Benny Blanco jokes his music taste is like that of a 15-year-old girl

Even top producers chase that youthful thrill.

Benny Blanco, now 37, recently admitted his musical instincts align “very similarly” to those of a “15-year-old girl” during his Harper’s BAZAAR Icons issue interview. He explained, “I’ve just always been drawn to having fun and making stuff that makes me feel good… If it winds up being something that other people like, then that’s cool to me. If it doesn’t, then that’s also cool to me.”

This refreshing candor reveals that Blanco’s secret sauce is emotional spontaneity, not overthinking. In a pop world often plagued by over-calculation, he highlights the power of intuition: what feels good to him gets air no matter what critics say.

That’s instantly relatable to his American audience hungry for authenticity over artifice. Real magic happens when you drop the spreadsheet and just go with your gut.

Hits Born of Fun, Not Formula

Some chart-toppers are accidents in the best way.

Blanco’s career is studded with massive hits, Kesha’s “TiK ToK,” Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” and Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger.” But he insists none was manufactured perfection. Recalling the making of “Teenage Dream,” he said: “We were just making a song and having fun and getting drunk. It’s not rocket science. Sometimes you happen to be in the right spot at the right time.”

This reminds us that great pop often emerges organically, through late-night sessions, laughter, maybe a buzz, and not through corporate formulas. Making space for joy, not pressure, can create timeless art. That teenlike vibe captures pure emotion and reminds American readers that sometimes the best music springs from the simplest moments.

When the spark feels right, who needs a production manual?

Even the Hits Blur Together

When you’ve written that many hits… memory fails you.

Despite his nickname as “hit-maker,” Blanco admits he sometimes forgets his own songs. He laughed that he’s “old and can’t remember anything,” describing moments where he Shazams a track in a restaurant only to realize it’s his own. Blanco has been making music for 16 years; at that scale, even your own hits start to blur.

This isn’t arrogance, it’s the reality of a creative machine at work. For the audience, it humanizes Blanco. He’s not a detached genius, just a guy who loves music so much that the songs feel like shared memories, not trophies.

When you’ve scored so many hits, even remembering them becomes a pop-culture party trick.

Love Fuels the Latest Album

When the muse is also your romantic partner… sparks fly.

Blanco’s most recent project is a collaboration with his fiancée, Selena Gomez. In March 2025, they released their joint album I Said I Love You First. This intimate project emerged organically from their emotional connection and shared creativity.

The album reflects their relationship arc, from mutual artistic respect to true love. Their public relationship, which began quietly, became official by late 2023 and led to an engagement announcement in December 2024.

This long-standing creative bond underscores the emotional authenticity of the album. When love and melody blend, the result can sound like an honest conversation.

A Catalog Built on Versatility

From pop anthems to intimate collabs, this guy does it all.

Beyond his recent work with Selena, Blanco’s resume spans decades. Business Insider credits him with mega-hits like Britney Spears’s “Circus,” Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” and Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself,” in addition to earlier successes with Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Kesha.

This breadth shows that his so-called “teen-girl mind” isn’t a limitation, it’s a versatility booster. He intuitively tunes into emotional wavelengths across genres and generational tastes, shaping huge chart-toppers and personal gems alike.

From teenage fantasies to grown-up confessions, his playlist is universal.

Authenticity Over Artifice

Being “iconic” is just not caring what people like.

Blanco’s appeal lies in his unapologetic authenticity. Saying his taste echoes that of a teenage girl was bold, but it comes from a place of genuine self-awareness. “Being iconic is just not caring what people should like,” he explained during his Harper’s BAZAAR Icons feature.

That statement sums up the way he’s navigated the pop world for nearly two decades, by refusing to let trends or expectations dictate what he creates. Unlike many producers who lean into over-polished formulas or industry-safe strategies, Blanco thrives on instinct.

He openly admits that his favorite songs are often the ones that feel most natural in the moment, fun beats, silly hooks, and melodies that hit instantly. That’s why fans find him relatable. He doesn’t overcomplicate pop; he celebrates it for what it is: catchy, emotional, and universally understood.

This authenticity also explains why artists from Katy Perry to Selena Gomez trust him. They know they won’t get forced perfection; they’ll get honesty, laughter, and a track that actually feels alive. In today’s culture of filters, algorithms, and carefully curated images, Blanco’s refusal to pretend resonates even more.

In a world of filtered personas, refusing to filter feels iconic.

TL;DR

• Benny Blanco joked that his music taste is like that of a 15-year-old girl, meaning he follows pure instinct and fun.
• He said he doesn’t care if others approve, believing being “iconic” is about not overthinking.
• His biggest hits, including “Teenage Dream” and “Moves Like Jagger,” were created during casual, fun sessions.
• Blanco insists great pop songs are often happy accidents, not calculated formulas.
• With 16 years in the industry, he sometimes forgets his own songs and has even Shazamed them in restaurants.
• He recently collaborated with his fiancée, Selena Gomez on their March 2025 album I Said I Love You First.
• Their project reflects both romantic and creative synergy, rooted in authenticity.
• Blanco’s career spans hits with Katy Perry, Rihanna, Kesha, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, and Britney Spears.
• His philosophy is about prioritizing joy, spontaneity, and sincerity in the studio.
• For Blanco, embracing youthful energy is less about age and more about staying true to the emotions that drive great pop.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.