RedOne

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

RedOne is the stage name of Nadir Khayat, a Moroccan-Swedish producer, songwriter and singer. He was born on 9 April 1972 in Tétouan, Morocco, the ninth and youngest child. In 1991, at the age of nineteen, he moved to Sweden, because so much good music came from there. He named ABBA, Europe and Roxette as major influences. He began as a rock musician, but in 1995 he chose to write and produce songs for others. He took the name RedOne from the nickname of a friend, Redouan.

Music and breakthrough

Important for his change of course was Rami Yacoub, a Swedish producer who taught him how to work with programming and software. Together they wrote songs, including for the Swedish girl group Popsie. After that he produced for Swedish and European pop acts, and in 2001 and 2002 he worked on A*Teens, a group that had started out as an ABBA tribute band. Later he worked with artists such as Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, One Direction, Nicki Minaj and Usher.

Influence

In 2009 he was the leading producer on the Billboard Hot 100. He won three Grammys, received eight nominations and in 2010 founded a label of his own. Since 2021 he has been Creative Entertainment Executive at FIFA. His sound combines dance, pop, house, hip hop and R&B in a smooth, dance-floor-oriented production. He is an example of the producer as the defining force behind other people's hits.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 2025A.W.A.M.