Extension (The Extended Mixes)

''Tension'' is the sixteenth studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was released in a variety of formats on September 22, 2023, by BMG Rights Management and Minogue's company Darenote. It was announced in May 2023, and is Minogue's first set of material since ''Disco'' (2020). Minogue worked with a number of producers, including long-time collaborators Richard "Biff" Stannard, Duck Blackwell, Jackson Foote, PhD, and Cutfather, to create a record that emphasises each song's individuality rather than a central theme. ''Tension'', influenced by electropop, incorporates a variety of electronic dance genres, including 1980s synth-pop, disco, and funk, as well as contemporary dance-pop and EDM elements. The lyrics address themes of love, heartbreak, and empowerment.

''Tension'' garnered critical acclaim from music critics, who praised its eclectic sound, catchiness, and production quality. Some publications considered it to be one of Minogue's best works, and it appeared on several year-end lists. The album was a commercial success, having peaked at number one in Australia, Wallonia, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, as well as on component charts in the United States. It also reached the top ten in several countries, including France, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, and Switzerland. Two weeks after its release, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified it silver for selling more than 60,000 units in the United Kingdom.

The album generated three singles: " Padam Padam," " Tension," and "Hold on to Now." "Padam Padam" peaked in the top ten of the UK Singles Chart, making her the only female artist to do so between the 1980s and 2020s. The song won both an ARIA Award for Best Pop Release and a Grammy Award for Best Pop Dance Recording. Minogue made several live appearances and performances to promote the album, including on '' American Idol'', at the Capital Summertime Ball, and as the headliner of Radio 2 Live in the Park. Furthermore, Minogue commenced her first Las Vegas residency show, '' More Than Just a Residency'', in November 2023. In December of that year, a remix album, ''Extension (The Extended Remixes)'', was released, and a repackage of ''Tension'' was confirmed for 2024.

Background

On November 6, 2020, Minogue released her fifteenth studio album, ''Disco'' (2020). It marked a musical departure from her country-pop-inspired album '' Golden'' (2018), as well as a return to her disco-oriented sound. Music critics praised her take on disco and dance music in general, and she went on to achieve commercial success in a variety of markets. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minogue did not promote the album with a concert tour, but she did film a one-time special live show called '' Infinite Disco'' and re-released the album in December 2021.

Near the end of her ''Disco'' promotion, Minogue appeared on BBC Radio 2 to discuss new music, saying, "Perhaps it's going a bit more electropop. Don't quote me that ..but that's what's on the boil at the minute." Minogue confirmed this in a June 2022 interview with '' Vogue'' Australia, citing her 2003 single " Slow" as inspiration for the album's sound. Minogue also returned to her hometown of Melbourne in February 2022, having lived in London since the 1990s.

Development and production

The first sessions began with longtime collaborators Richard "Biff" Stannard, Duck Blackwell, and Jon Green, as well as Minogue's A&R Jamie Nelson. They had planned to embrace 1980s music and culture for the album, but they eventually scrapped it and decided not to focus on a theme. Minogue shared her thoughts on the choice: "Initially we were thinking 80s, but it didn't pan out that way ..we agreed there's no theme nd thatit'd be refreshing not to have a theme after having done ''Golden'' and ''Disco''."

Recording for the album began in July 2022, and finished within 2023. Stannard does not fly, so the five collaborators decided to travel to Surrey in August 2022 and rent an Airbnb to work on the album remotely. A week-long session in Surrey resulted in ten completed songs. The five collaborators then began working with Anya Jones and Camille Purcell, resulting in two songs written in one day: " Things We Do for Love" and " Tension". Minogue visited Copenhagen, Brighton, Croatia, and Paris to continue recording the album.

Nelson sent Minogue a demo of the song " Padam Padam," written by Ina Wroldsen and produced by Lostboy, while she was in Miami. Minogue fell in love with the demo and recorded it in a London hotel; it became one of the album's later inclusions. Nelson sent Minogue a demo of the song "Hands" that included rapping. Nelson encouraged Minogue to contribute vocals and rap, which she later described as "refreshing". Minogue recalled that tracks like "Story" and "10 Out of 10" took longer to complete. "10 Out of 10" was recorded in a variety of locations because she had never met the track's collaborator, Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens. To create the track, both artists would send stems via email.

Minogue stated that when selecting the final tracks for ''Tension'', "If the song could stand on its own and bumped up nicely with the other songs, that's the album." Reflecting on the album's content, she said, "There are songs n ''Tension''that may appear more superficial, but I feel like I can sing them with more certainty than I may have in the early days, when I was 19, 20, 21, 25." Minogue co-wrote twelve of the album's sixteen songs and worked as an additional vocal engineer for nine of them.

Music and lyrics

''Tension'' includes a wide variety of sounds, with a heavy emphasis on electronic dance music. Minogue was initially inspired to create an electropop album, and she later revealed that her 2003 single "Slow" served as a template for the project. She described it as a "blend of personal reflection, club abandon, and melancholic highs," adding that she wanted to "celebrate each song's individuality and dive into that freedom." The album's lyrics explore themes of love, lust, and empowerment, all of which have recurred in Minogue's previous work, according to Jonah Waterhouse of '' Vogue'' Australia. Vera Maksymiuk of ''Riff Magazine'' and Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic compared Minogue's dance-oriented sound to her previous albums '' Fever'' (2001) and '' Aphrodite'' (2010), while '' DIY'' editor Otis Robinson cited influences from Scandipop, eurodance, and synth-pop. According to '' Pitchfork''s Harry Tafoya, the record is a "compendium of all the sounds she's best known for: confectionary synth-pop, breezy Euro house, and propulsive EDM". Covertly, ''Slant Magazine'' writer Alexa Camp felt a "unambiguous sonic thread hatlink dall 14 of its songs".

''Tension'' begins with the lead single, "Padam Padam," written by Ina Wroldsen and produced by Lostboy. The song, a "hypnotic" electronic number with synth and dance-pop elements, references the heartbeat and is considered the album's centrepiece due to its sound. Minogue co-wrote the album's second track, "Hold on to Now." The synth-driven sound and "earnest" songwriting have been compared to those of Swedish singer Robyn. "Things We Do for Love" features synth, guitar, and drum riffs that recall 1980s synth-pop and power pop. The only experimental piece on the album, according to critics, is the title track. It features vocoder on Minogue's vocal deliveries and jangly piano riffs, which is influenced by 1990s house music with elements of dance and electronic music.

"One More Time," is an uptempo pop-funk-disco hybrid that recalls Minogue's previous album, ''Disco'' (2020). "You Still Get Me High" continues Minogue's exploration of the 1980s pop-dance sound from "Things We Do for Love". Its lyrical content, which was inspired by love-related themes, was praised as the album's overall lyrical highlight. "Hands" and "Green Light" were described as mid-tempo pieces inspired by R&B and funk, but neither was co-written by Minogue. "Hands" features a "nostalgic" disco-inspired funky bass line, while "Green Light" was compared to the works of British recording artist Dua Lipa, which includes early-1980s pop elements and a saxophone solo.

"Vegas High" served as a prelude to Minogue's announcement of her Las Vegas residency. It's a high-energy club track inspired by 1990s techno music. Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens collaborated on "10 Out of 10", and was released as a promotional single several months before the album's official release date. According to Heldens, the track "is inspired by 80s synth-pop and disco, 90s house, and 00s Eurodance, with a modern dance music twist." The standard edition's final track, "Story," reverts to the album's 1980s sound. Musically, it is described as a fast-paced bubblegum pop-dance track that critics found "anthematic".

Release and packaging

''Tension'' was made available in a variety of formats on September 22, 2023. It is her sixteenth musical release, the third with BMG Rights Management and the third under Darenote, following ''Golden'' (2018) and ''Disco'' (2020). The standard album has 11 tracks that total more than 35 minutes in length, while the deluxe edition includes three extra songs: "Love Train," "Just Imagine," and "Somebody to Love." ''Tension'' was available in a variety of physical formats through her webstore and other retail outlets. Pre-release versions included a signed autograph. Both the standard and deluxe editions come in slipcases and a casebound book, with the standard version featuring alternate artwork in a variety of colours.CD versions listed below:
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There were also eight large vinyl variants available, including a standard black vinyl, a silver vinyl with gatefold packaging, and four different coloured slipcase vinyls: transparent orange, transparent pink, transparent green, and a clear vinyl shaped like a coke bottle.Vinyl formats of ''Tension'' listed below:
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* Furthermore, each coloured vinyl has an alternate cover art that matches its colour. A white test pressing vinyl limited to fifty copies was available exclusively at her store, with her autograph on the cover. In London, a pop-up store sold a limited edition clear vinyl with a holographic cover. Five cassette tapes were also released: an orange tape, a green tape, a blue tape, a pink tape, and a double cassette that included content from the deluxe edition.Cassette formats for ''Tension'' listed below:
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* ''Tension'' was also released on digital and streaming services, with both standard and deluxe editions.

Haris Nukem, a British photographer, captured the artwork for ''Tension'', while Studio Moross designed the packaging. It shows Minogue holding a large diamond that covers one of her eyes, with the album title at the top and Minogue's logo underneath. Her skin's colour scheme is set with a green hue against an orange background. In an interview with French magazine '' Numéro'', Minogue revealed that Nukem based the photo on a sketch he drew, and that he came up with the idea of her holding a diamond by telling her, "I don't know why, but I see you holding this diamond."

Minogue and her team considered naming the album ''Vegas High'', in reference to the album's title track. She later decided to name the album ''Tension'', saying, "I hope this doesn't sound depressing – when you watch the news, the word is used negatively – but actually, once we decided that, I was pleasantly surprised that this title was well received. People were eager to listen to the album ''Tension''." Despite not knowing the final title when the artwork was shot, Minogue stated that the diamond eventually corresponded to the title: "The diamond is a subliminal image: that of the creation of beautiful things under pressure." I believe people can feel it through the cover, especially if they understand how diamonds are formed, i.e. under constraint."

Singles and other songs

''Tension'' has released three singles: "Padam Padam," the title song, and "Hold On To Now." Additionally, Minogue posted visualisers for five of the album's songs on her YouTube channel: "Things We Do for Love", "You Still Get Me High", "Green Light", "10 Out of 10", and "Story". Minogue is seen singing and dancing to each of the songs. Minogue collaborated with Dutch DJ and producer Oliver Heldens to release "10 out of 10" as a promotional single prior to the album's announcement. Heldens' label, RCA Records, released the song on 3 April 2023, and it later became the tenth track on Minogue's album. Days later, a lyric video was posted on Heldens' YouTube channel. Minogue has made no promotional appearances, but Heldens has performed the song on several shows. It peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.

On 18 May, "Padam Padam" was released as the album's lead single, marking Minogue's first solo release since 2021's " Real Groove". Critics praised "Padam Padam" for its catchiness and production quality, and it was frequently cited as a contender for song of the summer. The song was a commercial breakthrough for Minogue, reaching the top ten in the United Kingdom, Israel, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, South Africa, Bulgaria, and Latvia, as well as component charts in the United States. It was also certified in Minogue's native Australia and the United Kingdom. Since its release, "Padam Padam" has gone viral on various social media platforms, and its repeated appearances during Pride Month around the world have earned it recognition as a gay anthem. A music video was directed by Sophie Muller, which was aesthetically inspired by the works of '' The Man Who Fell to Earth'' (1976) and elements of Americana culture.

The album's title track "Tension" was released as the second single. It was released on 31 August 2023, in a variety of formats such as CD, digital streaming, and cassette. The song received positive feedback for its dance-oriented sound, with critics praising Minogue's musical exploration. Commercially, it has charted in fewer countries, including Minogue's home country of Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, where it has reached the top ten. Muller also directed the music video, which featured Minogue portraying a variety of characters in a neo-futuristic setting.

"Hold on to Now" was the album's third single, released both digitally and physically on 10 November 2023. Critics praised the song's production quality and overall sound, calling it one of the album's best tracks. Prior to its release, the song reached number 81 in the United Kingdom and 21 in New Zealand. After its release, it debuted on component charts in Germany, Australia, and the United States. A lyric video was also released with Minogue featured.

Promotion and appearances

Minogue began promoting the album with live performances in May 2023, when she appeared on '' American Idol'' and sang "Padam Padam" and " Can't Get You Out of My Head". In June, she surprised everyone by performing the same songs at Capital's Summertime Ball. She performed "Padam Padam" as part of her nine-track set at the iHeartMedia KTUphoria 2023 live show. She also appeared on two shows hosted by American personality Andy Cohen: the Sirius XM radio show and Cohen's Watch What Happens Live! Show, where she spoke about the song's success. She also performed "Padam Padam" twice at the Horse Meat Disco event due to technical difficulties with the first performance.

Minogue and Tears For Fears co-headlined Radio 2 in the Park at Victoria Park in Leicester in September, one week before the album's release. She headlined the second and final night of the festival, performing "Padam Padam," "Tension," and the album track "Hold On to Now." Kylie appeared at Lio London for the 2023 London Fashion Week launch, where she performed several album tracks, including "Padam Padam" and "Tension". Minogue also opened a Kylie Pop-up Store in London from September 22 to September 24. Minogue performed a free concert at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on September 27, 2023. Over 100,000 people applied for 2,000 tickets.

Minogue performed "Padam Padam" at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 15, 2023. The next night, she performed several songs with Mark Ronson on the T Mobile stage in front of the Las Vegas Sphere. Minogue concluded the F1 weekend event on November 18th by performing at the Amber Lounge, which has prided itself on being "the world's most exclusive afterparty" since its inception at the Monaco Grand Prix two decades ago. '' An Audience with Kylie'', a television concert special filmed at the Royal Albert Hall on December 1, 2023 and broadcast on ''ITV'' on December 10 and Boxing Day 2023, included songs from ''Tension''.

Tours

Minogue announced on July 26, 2023, that she would begin her first concert residency in Las Vegas, titled '' More Than Just a Residency''. The announcement came after Minogue hinted at a concert residency on ''Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen''. She teased the concert title, dates, and a preview of the album track "Vegas High" on social media. In a press release for the show, Minogue stated that the residency had been planned for three years and promised new arrangements of her music catalogue as well as tracks from ''Tension''.

The residency will take place at The Venetian Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, from November 3, 2023 to May 4, 2024. Tickets went on sale commercially in early to mid-August 2023, and they quickly sold out. The concert tour received positive reviews from publications, with many praising the show's production, performances, Minogue's energy, and overall quality. Minogue confirmed on '' The Jennifer Hudson Show'' in February 2024 that she plans to follow up her residency tour with a US tour that will eventually expand internationally.

Additional releases

Minogue announced the release of ''Extension (The Extended Mixes)'' on social media in early November 2023. The remix album contains all eleven original tracks with extended edits, as well as a digital version of the original album. The album's artwork and packaging are similar to ''Tension'', with a green and pink colour scheme. On November 2, 2023, BMG Rights Management released the album in three formats: limited paint splatter double vinyl, digital, and streaming. ''Extension'' charted in a number of countries, including Australia, Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), France, Scotland, and the United Kingdom, as well as the Dance/Electronic Albums in the US.

Minogue confirmed to '' Variety'' in February 2024 that ''Tension'' would be repackaged in the same year.

Critical reception

''Tension'' received critical acclaim from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average based on ratings from publications, the album scored 86 out of 100 based on 16 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim", making it Minogue's highest-rated album on the site. On AnyDecentMusic?, which assigns a weighted average based on ratings from publications, the album scored 8.1 out of 10, based on 18 reviews. Many critics considered ''Tension'' to be among Minogue's best work.

John Earls from '' Classic Pop'' wrote that ''Tension'' is "built on confidence" and is an "object lesson in truly memorable pop". Otis Robinson of '' DIY'' noted that "there's enough originality pumped throughout each track that ''Tension'' will undoubtedly stand as one of the most favoured contemporary Kylie eras." Harry Tafoya from '' Pitchfork'' described it as her "most relaxed album" as well as her best record in recent years. Emma Harrison of '' Metro'' gave it five stars, heralding it as one of the "icon's best albums yet".

Several critics praised the album's overall energy and Minogue's contributions. Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic described the record's energy as "custom-made for living in the moment and embracing cathartic release", while writing that "''Tension'' is a master class in pop wizardry and escapist bliss. Releasing an album this expertly crafted and stunning in her fifth decade in the business is an absolute wonder to behold." Hannah Mylrea from '' Rolling Stone UK'' labelled it "brilliantly good fun", while Vera Maksymiuk from ''Riff Magazine'' gave ''Tension'' an 8 out of 10, describing it as "purely joyous and alluring". Writing for ''Crack Magazine'', Michael Cragg called it "quintessential Kylie", saying it is "an album packed full of gleaming choruses, gold-plated melodies and Kylie's uncanny ability to make love and loss shimmer with possibilities."

Other reviewers noted the album's diverse set of sounds and genres. ''Retropop Magazine'' awarded the album four stars, with particular commendations toward its sonic diversity and stating that it featured some of her best vocal performances. '' NMEs Nick Levine noted that although ''Tension'' was not Minogue's "most cohesive or revealing" work, he believed each track was "driven by its own internal logic". Despite praising the album's various sounds, Alexa Camp of ''Slant Magazine'' felt Minogue was playing it safe with the record, referring to it as "another Kylie Minogue album". Annabel Ross of '' The Sydney Morning Herald'' awarded it three stars, saying that although ''Tension'' did a better job at "facilitating dance floor euphoria", she felt Minogue's "cheerful guardedness" throughout the album's content was the only "fault".

Accolades

Minogue and her work on ''Tension'' won Best Pop Release and were nominated for Best Solo Artist, Best Independent Release, and Song of the Year at the 2023 ARIA Music Awards. Minogue has received the most ARIA nominations since 2002, when she won five out of seven. Minogue won Best Australian Act at the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards, marking her first nomination and win in the awards show since 2003. "Padam Padam" became the inaugural winner of the Grammy Award for Best Pop Dance Recording in 2024, becoming the first ever solo female song to be nominated and win in that category, her first Grammy-nominated song since " I Believe in You" was nominated for Best Dance Recording in 2006, her first nomination since 2009, and her first win since " Come into My World" in 2004.

Commercial performance

''Tension'' debuted at number one on the Australian Albums Chart, marking Minogue's fourth consecutive number-one album and eighth overall. Annabelle Herd, CEO of the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), congratulated Minogue on her achievements, saying, "It’s a thrill to see an ARIA Hall of Fame artist continue to dominate, reinvent and represent Australian music on such a global scale. We can’t wait to celebrate her success at this year’s awards." In New Zealand, the album debuted at number five on the regional albums chart, making it Minogue's highest-charting album since ''Fever'' (2001) and the week's second best-seller. In Ireland, the album debuted at number two on the regional albums chart, making it her third consecutive album to top the Independent Album Charts.

''Tension'' debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, marking Minogue's ninth number-one album and fourth consecutive entry since ''Golden'' (2018). According to the Official Charts Company, ''Tension'' outsold the rest of its top-20 competitors four days after its release, with total first-week sales of 53,239 album-equivalent units. This was the fifth highest opening sales for a record in the UK in 2023, and the third best-selling vinyl of the year. Minogue also became the tenth solo act with the most UK number one albums, tying Bob Dylan, and the third female artist, following Taylor Swift (10) and Madonna (12). ''Tension'' also debuted at number one on the Scottish Albums Chart, making it her fifth time there. As of 9 March 2024, ''Tension'' spent 19 weeks on the UK Albums Sales Chart.

''Tension'' debuted in Japan on two Oricon component charts, at 19 on the digital chart and 20 on the Western chart. It also debuted at 65 on '' Billboard Japans Hot Albums chart. ''Tension'' became her best-charting album in the Netherlands, debuting at number three on the Dutch Album Top 100. In Belgium, Tension was Minogue's first number-one album on the Wallonia Ultratop Albums Chart and her highest-charting record on the Flanders Ultratop Albums Chart. Tension debuted at number two on the Swiss Albums Top 100 and the Spanish Top 100 Albums charts, matching Minogue's highest charting peak in Switzerland and Spain, ''Aphrodite'' (2010). The album debuted at number 31 in the Danish Albums Chart, her first appearance since ''Kiss Me Once'' (2014).

''Tension'' debuted at number 21 on the ''Billboard'' 200 in the United States, making it her third highest-charting album there. It sold 24,500 total album-equivalent units in its first week, with 19,500 of those being pure sales, making it Minogue's best first-week sales since '' Body Language'' in 2003, when she sold 43,500. It also debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' Dance/Electronic Albums chart, becoming her second consecutive album to do so following ''Disco'', and peaked at number four on the Independent Albums chart, also sharing the spot with ''Disco''. In Canada, ''Tension'' debuted at number 23 on the regional albums charts.

Track listing

Notes
* signifies a vocal producer
* Disc 2 of ''Extension: The Extended Mixes'' on digital platforms contains the standard version of ''Tension''.

Personnel

Musicians

* Kylie Minogue – lead vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (tracks 8, 10)
* Peter Rycroft – keyboards, programming (1)
* Ina Wroldsen – vocals (1)
* Duck Blackwell – bass guitar, drums, guitar, keyboards (2–6, 9, 11, 14); backing vocals (5)
* Biff Stannard – percussion (2–6, 9, 11, 14), additional keyboards (2–6, 9, 14), backing vocals (2, 3, 5), keyboards (11)
* Jon Green – guitar (2–6), backing vocals (2, 3, 5, 6), keyboards (2, 5, 6)
* House Gospel Choir – choir (2)
* Natalie Maddix – choir direction, vocal vocal arrangement (2)
* Liza Marie Jennings – vocal arrangement (2)
* Jonny Bird – guitar (3)
* Ms Marinade – additional rap (7)
* Elizabeth Loughrey – backing vocals (7)
* Ryan Ashley – backing vocals (7)
* Daniel Davidsen – bass guitar (7, 8); drums, guitar, keyboards, programming (7)
* Kasper Larsen – bass guitar, drums, keyboards, programming (7)
* Mich Hansen – percussion (7)
* Peter Wallevik – backing vocals, keyboards (8)
* Ruby Spiro – backing vocals (8)
* Thomas Edinger – saxophone (8)
* James Abrahart – backing vocals (10)
* Martin Bijelic – bass guitar, bells, clapping, drum machine, keyboards, synthesizer, vocal effects (10)
* Oliver Heldens – bass guitar, bells, clapping, drums, keyboards, percussion, synthesizer, vocal effects (10)
* Maegan Cottone – backing vocals (12)
* Karen Poole – backing vocals (13)
* Carl Ryden – drums, keyboards (13)

Technical
* Dick Beetham – mastering (1–9, 11–13)
* Guy Massey – mixing (1–9, 11–13)
* Dale Becker – mastering (10)
* Oliver Heldens – mastering, mixing (10)
* Serge Courtois – mixing (10)
* Peter Rycroft – engineering (1)
* Duck Blackwell – engineering (2–6, 9, 11, 14)
* Biff Stannard – engineering (3–6)
* Jonny Bird – engineering (3)
* Jon Green – engineering (4–6)
* Daniel Davidsen – engineering (7)
* Kasper Larsen – engineering (7)
* PhD – engineering (8)
* Sky Adams – engineering (12)
* Carl Ryden – engineering (13)
* Kylie Minogue – vocal engineering (1, 7, 8, 13), additional vocal engineering (2–4, 6, 11, 14)

Visuals
* Studio Moross – design
* Haris Nukem – photography

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

See also

* List of number-one albums of 2023 (Australia)
* List of number-one albums of 2023 (Belgium)
* List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 2020s
* List of UK top-ten albums in 2023

References

Notes

Citations

{{Authority control

2023 albums
BMG Rights Management albums
Kylie Minogue albums
Albums produced by Richard Stannard (songwriter)
Albums produced by Cutfather