Elton John is taking things in a different approach with his latest collaboration for his upcoming project, The Lockdown Sessions, after revealing the dance-ready Dua Lipa “Cold Heart” remix. The new tune “After All,” which she co-wrote with Charlie Puth, is a fluttering hymn to believing in love, and it all began when the two musicians met by happenstance in a LA restaurant in March 2020.
The song “After All” is the outcome of multiple composition sessions between Puth and Elton after they discovered they live close to each other. It’s also the first time any of them has composed new music while in lockdown. John commended Puth’s talent when discussing the upcoming collaboration:
“Charlie is an amazing musician; we just hit it off. He’s become a friend and a friend of the family. Our children love him and he loves them. Everyone we’ve worked with on The Lockdown Sessions I’ve really gotten closer to them, it’s quite amazing. With ‘After All,’ Charlie and I were in the studio, just the two of us. He’s got a little home set up with his keyboards, synths, and Pro Tools. I played electric piano and actually wrote the song all the way through and then Charlie wrote the lyrics pretty quickly. He’s incredibly quick, Charlie. We just had an amazing chemistry in the studio.”
Echoing John’s statement, Puth gushed about how he’s looked up to John for some time. “As a songwriter, I have admired and looked up to Elton John my entire life,” he said. “It is truly incredible how the melodies and chords seem to come to him instantly whenever he sits down at the piano. I got to witness that firsthand when we wrote this song together. He is world class and the true definition of a musical genius. Being a part of his musical journey is a dream come true.”
