4x time #1, Billboard Award-winning, Multi-platinum selling songwriter/producer Eddie Galan of Trilogy Productions, picked up a 2006 Billboard Music Award for his work on the breakout project “High School Musical”.
He is sought out by A-list clients such as Jessica Simpson, Hilary Duff, Mary J. Blige, Usher, the Wright Entertainment Group, Interscope’s Clique Girlz and many others. By the third quarter of 2007, Eddie and Trilogy Productions already landed over 100 major cuts alone and are booked solid in their L.A. studios.
How did you get started in the music business?
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: I started in the music business actually as a vocalist. Together with two other friends we formed a group and started to perform and meet with various producers in Los Angeles. I learned a lot about the music business at that time, which prepared me well to understand the workings in the entertainment world.
After one of our group members left, my other friend and I got more involved in the recording process and we started to amass all the tools we needed to record our own demos.
In fact, to gain more experience we decided to make demos for other artists at no charge. Word got around and our productions started to get noticed and after 6 months we were able to charge a fee for our work.
When did you get your first big break?
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: Although I had been involved on some great projects in my early years in the game, such as O-Town or Nina Sky, I wasnt really able to get off the ground with songs landing on the final albums.It wasnt until late 2005 when things finally started to take off for me, as I was finally able to find the formula to create breakthrough compositions and productions that really stood out.As a matter of fact, my big opportunity was supposed to be just a little project called High School Musical, which obviously turned out extremely well.
In what way do your Trilogy Productions team members (songwriters and producers) and collaborators complement each other? What synergies make you a strong production team?
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: Trilogy Productions prides itself on being very good with people and creating long lasting relationships. We feel its key to build a trusting relationship with anyone we work with, because its such an important element to being successful over a long period of time.In addition, each member of my production company brings slightly different perspectives to each production or composition.
Some members of the production team have somewhat more of a classic Soul-R&B background, some come from more of a Rock element, whereas I come from more of a Pop edge, but am diverse enough to work on any and all genres of music.
As a result, whats nice is that were able to create a vibe for songs with new, contemporary as well as funky sounds, but that at the same time still encompass that old soul. We think its important to have that soul element, because we believe the music has to last a long time.
What’s also fascinating for us is to infuse our style across different genres by working with a variety of great outside producers and writers and combining/creating new sounds.
We are actively involved in projects in Pop, Pop-Rock, R&B, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Hip-Hop/Rock or even in Dance projects overseas. On any given project we usually write at most with 3 or 4 other co-writers at most.
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: On average, we usually write 2 songs a day, but it obviously fluctuates all the time.
For example, just yesterday we wrote 7 new songs, and last week we wrote and fully cut 4 songs from scratch. When the energy and vibe is 100% there, the skys the limit.
When you write these songs, do you just try to write randomly and see what flows out of you or do you have a specific idea on what you want to accomplish?
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: Trilogys writers, collaborators, and I are at a point where we have a relatively good understanding of what it is that labels look for and because of that we can focus our efforts. The record labels will sometimes give us specific reference songs that either capture the vibe, sound or feel that they are trying to go after.
In turn, we listen to those songs very closely and try to not only capture the essence of what we think made a specific song successful, but also to create something new that carries our distinctive production stamp.
La Costa Nuestra
How do you keep on your toes when it comes to creating innovative productions/sounds?
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: My team and I listen to both classic and brand new music. I am a big fan of Michael Jackson and we definitely listen to music from all other top producers, such as Timbaland.
Its certainly inspirational and educational to listen to them, because theyve been so good for so many years. From that point its our job to take those elements and try to take risks and create new sounds.
You also receive a lot of demos from aspiring songwriters and producers what are some mistakes youve seen when you receive these?
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G:
Four things:
- I have received some great demos over the years and sometimes it happens that the person submitting material forgets to put his contact information on the package.Thus, even though we might like the demo, were unable to contact the person back. So make sure to put your contact information on the package!
- Because we receive so many packages and emails every day, its important that you are good in following up after your initial submission.Even though we strive to answer any and all submissions we receive, its always good to follow up politely either by email or with a quick phone call or other just to make sure we got it and had a chance to listen to it.
- Make sure that the first song starts with a bang to capture a listeners attention. Dont wait until the 5th or 6th song on your submission for your best work, because if, after the firsts song first 10 seconds we dont hear anything interesting, we may not want to hear the other songs.
- Some songwriters have the impression that because they are not producers they can submit unproduced tracks and think that an A&R can hear the things that are good about it.
Truth is, the production has to be perfect, because no one will want to listen to music that is not properly produced – neither an A&R nor anyone else for that matter. So its important to do whatever is necessary to bring the production to a point that is as good as what you hear on the radio before submitting the tracks.
How do you place your music? What pitching methods do you utilize?
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: There are actually a few ways we go about doing this: I currently have three non-exclusive management deals. One of the management companies is based in Canada, one in Atlanta, while the other is right here in Los Angeles. All three companies have done a tremendous job in landing me a great number of cuts worldwide.
I am also very fortunate in having formed very close relationships with A&Rs, managers as well as artists. A&Rs may know what I have worked on in the past and they invite my team and I to sit down to see how we can work together on specific artists.
We also try to be active on an international level by sometimes heading over to Europe to work with artists there. And if we cant fly there for whatever reason, we also just send a song digitally. If the artist likes it, he or she utilizes our production and assembles all the pieces with their own production team in-house. We do this also a lot for artists in South Korea.
Also, I place a great emphasis on developing and breaking new artists, because I believe the potential is just huge, because the artist is still at the beginning stages and you can be part of the foundation. Youll also be able to cut a quarter to half of the album that way.
As a matter of fact, right now I have 9 artists signed to my production company and have been able to secure record deals with major record labels such as Universal, Interscope, Motown, Jive Records, etc.
Of the songs that you pitch, how many songs do you place?
America’s Next Top Model
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: I would say my team and I manage to place around 5-6 out of 10 songs that we pitch. And thats not all just for artist, but combines placements also for film/TV, games or other placements (such as MTV The Real World, MTV Laguna Beach, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Americas Next Top Model, NBCs Scrubs and many more).
You’ve worked with a host of amazing artists. Are there any other artists youd love to step into the studio with?
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: One of my biggest inspirations and influences is Michael Jackson. So I would love to get a chance to work with him as hes created, in my opinion, the best album ever Thriller.
In general, I would be fascinated to work with the older cast those that have been around not just for a few years, but over many decades, such as Smokey Robinson. Hes one of the most prolific songwriters of our time, having written so many #1 hits. I would just love to pick his brain to understand how he goes about writing new songs, how he analyzes song structures, if he looks at melodies first or a songs lyrics, etc.
Of the songs that you pitch, how many songs do you place?
America’s Next Top Model
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: I would say my team and I manage to place around 5-6 out of 10 songs that we pitch. And thats not all just for artist, but combines placements also for film/TV, games or other placements (such as MTV The Real World, MTV Laguna Beach, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Americas Next Top Model, NBCs Scrubs and many more).
You’ve worked with a host of amazing artists. Are there any other artists youd love to step into the studio with?
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: One of my biggest inspirations and influences is Michael Jackson. So I would love to get a chance to work with him as hes created, in my opinion, the best album ever Thriller.
In general, I would be fascinated to work with the older cast those that have been around not just for a few years, but over many decades, such as Smokey Robinson. Hes one of the most prolific songwriters of our time, having written so many #1 hits. I would just love to pick his brain to understand how he goes about writing new songs, how he analyzes song structures, if he looks at melodies first or a songs lyrics, etc.
What are you working on right now?
Billboard Award-winning producer Eddie G: I am involved with over 40 projects for major labels at the moment.
Just now were working with a brand new girl group called Clique Girlz, now signed to Interscope Records. I found the girls on mySpace 2 years ago, and believed in them from day one. The girls are so incredibly talented, at the tender ages of 11, 12, and 13, that I am blessed to have been in on the ground floor with the group.
That aside, the team is getting ready to step into the studio with Island Def Jams A Girl Called Jane, Jessica Simpson, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Motown’s Jada, Universals Alyson Stoner and Devon Werkheiser, to name a few of the major projects.
I really believe in the power of developing new artists into becoming powerhouse artists that will last a lifetime and working with new artists from the beginning and helping them define their sound and place in the industry. Currently, some of the new amazing artists I am working with are: J*Smith, Julian Ramirez, Jackie Boyz, Chantelle Paige, Somaya Reece, Lasette, and Second Nature.
About Eddie Galan and Trilogy Productions
4x time #1, Billboard Award-winning, Multi-platinum selling songwriter/producer Eddie Galan of Trilogy Productions, picked up a 2006 Billboard Music Award for his work on the breakout project “High School Musical”.
His Trilogy Productions company actively develops new talent which they prepare for signings with major record labels. He is sought out by A-list clients such as Jessica Simpson, Hilary Duff, Mary J. Blige, Usher, the Wright Entertainment Group, Interscopes Clique Girlz and many others.
RIAA Certified 15x Platinum
2006 Billboard Award Win (Soundtrack of the Year)
No. 1 on Billboard 200 (4x)
Highest Selling Album of 2006
8th Highest Selling Album of 2006
No. 1 on Billboard Soundtrack Charts (28 weeks straight)
No. 1 on Billboard Kids Charts (27 weeks straight)
2006 Billboard Award Nomination (Album of the Year)
2006 American Music Award Nomination (Album of the Year)
