# Ali Payami

Ali Payami is a Swedish record producer, songwriter, and DJ.
Payami's first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 was The Weeknd's single "Can't Feel My Face". In 2016, he won a Grammy for Album of the Year for his contributions on Taylor Swift's album 1989. He has also worked with other musicians such as Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, Ellie Goulding and Katy Perry.

## Early life

Ali was born in the Iranian capital, Tehran. Then, once his family moved to Sweden during his early childhood. he was first exposed to music in Malmö. At a young age he listened to many genres of music, ranging from Dr. Dre's The Chronic to Nirvana. He watched people in bands rehearse and make music, which prompted him to develop interest in the same. This interest was reflected by his statement "When you play something and see people's reactions when they hear it... It really affected me."
Growing up, however, he became more interested in house music, siding away from the pop genre he was exposed to. This was evident from his words "...these guys were more into pop and mainstream, and I chose more house music..." in an interview. Payami didn't understand how to make music when he was younger. However, as years passed and new, better software became available for music production, he learnt the basics by watching others do so. Later, he bought the programs and started creating music himself.
Ali Payami then started DJing at school parties and in local clubs. He said “DJing played a big part in what I do now; the mentality of it and the love of both new and old music. When you play something and see people's reactions when they hear it... It really affected me.” in an interview with Billboard. While working in clubs, Payami had to get other jobs to support himself, including a short lived job as a telemarketer. He described this experience as "weird", stating “I loved DJing, but what I didn't like was being the center of attention.”

## Career
### Beginnings

Ali Payami met Julius Petersson, then an A&R for Warner/Chappel, during the time he was DJing in clubs. This provided him a major opportunity at the time, as the public house gave him a cash advance. In Payami's words, "It allowed me to not have to work on anything else but music, so you can eat but also concentrate on what you want to do". Payami was also grateful to Julius and considered him a visionary, stating "Julius was such a visionary. He believed in not just me, but a lot of people who are very successful now."
Through Petersson, Max Martin's brother-in-law, Payami was introduced to Shellback, a highly successful Swedish music producer. This eventually enabled Payami to collaborate with Max Martin. Payami commented on Martin, saying "He's not only amazing and talented the way everyone knows him, but he's also a great guy. It's not just music; you learn so much about life, how to collaborate with people, and how to be open and not let egos take over the room.”

### Rise to fame

Ali Payami's collaborations with Max Martin since 2014 have been an "ubiquitous part of the pop radio landscape", as described by Billboard. His work on Ariana Grande's song "Love Me Harder" was one of the first of such collaborations, on which Payami commented, "I remember sitting in a studio in L.A. and me and [Peter Svensson] were just playing around. A few days later, he showed me this voice note with a part of a melody that we had played, and we tried to recreate it. From there, the whole thing came together. Savan came in with more melodies and lyrics, and then after that The Weeknd did his thing."
Ali Payami worked on The Weeknd's song "Can't Feel My Face", which helped him settle himself as a popular pop artist. The song hit No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and obtained two Grammy nominations, for "Record of the Year" and "Best Pop Solo Performance". Payami said that it was a very simple song, and not "super advanced". Max Martin, on Payami, jokingly commented that he was envious of him, who "listened to new music all the time"
Payami has worked with Taylor Swift, co-writing and co-producing "Style" from her album 1989 (2014), and "...Ready for It?" from Reputation (2017).
Payami co-wrote and co-produced Katy Perry's single "Chained to the Rhythm" from her album Witness (2017).
Payami worked with Poppy on her fifth studio album Zig (2023).
Payami resides in Stockholm and works in Wolf Cousins Studio.

## Discography
### Albums

| Year | Artist | Album | Role |
| 2024 | Jason Derulo | Nu King | Producer, Co-writer |
| 2023 | Taylor Swift | 1989 (Taylor's Version) | Co-writer |
| 2023 | Poppy | Zig | Producer, Co-writer |
| 2022 | Fletcher | Girl of My Dreams | Co-producer, Co-writer |
| 2021 | L Devine | Near Life Experience Part Two | Producer, Writer |
| 2020 | Astrid S | Leave It Beautiful | Producer, Co-writer |
| 2017 | Taylor Swift | Reputation | Producer, Co-writer, keyboards, programming |
| 2017 | Katy Perry | Witness | Guitar, Drums, Bass, Synths, Piano, Background Vocals, Producer, Programming |
| 2017 | Tove Lo | Blue Lips | Producer, Co-Writer |
| 2016 | Various Artists | 2016 Grammy Nominees | Composer, Producer |
| 2016 | The Pigs | The Great Bluegrass Swindle | Composer, Producer, Programmer Covers of Just Can't Get Enough, Total Eclipse of The Heart, Party Rock Anthem, Adele's Rolling in the Deep, Kanye West's Gold Digger and Milkshake |
| 2016 | Ariana Grande | Dangerous Woman | Bass, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Producer, Programming |
| 2016 | Various Artists | Fitness Beats 2016 | Composer, Musical Instrument, Producer, Programmer |
| 2016 | Ron Jeremiah | Ghost Town 2016 | Composer |
| 2016 | Various | Ghostbusters (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Bass, Composer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Programming |
| 2016 | Sabina Ddumba | Homeward Bound | Bass, Composer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Producer, Programmer |
| 2016 | Chlara | In a Different Light | Composer |
| 2016 | Kidz Bop | Kidz Bop 33 | Composer |
| 2016 | Laleh | Kristaller | Composer |
| 2016 | Tove Lo | Lady Wood | Bass, Co-composer Co-composer, Drums, Guitar, Instrumentation, Keyboards, Producer, Programming |
| 2016 | Nick Jonas | Last Year Was Complicated | Bass, Composer, Drums, Keyboards, Producer, Programming, Synthesizer |
| 2016 | Various Artists | Lazy Afternoon [UMTV] | Composer |
| 2016 | Beth | Love Songs | Composer |
| 2016 | Baby Rockstar | Lullaby Renditions of Taylor Swift: 1989 | Composer |
| 2016 | Various Artists | Now That's What I Call Music! 58 | Composer |
| 2016 | Various Artists | Now That's What I Call Music! 60 | Composer |
| 2016 | Various Artists | Now That's What I Call a Workout 2017 | Composer |
| 2016 | Various Artists | Now That's What I Call Music! 57 | Composer |
| 2016 | Various Artists | Party Tyme Karaoke: Super Hits, Vol. 26 | Composer |
| 2016 | Jim Brickman | Pure Cinema | Composer |
| 2016 | Alessandro Danello | Shine - EP | Composer |
| 2016 | The Weeknd | Starboy | Composer |
| 2016 | David Nail | Uncovered - EP | Composer |
| 2015 | Ryan Adams | 1989 | Composer |
| 2015 | The Weeknd | Beauty Behind the Madness | Bass, Composer, Drums, Keyboards, Producer, Programming, Synthesizer |
| 2015 | Demi Lovato | Confident | Composer, Drums, Guitar, Percussion, Producer, Programming |
| 2015 | Ellie Goulding | Delirium | Bass, Composer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Producer, Programming, Synthesizer, Vocals (Background) |
| 2015 | Various Artists | Fifty Shades of Grey: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Bass, Composer, Drums, Keyboards, Percussion, Producer, Programming, Vocals (Background) |
| 2015 | | Fifty Shades of Grey Remixed | Composer |
| 2015 | Sabrina | I Love Acoustic 8 | Composer |
| 2015 | Kidz Bop | Kidz Bop 28 | Composer |
| 2015 | Kidz Bop | Kidz Bop 29 | Composer |
| 2015 | Various Artists | Now That's What I Call Music! 53 | Composer |
| 2015 | Various Artists | Now That's What I Call Music! 55 | Composer |
| 2015 | Various Artists | Now That's What I Call Music! 56 | Composer |
| 2015 | Various Artists | Now That's What I Call Music! 54 | Composer |
| 2015 | Various Artists | Party Tyme Karaoke: Girl Pop Mega Pack, Vol. 3 | Composer |
| 2015 | Various Artists | Party Tyme Karaoke: Girl Pop Party Pack, Vol. 6 | Composer |
| 2015 | Various Artists | Party Tyme Karaoke: Girl Pop, Vol. 24 | Composer |
| 2015 | Various Artists | Party Tyme Karaoke: Pop Mega Pack, Vol. 3 | Composer |
| 2015 | Piano Rockstar | Piano Renditions of Taylor Swift: 1989 | Composer |
| 2015 | Nessi | Rolling With the Punches | Composer |
| 2015 | Ariana Azalea | Style: New Romantics 2015 Gangnam EP | Composer |
| 2015 | Koryn Hawthorne | The Voice: The Complete Season 8 Collection | Composer |
| 2015 | Straight No Chaser | The New Old Fashioned | Composer |
| 2015 | Adam Lambert | The Original High | Bass, Composer, Drums, Instrumentation, Keyboards, Musician, Percussion, Producer, Programmer, Programming, Unknown Instrument, Various Instruments |
| 2015 | Patrick Rouiller | Tous Les Titres Du Gagnant Nouvelle Star 2016 | Composer |
| 2015 | Tori Kelly | Unbreakable Smile | Composer, Instrumentation, Percussion, Producer, Programming |
| 2014 | Taylor Swift | 1989 | Co-writer, Keyboards, Co-producer, Programming |
| 2014 | Lea Michele | Louder | Composer, Engineer, Keyboards, Producer, Programming, Strings |
| 2014 | Ariana Grande | My Everything | Bass, Composer, Drums, Keyboards, Percussion, Producer, Programming |
| 2014 | Various Artists | NRG Workout | Primary Artist |
| 2014 | Tove Lo | Queen of the Clouds | Co-composer, Instrumentation, Producer, Programming, Remixing |
| 2014 | Taylor Swift | Taylor Swift Karaoke: 1989 | Composer, Keyboards, Producer, Programming |
| 2012 | Loreen | Heal | Composer |
| 2011 | Various Artists | Most Wanted!, Vol. 1: The Ultimate Clubhouse | Primary Artist |
| 2010 | Various Artists | 101 Ibiza Anthems | Producer |
| 2010 | Various Artists | Big Tunes: Destination Dance | Producer |
| 2010 | Various Artists | Club Anthems 2010 | Producer |
| 2010 | Various Artists | Clubland Smashed | Primary Artist |
| 2010 | Various Artists | Kanikuly 2010 | Primary Artist |
| 2010 | Various Artists | Ministry of Sound: Running Trax, Vol. 2 | Producer |
| 2010 | Ali Payami | Roots | Primary Artist |
| 2010 | Various Artists | The Mash Up Mix 2010 | Producer |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Absolute Dance: Winter 2009 | Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Chilled Euphoria [Ministry of Sound] | Additional Production, Remixing |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Clubbers Guide 2009 | Producer, Composer, Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Clubland Classix, Vol. 2 | Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Clubland Classix 2 [Digital Bundle Package] | Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Dance Chart, Winter/Spring 2009 | Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Euro Hits 2008 | Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | From House to Electro 2009: In the Mix | Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Hardcore Til I Die, Vol. 2 [2009] | Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Hed Kandi: Beach House 2009 | Producer |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Hed Kandi: Summer Sampler 2009 | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Hed Kandi: The Mix Spring 2009 | Composer, Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | House 2009 | Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Ministry of Sound: Annual 2010 | Additional Production, Remixing |
| 2009 | Amy Diamond | Swings and Roundabouts | Composer |
| 2009 | Various Artists | The Annual Compilation 2010 | Primary Artist |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Ultimate NRG 4 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Club Sensation 2008 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Club House Sensation 2008 | Producer, Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Club Sounds, Vol. 46 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Club Trance, Vol. 2 | Composer, Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Clubbers Best Choice | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Clublife: The Weekend Has Landed | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Dream Dance, Vol. 49 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Electro House Alarm, Vol. 3 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Future Trance, Vol. 45 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Hed Kandi: The Mix - Summer 2008 | Producer, Remixing |
| 2008 | Frida | Hoppa Upp! | Producer, Composer |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Housexy 2008 | Producer, Remixing |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Ibiza Residence '08 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Daniel Desnoyers | In Da House, Vol. 3 | Composer, Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Kontor House of House, Vol. 6 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Kontor Top of the Clubs, Vol. 40 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Ministry of Sound: Annual 2009 [Germany] | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Ministry of Sound: The Annual, Winter 2009 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Progressive Attack | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Tanecní Liga Best Dance Hits 2008 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Tanecní Liga, Vol. 105 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Tekno! 47 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Tunnel Trance Force, Vol. 46 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Viva Club Rotation, Vol. 39 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Welcome to the Club, Vol. 14 | Primary Artist |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Work It out...Pump It Up!!! | Primary Artist |
| 2007 | Various Artists | Club Miami, Vol. 1 | Composer, Primary Artist |
| 2007 | DJ Jondal | La Nuit, Vol. 2: Rare Lounge | Producer, Composer |
| 2007 | Måns Zelmerlöw | Stand by For... | Producer |
| 2007 | Various Artists | Sunshine House | Composer, Primary Artist |
| 2005 | Arash | Arash | Remixing |
| 2001 | Various Artists | Disco Kandi | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Composer, Primary Artist |

### Produced songs

| Year | Artist | Title | Role |
| 2024 | Jason Derulo | "Lie to Me" | Producer, Writer |
| 2024 | Jason Derulo | "Save the Last Dance" | Producer, Writer |
| 2023 | Poppy | Church Outfit | Producer, Writer |
| 2022 | Tove Lo | I‘m to Blame | Producer, Writer |
| 2018 | Liam Payne | "For You (with Rita Ora)" | Producer, Writer |
| 2017 | Taylor Swift | "...Ready For It?" | Producer, Writer |
| 2017 | Tove Lo | Don‘t Ask Don‘t Tell | Producer, Writer |
| 2017 | Tove Lo | Bitches | Producer, Writer |
| 2017 | Tove Lo | Stranger | Producer, Writer |
| 2017 | Lana Del Rey | '"Lust for Life" | Drums |
| 2017 | Katy Perry | Chained to the Rhythm | Producer, Writer |
| 2017 | Katy Perry | Witness | Producer, Writer |
| 2017 | Katy Perry | Roulette | Producer, Writer |
| 2017 | Katy Perry | Hey Hey Hey | Producer, Writer |
| 2016 | Ariana Grande | Touch it | Producer, Writer |
| 2016 | The Weeknd | Rockin‘ | Producer, Writer |
| 2016 | The Weeknd | A Lonely Night | Producer, Writer |
| 2016 | The Weeknd | Love to Lay | Producer, Writer |
| 2016 | Nick Jonas | Under You | Producer, Writer |
| 2016 | Tove Lo | Keep it Simple | Producer, Writer |
| 2016 | Katy Perry | "Rise" | Producer, Writer |
| 2016 | Adam Lambert | "Welcome to the Show" | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Ellie Goulding | Love Me Like You Do | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Ellie Goulding | Army | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Ellie Goulding | Devotion | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Taylor Swift | "Style" | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Tori Kelly | California Lover | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Adam Lambert | Ghost Town | Producer |
| 2015 | Adam Lambert | Lucy | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Adam Lambert | Underground | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Adam Lambert | There i Said it | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Adam Lambert | Evil in the Night | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Adam Lambert | Another Lonely Night | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | The Weeknd | Shameless | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | The Weeknd | Can‘t Feel My Face | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | The Weeknd | In the Night | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Robin Thicke | "Back Together" | Producer, Writer |
| 2015 | Demi Lovato | Cool for the Summer | Producer, Writer |
| 2014 | Vybe | Warm Summer Daze | Producer, Writer |
| 2014 | Ariana Grande | Love Me Harder | Producer, Writer |
| 2014 | Bishanyia Vincent | Thousand Needels | Producer, Writer |
| 2011 | Loreen | Sober | Producer, Writer |