Ariana Grande’s Santa Tell Me has solidified its place as a staple in modern Christmas playlists. This beloved holiday anthem, a contemporary addition to the Christmas songbook, emerged from a casual, unexpected spark of creativity during the summer months. Penned in the same fruitful year that saw Grande release hits like Problem, Love Me Harder, Bang Bang, and Break Free, Santa Tell Me originated from a simple melodic idea conceived by songwriter-producer Savan Kotecha. This festive track, co-written with frequent collaborators Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh, began its journey in a rather unconventional location: Kotecha’s shower.
In a moment of summertime inspiration, Kotecha hummed the initial melody of what would become Santa Tell Me. Excited by the tune, he quickly recorded an a cappella version and sent it to Ilya Salmanzadeh. The duo then refined the melody and structure before bringing Ariana Grande into the creative process to work on the lyrics. Just four months later, in November 2014, Santa Tell Me was officially released. Since then, it has resonated with audiences worldwide, becoming a cherished Yuletide favorite alongside some of the most timeless Christmas songs.
The song’s popularity is undeniable. Santa Tell Me reached the coveted No. 1 position on Billboard’s Holiday 100 chart in January 2015, demonstrating its immediate impact. It maintained a strong presence on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a total of 13 weeks, further cementing its mainstream appeal. Billboard’s 2022 ranking of the 100 best Christmas songs of all time placed Santa Tell Me at number 13, highlighting its enduring quality. Notably, it was the only song within the top 25 of that list to have been released in the 21st century, proving its modern relevance. On Spotify, Santa Tell Me has become one of the most streamed Christmas tracks of all time, surpassing 700 million streams by November 2022, a testament to its continued and growing listenership.
Nearly a decade after its debut, Savan Kotecha reflects on the serendipitous creation of Santa Tell Me, offering insights into the collaborative songwriting process with Ilya and Ariana Grande.
“Trying to recall those moments feels like looking back at a different era,” Kotecha begins, reminiscing about the song’s origins. “I feel like that period of my career, and for all of us involved, was a peak of creative confidence. It felt like the universe was just showering us with incredible song ideas, they would just appear almost effortlessly. Often, for me, it would start with a chorus melody just popping into my head, fully formed, and I knew instinctively it was something special.”
Kotecha describes the collaborative atmosphere that fueled their creativity. “As a team, there was this incredible synergy and positive energy. I often got my initial song ideas while showering. I believe Ilya and I had been discussing the idea of creating a Christmas song. We even joked about it, thinking it would be funny since he’s Iranian and I’m Indian – the idea of us writing a quintessential Christmas song. I think Ilya was in Sweden at the time, and I remember it was July in LA when the melody for Santa Tell Me just came to me in the shower. I have the original voice note saved somewhere. I literally stepped out of the shower, probably got water all over my phone, and recorded the idea immediately. I think I might have even recorded it twice, the first time just saying, ‘Hey Ilya, check out this Christmas song idea… for Ari,’ or something similar.”
“I sent it to Ilya, and he immediately loved it and saw the potential,” Kotecha continues, outlining their typical workflow. “That was often our process: I’d come up with a chorus idea, and he would create this amazing sonic landscape around it. He sent back chords to the a cappella, and I think I was in the studio the very next day, starting to develop the verses. I worked on the verses alone initially, sent them back to him, we tweaked a few things collaboratively. Then, Ariana joined the project, and we brought it all together.”
The process of finalizing Santa Tell Me was quick and efficient, fueled by the creative momentum they were experiencing. “It took a few days to really nail the song and refine everything, but during that time, especially working with Ariana, we were just on fire creatively,” Kotecha explains. “It started with a casual suggestion, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if Ariana had a Christmas song?’ Everyone immediately loved the idea. Ariana herself was enthusiastic, ‘Yeah, we should totally do a Christmas song.’ And just like that, everyone was on board. There were no obstacles, no real creative disagreements. It’s quite amazing how the song has endured and grown over the years. Ilya even predicted it early on. He said something like, ‘I really think this is going to be one of the best modern Christmas songs ever.’”
Reflecting on the detailed songwriting process, Kotecha adds, “I don’t recall the exact timeline, but I remember spending a few days working on the verse melodies, then Ilya sent chords, and we developed a bridge. It was a process of sleeping on it, tweaking melodies, and then working with Ariana to refine lyrics and other details. But it was a very smooth and productive flow.”
He compares the Santa Tell Me writing experience to their usual creative rhythm. “During that period, we were dedicating days to each song anyway, so the timeline was pretty typical for us. It wasn’t as intense or drawn out as some other songs we worked on, like Side To Side, but it was a focused few days with a great creative energy. And that collaborative flow, I think, is crucial for songwriters. I’ve been incredibly fortunate throughout my career to have these ‘angels’ guiding me – whether it was Simon Cowell early on, or Max Martin, or Ilya, people with exceptional taste and talent. Surrounding yourself with people who have great taste, especially in songwriting, who are honest and contribute meaningfully, is invaluable.”
Kotecha emphasizes the importance of collaboration and shared vision. “We all support each other, contribute ideas freely, and trust each other’s instincts. If someone walks in and suggests a change, even if it’s to a part you’re attached to, no one gets possessive. There’s no ‘No, it’s my song!’ mentality. Everyone’s focused on making the song the best it can possibly be. That’s a really important aspect, especially in the often competitive LA songwriting scene where people can be very protective of their contributions and publishing splits, worrying about having too many writers on a track.”
“I always tell aspiring songwriters, ‘Focus on making the song the absolute best it can be.’ Because if the song is exceptional and resonates, everyone involved benefits. If you prioritize your percentage over the song’s quality, and it doesn’t succeed, that extra percentage becomes meaningless. Wouldn’t you rather be a part of an amazing song that achieves something significant? You learn from every song, both the successes and the so-called ‘flops,’ and that learning experience is priceless.”
Adding a personal, festive anecdote, Kotecha shares, “I remember Ari made Santa Tell Me themed onesies for us, which I still wear every Christmas! It’s such a wonderful memory. I’m a huge Christmas enthusiast. At my home in Sweden, we go all out for Christmas. We decorate extensively, both inside and out. I even build a whole Santa’s workshop, and kids from the neighborhood come to visit, it’s a big production. So, being a part of something like Santa Tell Me, a song that’s become part of people’s holiday season, is truly special.”
He concludes by reflecting on the song’s continued success. “Every year, it gains even more popularity on Spotify, which is still so surprising and wonderful to witness. We often joke about it with the other writers in the studio because, year after year, Santa Tell Me ends up being one of the biggest hits among all our songs. It’s been incredibly fun to watch its journey and be a part of something that brings joy to so many people during the holiday season.”
Savan Kotecha is a highly accomplished songwriter and producer, renowned for his work with global music icons including Lizzo, The Weeknd, One Direction, and Ariana Grande. Follow his updates on Twitter at twitter.com/savan_kotecha.
