Everything to Know About the Writer Behind the Jonas Brothers' Latest Single
Following John Legend, Will.i.am., and Kelsea Ballerini, The Jonas Brothers appeared as the fourth batch of celebrity guest judges on NBC's new show, Songland.
Tuesday night's songwriters-Abel Heart, Remmi, Ori, and Rynn-brought their best, but it was Heart's "Greenlight" that won the brothers over, ultimately becoming the band's brand-new single.
On this week's episode of Songland, the Jonas Brothers came looking for a hit new single and they found it.
"I think the thing we are looking for most is something that hits us right in between the eyes. That we know we can take around the world and play for our fans everywhere we go," Nick Jonas said during the episode.
The four contestants-Remmi, Abel Heart, Ori, and Rynn-wrote their best tunes, but ultimately it was Heart's upbeat "Greenlight" that felt perfect for the band.
The song is about the great things you get to do with the person you're in love with-but only when they're the one.
The lyrics to the chorus go: "You say I got the greenlight/The things we do past midnight/Just me and you/Don't need a light/Girl, the things I do for a greenlight/the greenlight."
Ester Dean described it as a rock-rap song with a twist. She worked with Heart to transform it from a track written for a solo artist to a song that a group couple perform at an equal level. He also produced and mixed the track too.
"Having the Jonas Brothers release my song is just surreal. I'm so grateful for the opportunity that Songland provided for me to work with these amazing, talented people and for the confirmation that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be," Heart told OprahMag.com exclusively.
In the episode, viewers got to find out a bit more about Abel Heart and the special meaning behind his artist name. "My mom always said, 'You're able to do anything your heart desires,' So that's kind of how that came out," he said.
Before falling in love with music, Heart was an avid skateboarder and snowboarder. In the episode, he revealed he was on track to head to the Olympics before injuring his back at 15. After that, he fell into addiction and depression, according to his Instagram.
A post shared by Able Heart (@ableheart) on Sep 16, 2018 at 1:05pm PDT
"Since I was 15 I have struggled with drugs, addiction and depression, trying to escape the void I felt inside. In the beginning, everything seems so new and amazing. So I would glorify the lifestyle, and justify everything that came with it... In the end, I destroyed everything good I've ever had and hurt the people I loved most in this world," he wrote.
"The only thing that has ever seemed to help me express how I feel inside is through my music. The things I talk about in my music and show in my videos is my outlet."
Abel Heart credits finding music with turning his life around. "It was a blessing in disguise because writing was a huge play in my recovery," he said during the episode.
Before appearing on the show, Heart released his music on Soundcloud. A year ago, he released an EP called "Drugs," which is all about his past addictions. In addition, he's released a remix of the Rae Sremmurd 2017 hit "Swang."
The moment Heart performed "Greenlight" for the Jonas Brother, they were hooked.
"I said it the first time I heard you sing and I'll say it again, I think you're an artist," Nick said. "That was your first performance and that was amazing."
Joe echoed his brother's sentiment too, adding, "It's like the song itself has heart. It's got some Able Heart in there."
Listen to the Jonas Brothers' new single "Greenlight" on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming services now.
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