benny blanco’s back!!!
This is hands down my favorite interview I’ve done so far! After our last interview, Benny reached out to me with an idea - what if we sat down and went over his actual demos of some of the biggest songs in the world? So that’s exactly what we did.
For the first time ever, Benny takes us inside the process of making hit records, breaking down the original demos of his most iconic songs. But this episode isn’t just about the music—it’s about what it really takes to create, push through self-doubt, and make something that connects with people.
💡 This conversation is for YOU if:
🔥 You’re an artist, songwriter, or producer trying to make it
🔥 You want to see how hit songs are really made from the ground up
🔥 You’ve ever doubted yourself creatively and needed inspiration
🔥 You love music and want to understand it on a deeper level
Benny shares the raw, unfiltered first versions of songs that would go on to become global hits. But what hit me most wasn’t just the music—it was his mindset. His belief in creativity, collaboration, and the idea that sometimes, the best songs take years to find their moment. I was pretty much speechless throughout this whole interview. This episode will change the way you see music forever; I know it changed me.
Benny, thank you for this. Thank you for sharing your journey, your process, and for trusting me with this conversation. So grateful to go Behind The Wall with you once again. Excited for your new album with Selena coming soon too!!!! And thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey and helped bring this episode to life. 🙏
Thank you to all the people who made, sang, and created these songs and thank you to Benny and his team for sharing the original demos. I truly believe this will inspire the next generation of music creatives and like Benny said, we can't wait to see what all those creatives make.
If you're a musician, producer, or creative on-the-go, check out my favorite travel-pack from Nomatic and get 20% off your first purchase! I've been using Nomatic for years now, so to partner with them is a dream come true. Also, this interview isn’t monetized because of playing the demos, so working with partners like Nomatic allows me to keep making these happen and continue to bring you more amazing interviews. Check em out here: https://www.nomatic.com/collections/behind-the-wall?code=3UypgYnL
Listen to 'The Unusual Suspects' with Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell on Audible now: https://audible.com/unusualsuspects
⬇️ More of Benny
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqrBKQHQVEvD2Q9FP0DCP2g
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsbennyblanco/?hl=en
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsbennyblanco?lang=en
⬇️ More of Daniel
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DanielsWall
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielwall/?hl=en
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danielswall?lang=en
First interview with Benny: https://youtu.be/4Vh_DgaHySc?si=Ltiui-zwTkuUm6tp
00:00 Intro
01:14 benny blanco’s back!
03:06 What changed since our last interview
04:04 1st Demo - Animals
06:08 2nd Demo - Payphone
08: 57 3rd Demo - Moves Like Jagger
11:05 The Insane Story of Moves Like Jagger & Stereo Hearts
16:47 What makes a song connect with Benny
19:03 The Untold Story of Julia Michaels Issues
22:54 How Rihanna’s Diamonds Was Actually Made
27:34 The Crazy Story of Making Kesha’s We R Who We R
30:13 4th Demo - We R Who We R
32:19 5th Demo - Diamonds
34:08 My Favorite Backpack as a Creative - Nomatic
35:52 Why Sia is One of The Best Songwriters of All Time
37:18 How long it takes to go from a Demo to a Song
37:55 How Benny Makes Music with Artists
38:58 What does a first session look like?
40:20 Creating a song Vs Finishing a song
41:26 Benny and Daniel Talk about Flying, Arizona, & Life
43:47 First Time working with Katy Perry
45:00 California Gurls/Teenage Dream Demos, Beats, & Stories
47:10 Why All Songs Are Always Made Differently
47:46 How Dynamite Happened
49:46 Why Food Matters When Making Music
51:08 They Made 5 Number 1 Songs For Other Artists!!!
51:57 How Benny Met Ed Sheeran
53:40 How Benny and Ed Made Don’t with Rick Rubin
56:26 Going on Tour with Ed to make Divide
57:41 The Songs Ed and Benny Made for other artists
1:04:49 Benny’s Organization Process with Ideas
1:05:46 Why Ed Sheeran is One of The Greatest Songwriters of All Time
1:07:32 Why Same Old Love & Issues Are Connected
1:09:19 The Impact of Charli XCX
1:10:03 Why The Music Industry Has Become Artist Dominated
1:12:21 Why Benny and Timbaland Are More Similar Than They Thought
1:12:40 Why The Best Songs Often Never Come Out
1:16:13 Benny’s Advice for The Next Generation of Creatives
1:18:11 Thank You Benny For Going Behind The Wall with Us Again!!!
1:20:07 Check Out Benny’s New Music with Selena :)