Eurovision composer Savan Kotecha is nominated for an Oscar

The dreams of thousands of Icelanders have come true today as “Husavik”, Netflix’s powerful ballad ending Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, was nominated for an Oscar. It’s just the latest moving development in an Oscar campaign that the small town of Húsavík is helping to lead with its own DIY efforts, and it’s also a dream come true for co-composer Savan Kotecha, who saw the news while working on another musical – film project at his adopted home in Sweden. You may not immediately know Kotecha’s name, but you definitely know his work. The song “Love Me Like You Do”, which he co-wrote for the Fifty Shades of grey soundtrack, was previously nominated for a Grammy and a Golden Globe. He has also worked with almost every major pop band, including One Direction and the Weeknd (co-writing his No. 1 single, “Can’t Feel My Face”), and has had a long working relationship with Ariana Grande. Vulture spoke to Kotecha on the phone a few hours after he finished shouting about Oscar “Husavik” and picking up his children from school.

Congratulations!
Thank you very much.

How are you feeling today?
I’m, uh, a little speechless. To be honest with you, it’s kind of wild. I really can’t believe this, actually.

Well, you were running for the Grammy last night. Did you wake up late for this?Yes, luckily it was not too late for me. But when it didn’t, it was like, Oh okay. We will see only today with this. You can never take these things for granted, you know? But I am still honored. It is a big shock. I mean, for me, Oscar is like the Holy Grail of award shows. Growing up, even when I started writing songs, you would never think that an Oscar was even in the cards. I am so happy. I am so happy that people connected with the music in the film, and I am very grateful.

Where were you when you heard you were nominated?
I was in the studio, actually, starting to write for another movie. That seems to be what I’m doing more now than the pop-star thing. I find it very fun to do that. I’m working on songs for another musical, and I thought, I think they are announcing the nominations, and then I will come [it] and two minutes later, they said the indication of the song. I was speechless and I saw it, and I started to scream, and one of my co-writers is at the end of the hall. So I just ran and started knocking on the door. I didn’t have the key to open the door – I was knocking on the door like on the other side of the building, shouting a bloody murder, and everyone thought I was going crazy. It was like, “Where’s the fire!?” But they were saying that in Swedish. And then he went out and said, “What? What? “And I was like,” You were nominated for an Oscar! Call your family! “

Oh my God. Went with [co-songwriters] Fat Max Gsus or Rickard Göransson?
Fat Max. Rickard is in LA So we’re all spread out. An American and two Swedes, and the American is in Sweden, but yes – it was incredible. And then I had to pick up my kids from school. It is one of the coolest ways to pick up children from school. One child is 5 years old and one is 7 years old. So it’s probably not the same in Los Angeles. If you can get, like, an Oscar nomination, and now you’re in Los Angeles and you’re picking up your child from a Los Angeles school, it’s like a big deal then. Here, it’s like – Sweden, nobody cares. My son was like, “I joined the student council today.” And that was the big win. He really didn’t care about Oscar.

You were nominated for a Grammy and a Golden Globe. Did that look different?
Yes, that is – I mean, I remember the Golden Globe. I’m a movie buff, so when I started writing songs, I always wrote songs from a character’s point of view, because I’m from a very traditional Indian family. So I could never, like, have girls call my house or anything. It wasn’t allowed, but, you know, I would always just watch Dawson’s Creek, and I would write songs from Dawson’s perspective or from Joey’s perspective. That’s how I started writing songs. I would do the same with the film. I, I mean, I don’t know how many of my songs were inspired by Winona Ryder Little Women film and things like that. I always like it, especially sentimental films. And it was, like, how I used to write songs. And then I was lucky and started writing for all these big pop stars and from their experiences. It was a lot of fun doing the movie thing – for me, [it] it is so special and this is my heart, you know? It seems, like I said, like the Holy Grail of awards, and being, you know, part of the film industry that way is just incredible. It is a dream.

When you were working on the soundtrack, did you think “Husavik” would be the song, or are there other songs that you thought could be more successful?
I think when it was over and I saw the first screening, I knew, we knew – we thought it was really special. Many of the responses to writing the song were in the script and on the journey of Sigrit, the character of Rachel McAdams, putting on a relatable journey. I had it myself – we moved to Sweden for almost the same reason. My wife is Swedish. And it was, you know, “I don’t care about this chic LA life with all these stars. I just want you and our family. ” Do you know, I want to go back to my hometown – you know, that kind of thing. It really seemed like a very identifiable topic. So the answers to all of that were in the script, and I think when it all happened and I saw the scene, especially where Rachel was playing the piano at the hotel – when [director] David Dobkin showed me this scene, I just got goosebumps.

And I realized that, Wow, this is something special. And, of course, when the film was released, many people started sending text messages. The reaction to this film for me – as someone who was lucky enough to be part of many great hits – I never received so many text messages and emails. Even when it was “Can’t Feel My Face” or something, or those big hits. I received so many texts and emails about this film and this song that it seemed, Oh, wow, this is something, because you never really know until you’re in the world, and, you know, you do your best and hope to connect, but then when you’re in the world, that’s when you can feel it, you know? And I started to feel. I was like, Oh, this is something special.

You are great at writing those big, bombastic tracks that are also so sincere. How do you make it work and resonate with people? How do you balance that emotional resonance with that great sound?
I think it’s always the melody first. I am also close to some of the most talented collaborators on the planet. So it’s not like I can take all the credit, but, you know, we always look for the melody first, and the melody is your own language, and you can emit so much emotion through the melody. Therefore, we always make sure that this is the priority. You should be able to feel something, you know, regardless of whether the lyrics were, like, “Blah, blah, blah” and it didn’t make sense, or it shouldn’t. You must feel something for the melody, if you take the melody to that place. And then you, moreover, get the letter right. It’s like lightning in a bottle, and you roll up your sleeves. I mean, at least that’s my process, rolling up my sleeves until we get to that place.

Very well done job, because I cried because of this song many times, and part of it is in Icelandic. Could you talk a little bit about Will Ferrell’s voice – I know have you talked about this with us before – about how you didn’t want it to outperform the song or bring something silly to it? Did you give him a few notes or do something to make sure that didn’t happen?
We just realized that it was better that he was in the background. Like, you know, he’s picking up the song, you know, so he starts participating just by repeating what he’s doing. And he does it smoothly. Because your character doesn’t want to overshadow – he’s overshadowing you throughout the relationship. And that was her moment, you know, and he was just there to support her. So I think that your part of the music had to represent that. So it was very light, like a kind of vocal backing and just dropping something when it was necessary. And that is part of your character, where your character lands. And your understanding is, I can’t just go and take over, you know, I have to give her a moment to shine.

You said you are working on another musical film now. Can you share with us what it is?
I can’t, unfortunately. I wish I could. I think there would be a lot of problems.

Have you ever thought about writing a theatrical musical? Like, kind of a musical theater thing?
I have. I have to have an idea. In fact, I have been developing films and things for TV, and I have sold some things that are in development – some of them are music, others not. But it’s definitely something I’ve been talking about with some friends in the industry, just finding the right story. But eventually, that is one of the goals for me, for sure.

Oh, this is so exciting. I’ll wait for it. Also, have you seen the DIY Oscar campaign that the city of Húsavík has put together?
Oh my God. yea. It was sent to me by – I think it was David Dobkin. I actually contacted the guy the other day. Because he came to me on Instagram, the guy who set it up, and I was texting, as well as thanking him. I mean, it’s incredible. And then he sent me the sweetest message, just saying how much that song meant to the city. It’s a small city. And he said, “This song meant everything. And, you know, I’m crying as I write this. It meant the world for this city, and you made us very proud. ”And I can’t wait until COVID finishes so we can go and visit him. I told my wife and kids that this is the first thing we have to do. We have to go to Húsavík.

Seriously. I was going to ask if you have been or plan to go to Iceland in general, but especially Húsavík.
Absolutely. Yes. I mean, I think they created a Jaja Ding Dong bar. So there is actually a compass based on the music. I mean, when you’re making the film, you don’t really think, Yes, there is a city where people – this film is going to mean a lot to them. But yes, it has been so exciting. I mean, wow, this film, to be part of this film that Andrew Steele and Will Ferrell created, especially at a time when the world was going through COVID, you realize, you know, what is so special about this project is that it brought so much joy for people at the time and a laugh for people at the time when we needed it most. It has been a very special thing to be a part of. And now there’s an Oscar nomination, so that’s kind of life changing.

Are you going to zoom in on Oscar? I assume people are not traveling, right?
Yes. I think I’m going to have to do it. I’m waiting to see what the whole thing will be like, but I presume, to be on the safe side. We will see, it will be dawn here. I would have loved to go and take my wife. It would have been incredible, but let’s see what happens.

You can dress up and be comfortable at home. This is cool, right?
Yes this is true. I just hope to find a place to stream in Sweden, as a kind of VPN. But yes, I will definitely be sure. As if the kids want to stay up – they’re excited about “Can we skip school that day?” Yes, maybe the next day. I mean, it’s a good excuse. I think Oscar is a good excuse to maybe miss a day.