“I played something on the piano but it wasn’t killing any of us. So Kenny came over to me, holding his guitar, and said, ‘I think you should let Mike play the keyboard’”: Charlie Puth on making “yach
MusicRadar • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Charlie Puth has collaborated with yacht rock icons Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins on a new song titled "Love in Exile," embracing the smooth, soft rock style associated with the genre.
- The collaboration was initiated through their managers and Puth’s direct outreach, leading to a creative studio session where Loggins suggested reverse engineering the song without a set plan.
- Puth deferred to McDonald on keyboard parts during the recording, highlighting a collaborative and respectful creative process among the three musicians.
- The new album "Whatever’s Clever" reflects the influence of Loggins and McDonald on Puth’s music, while McDonald expressed pride in the yacht rock label and its association with respected artists like Steely Dan and the Eagles.
- McDonald acknowledged the term "yacht rock" originated as humor but now embraces it as a mark of musical quality and legacy within the genre.
