that everyone was just throwing lines around the room, and people shouting things.
Allen reportedly writes seven songs a week and has done so for seven years, keeping a strict 9-to-5 routine. But she knows when to save certain songs for herself. For commercial hits, she starts with the chorus. For her own songs – as in her solo debut album released a month and a half ago – she begins with the backstory. She can write a custom track in two hours, but her album, with its 12 songs, took her five years to complete.
Listening to Allen’s solo work, you can feel the same charisma present in her songs for Carpenter and Rodrigo, though the tone is different: Her singing has shades of indie icon Phoebe Bridgers, with softer melodies and a sharp, accessible writing style. It’s the same storytelling core that made Matilda a fan favorite at Styles’ shows and Carpenter a superstar. Now, all that’s left is to see if Allen will remain a “secret weapon” or if she’ll take center stage herself.
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First published: 02:48, 11.06.24