In our exclusive interview, renowned songwriter and producer Toby Gad (@tobygadmusic) opens up about his illustrious career, from penning global anthems like John Legend’s “All of Me” and Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy” to his latest venture, a breathtaking sunset concert at London’s iconic Shard. With a 3x Grammy-winning legacy and collaborations with artists like Madonna, Fergie, and the late Donna Summer, Gad shares insights into his creative process, the emotional depth behind his songwriting, and the magic of bringing his “Piano Diaries” project to life. From a world-premiere performance of his unreleased track “RUN,” featuring Donna Summer’s iconic vocals, to navigating the evolving music industry, Gad’s passion for authentic storytelling and musical innovation shines through.
Your sunset show at The Shard on July 15 was spectacular. What inspired this unique event, and how does performing in such an iconic London venue feel for you?
Toby Gad: The event came together with the idea of a friend of mine, Vinesh Patel, the producer of my podcast, Songs You Know. We have worked on the podcast for six months now and have over 57,000,000 impressions with interview guests like Jessie J, Lauren Christie from the Matrix, and Justin Tranter.
Vinesh had the idea of doing a sunset concert on the 72nd floor of the iconic London Shard, and the team from the Shard was very excited about it. It is the first time that they are doing a concert up on that floor with a grand piano, which they had to carry up by hand.
When I heard about the idea of the show, I called my friends, and I was fortunate to have singers like Paloma Faith, Meghan McKenna, Scott Quinn, Ruth Ann Cunningham, and the Morrissey String Quartet play with me, some of my greatest hits, and the show was a wonderful success.
We played before the sunset, and made a quick pause so everyone could view the sunset over London. And after the sunset, it began to rain, but volunteers brought umbrellas so that the string instruments wouldn’t get wet.
Paloma Faith and I told some very entertaining stories of how we first met, fought, argued, lost one day, and then came back to write “Blood, Sweat, and Tears,” which we performed.
I also performed a song I wrote with Donna Summer in 2007 when I worked with Donna Summer on her “Crayons” album. But that was one out of four songs. Three made the album, and this one fell through the cracks. And we got to perform it for the first time, a world premiere with Donna’s video on a screen and her voice, and we played live along with it for the show.
After that, Paloma Faith made an incredible appearance, and after that, we got the entire audience to sing “All of Me.” We had around 200 people in the audience, and it was a magical experience.
You’ve written global hits like John Legend’s “All of Me” and Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy.” How do you approach songwriting to create such timeless, emotionally resonant songs?
Toby Gad: In short, I like to work one-on-one with artists who have a great voice and something to say. And I like songs that are inspired by real emotions, real experiences, and real feelings. “All of Me” by John Legend was written when John came to the studio, very much in love with Chrissy, and we sat at the piano and poured our hearts out, John for Chrissy and I for my wife.
It was a wonderful experience, and songs like these sometimes just have to come out, have to pour out, and are written often in an hour. So, I see myself more like the therapist in a songwriting session, trying to pull out some urgent, authentic emotions from the artist and turn that into a song.
Your latest single, “RUN,” features the late Donna Summer. Can you share the story behind this collaboration and what it was like working with her iconic vocals?
Toby Gad: Donna Summer was a very unique talent, a warm person, an incredible singer, and a great songwriter. We spent time writing in my New York studio and in her Florida beach house, as well as in the studio in Miami.
We wrote four songs, three of which made it onto her last studio album, “Crayons.” The fourth song, “RUN,” is a song that never came out until today, and the lyrics start with, ‘Imagine standing there 20 years from now, staring yourself in the mirror…” It is serendipitous that almost 20 years later, this song finally sees the light of day, and I’m excited to share it with the world.
Bruce Sodano, her husband, is very much on board and supportive of our release and has provided us with video footage, which we used for a music video in which a 13-year-old dancer, London Payne, with the choreography of famous American choreographer Hollywood, reenacts Donna’s iconic dance moves with my piano accompaniment and live orchestra. We are now coming out with dance remixes for this record.
Donna Summer and Toby Gad – “RUN (Piano Diaries)”
With a career spanning hits for artists like Madonna, Fergie, and Paloma Faith, how do you adapt your creative process to suit different artists’ styles and personalities?
Toby Gad: I try to channel the artist’s energy and ideas and act like a vessel to bring their creative vision to fruition and create songs that resonate with them.
You returned to London for this performance. What’s your connection to the city, and how has it influenced your music over the years?
Toby Gad: My mother moved to London when I was 10 years old, and I have many wonderful childhood memories from London. Recently, our younger daughter, Mae Mae, m a e m a e, wanted to go to school in London, and we moved for six months to Primrose Hill. It was a wonderful experience, and London is such a livable city, walkable, and sophisticated.
I have lived in America for 25 years, nine years in New York City and 16 years in Los Angeles, and I miss the spirit of London a lot and wish L.A. could be a little bit more like London.
As a 3x Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, what’s been the most rewarding moment of your career so far, and what keeps you motivated to create?
Toby Gad: After being a judge on German Idol two years ago, I embarked on the journey of “Piano Diaries,” a project in which I reimagined 16 of my greatest hits with 17 amazing new vocalists. And recently, I also began performing those songs live, interpreting them in a timeless piano-vocal string rendition.
It is an exciting journey to perform these songs, and I’m grateful for the amazing artists who go on stage with me and enjoy singing them.
“RUN” marks a new chapter in your work as an artist. How does your approach to releasing your own music differ from writing and producing for others?
Toby Gad: Releasing my own music feels like the ultimate freedom, and I see it like planting seeds because many of my songs have resonated years after their release.
We are creating music videos for most of the songs and remixes, some in collaboration with great DJs. For “RUN, we are coming out with four remixes that I’m really excited about. The remixes cover trans, EDM, disco, and house music, and each has its own distinct personality.
The music industry has evolved significantly since you started. How do you navigate today’s landscape, from streaming to social media, to connect with fans?
Toby Gad: The music industry today allows artists to be uncompromisingly authentic and release self-released music 100% the way they see it without the gatekeepers of the record labels, which is the ultimate freedom and sparks a lot more diversity and helps the musical landscape a lot.
What’s next for you after the Shard performance? Are there new projects, collaborations, or releases we should be excited about?
Toby Gad: Currently, we are releasing the remixes of “RUN,” and I’m looking forward to many more live performances that we are working on.
Toby Gad’s journey from crafting chart-topping hits for music’s biggest names to stepping into the spotlight with his own releases like “RUN” showcases his enduring passion for authentic storytelling and musical innovation. As he reflects on the unforgettable sunset concert at The Shard and looks forward to new performances and collaborations, Gad continues to inspire with his ability to channel raw emotion into timeless songs. With “Piano Diaries” reimagining his iconic catalog and exciting remixes on the horizon, Toby Gad proves that his creative spark is as vibrant as ever, leaving fans eager for what’s next in his remarkable career. For more information, please visit www.tobygad.com.
Listen to Toby Gad’s ” PIANO DIARIES: THE HITS (Deluxe)”
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