Andy Pink on working on Madonna’s album

When you read a Madonna collaborator speak about his work with the Queen of Pop, you’ll usually find words of praise that sometimes can even seem biased (but being honest does not necessarely mean having a bad opinion about someone you spent hours in the studio with, right?)

Then, there are people who are somewhat more critical about some things – they will render you still a nice image of their collaborative efforts with Madonna, but they will not refrain from sharing their own view about

what they would have done in a different way.

And that’s cool.

Then, there’s a tiny minority of people like Ariel Pink.

The Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter talked to FasterLouder.com ahead of his Australian return in January, and here is what he told FL’s Doug Wallen.

Interscope are calling me to help write Madonna’s record. They need something edgy. They need songwriting. She can’t just have her Avicii, her producers or whatever, come up with a new techno jam for her to gyrate to and pretend that she’s 20 years old. They actually need songs. I’m partly responsible for that return-to-values thing.

According to Pink, Madonna is looking for a change in direction and he suggested she needed to look to her past for inspiration – and also riffed about the kind of song he would write for her.

I guess it’s called ‘throwback’, but the first record [1983’s Madonna ] was so good because of the songs. It’s been a downward slide [since] … ‘Ray of Light’ is not cool.  And all the other stuff she’s done after that, it’s not like it matters. It really shows a drain of values. People need more substance in their mac-and-cheese. People need more sugar or something.

Pink also told FL that he does not believe that working extensively with French electro and progressive house DJ and producer Martin Solveig and Benny Benassi worked in Madonna’s favour.

It’s not because of her age, it’s because of the things that she thinks she needs to do to stay in her narcissistic domination of the world. Which is totally hers to have.

But it’s about not just being a yes person. I’m sure Interscope signed her like, ‘Okay, the last record didn’t do so well. We gotta do something about this. We’re gonna get all new songwriters together and we’re gonna try to come up with this thing. ’Cause she needs help with this.’ And she’s happy to let them do that for her.

The full interview with Ariel Pink will be published on FasterLouder.com this week.

Thanks to our Forum member AndyClarey for sharing this story. Join fellow Tribers in discussing this – and all of your Madonna’s new material-hopes, dreams & co – in the MadonnaTribe Forum.