Born:
Martin Sandberg, February 26, 1971 - Stockholm, Sweden.
Early Career:
Martin Sandberg grew up in the suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden's capitol city. As a teenager he took part in a variety of bands before forming the group It's Alive. Sandberg dropped out of high school to pursue a music career. It's Alive were signed by producer Denniz Pop to record for his Cheiron record label. The band recorded an album and toured in Europe, but Sandberg, now performing as Martin White, soon became more interested in collaborating with Pop as a songwriter/producer.
Work With Denniz Pop and Cheiron:
Martin White was hired as a house songwriter/producer for the Cheiron label. Denniz Pop also suggested Martin change his name once again to the catchier Max Martin. Cheiron gained international recognition in the early 1990's for putting together the hit album The Sign for Ace of Base. The Cheiron team, including Max Martin, were hired to put together the first Backstreet Boys album released in late 1996.
Top Max Martin Productions:
Worldwide Pop Success:
The Backstreet Boys proved to be a worldwide success. Unfortunately, Denniz Pop passed away from cancer in 1998. Max Martin was left in charge of Cheiron. He hired songwriter/producer Rami as a new collaborator.
1999 was a huge year internationally for Cheiron. They produced both the Millenium album for the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears' debut ...Baby One More Time. Max Martin was chosen by the professional organization ASCAP as Songwriter of the Year for 1999.Opening of Maratone:
In 2000, Max Martin decided to close down Cheiron and open a new company, Maratone, with Rami, Alexandra, and Arnthor as the in-house production team. Songs for Britney Spears' 2001 album Britney were some of the first projects at Maratone. The studio also worked on Celine Dion's 2003 album One Heart.
Max Martin, Maratone Studios, and the Future:
Following the work with Celine Dion, few new hits appeared from Maratone until 2005. Former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson went to Sweden to collaborate with Max Martin and SNL guitarist Lukasz 'Dr. Luke' Gottwald on songs for her album Breakaway. Both Clarkson and Martin were interested in turning in a more rock direction away from the slick pop with which they were identified. One of the results of the collaboration was "Since U Been Gone," picked by many as one of the top pop songs of 2005. The major hit "Behind These Hazel Eyes" was also a product of this partnership.
Max Martin was hired to work with the Backstreet Boys again on 3 songs for their comeback album Never Gone, released in the spring of 2005. The second single "Just Want You to Know" was another collaboration with Lukasz Gottwald.
One of the most recent Maratone productions is the song "Analogue (All I Want)" for Norwegian band A-Ha to be released in late January 2006 in the U.K.