Ilya Salmanzadeh
Ilya Salmanzadeh (born 19 September 1986), known mononymously as Ilya, is an Iranian-born Swedish songwriter, producer, and singer. He rose to prominence outside of Sweden after co-writing and producing Ariana Grande's hit single "Problem" for her second studio album, My Everything (2014). He is a six-time Grammy Awards nominee, including three nominations for Album of the Year: Grande's Thank U, Next (2020), Justin Bieber's Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe) (2022), and Lizzo's Special (2023).
Also recorded as Ilya
Ilya Salmanzadeh
- Name
- Ilya
- Birth Name
- Ilya Salmanzadeh
- Born
- 19 September 1986
- Birthplace
- Iran
- Occupation
- * Songwriter
- Nationality
- Sweden
- Fields
- pop
- Education
- Musicians Institute
- Languages
- Swedish · English
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Documentary summary
Ilya Salmanzadeh (born 19 September 1986), known mononymously as Ilya, is an Iranian-born Swedish songwriter, producer, and singer. He rose to prominence outside of Sweden after co-writing and producing Ariana Grande's hit single "Problem" for her second studio album, My Everything (2014). He is a six-time Grammy Awards nominee, including three nominations for Album of the Year: Grande's Thank U, Next (2020), Justin Bieber's Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe) (2022), and Lizzo's Special (2023).
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Ilya • Birth Name — Ilya Salmanzadeh • Alias — KnocDown • Born — 19 September 1986 • Birthplace — Iran • Origin — Stockholm, Sweden • Genre — * Pop • Europop • hip hop • R&B • Occupation — * Songwriter • producer • singer • Instruments — * Vocals • keyboards • guitar • bass guitar • percussion • Label — * Warner/Chappell • Capitol • Island • Republic • Sony • Universal • Wolf Cousins
Career
Career
Ilya Salmanzadeh was born in Iran, raised in Denmark, and moved to Sweden at age 11. In 2005 at the age of 19, he signed with Warner/Chappell Music in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2009, he graduated from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. "Miss Me", Mohombi & Nelly's song in 2010, was Ilya's first internationally acclaimed production. In 2011, he produced "Mama" and "Reba" from The Lonely Island's Grammy-nominated album, Turtleneck & Chain. In 2013, he produced Cher Lloyd's song, "I Wish", and Fifth Harmony's award-winning song, "Me & My Girls". Alongside Max Martin, he co-wrote and produced Ariana Grande's "Problem" and Jennifer Lopez's "First Love" in 2014. "Problem" went on to become one of the fastest-selling singles in iTunes history before winning a Teen Choice Award, VMA and EMA months later. In June 2014, Ilya was nominated for the Denniz Pop Awards, an annual prize handed out to up-and-coming musicians. "Bang Bang", co-produced by Ilya, was released as a joint single by Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj on 29 July 2014 to universal acclaim. In January 2015, Ellie Goulding's "Love Me Like You Do", co-written by Ilya, was released for the soundtrack album to the motion picture, Fifty Shades of Grey, becoming the most-streamed song in a week on Spotify. In May 2015, he remixed Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" with Kendrick Lamar, which became his first No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100. He co-wrote and produced large parts of Ariana Grande's later albums Sweetener and Thank U, Next. In 2019, Salmanzadeh co-wrote and produced Beyoncé's Grammy-nominated song "Spirit". He also worked on the production of Labrinth's singles "Miracle" and "Oblivion" (which features Sia), both taken from his sophomore solo album, Imagination & the Misfit Kid. In 2025, he co-wrote and produced several songs on Ed Sheeran's album Play, including the singles "Azizam", "Old Phone" and "Sapphire". Sheeran credited Salmanzadeh with providing him the idea of writing a song inspired by the producer's Persian heritage, which went onto become "Azizam". In 2026, Salmanzadeh composed and co-wrote on the Ariana Grande album “Petal”.
Singles
Singles
• As lead artist • 2007: "Used To Be" • As featured artist • 2009: "Get You on the Pool" (Kocky & Trash featuring Ilya) • 2011: "Got It Like That" (Lazee ft. Ilya)
Production discography
Ilya's works include: • Year — Title — Album — Songwriter — Producer • 2008 — "Karma" (featuring David Jassy) — Darin Zanyar – Flashback • "Road Trip" • 2010 — "Miss Me" (ft. Nelly) — Mohombi – MoveMeant • 2011 — "Alienized" — Linda Pritchard – Alive • "Crying in the Rain" • "Dance Your Tears Away" • "Erase & Rewind" • "Glorious" • "Miracle" • "Not Even Hello" • "On Time" • "Rise Again" • "Satellite" • "Stuck in a Riddle" • "Got It Like That" — Lazee – Supposed II Happen • "Explosive Love" — Eric Saade – Saade Vol. 2 • "Feel Alive" • "Mama" — The Lonely Island – Turtleneck & Chain • "Reba (Two Worlds Collide)" (ft. Kenan Thompson) • "Finally Free" — Kimberley Locke – Four for the Floor • 2012 — "Get Started" — David Lindgren – Get Started • "Bastard" — Amanda Fondell – Bastard • 2013 — "Can't Hold Back" — Anton Ewald – A • "We Are a Crowd" — The Lonely Island – The Wack Album • "Me & My Girls" — Fifth Harmony – Better Together • "I Wish" (ft. T.I.) — Cher Lloyd – Sorry I'm Late • 2014 — "One Last Time" — Ariana Grande – My Everything • "Problem" (ft. Iggy Azalea) • "First Love" — Jennifer Lopez – AKA • "Bang Bang" (Jessie J with Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj) — Jessie J – Sweet Talker Ariana Grande – My Everything • "Dreamers" — Mohombi – Universe • "Grow Old With You" • "Just Like That" • "Save Me" • "Comeback" — Ella Eyre – Feline • "Santa Tell Me" — Ariana Grande – Christmas Kisses • 2015 — "Love Me like You Do" — Ellie Goulding – Fifty Shades of Grey (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) • "Things I Didn't Say" — Adam Lambert – The Original High • "City Dove" — Tori Kelly – Unbreakable Smile • "Back It Up" (ft. Pitbull) — Prince Royce – Double Vision • "Back It Up" (ft. Jennifer Lopez & Pitbull) • "Bad Blood" (ft. Kendrick Lamar) — Taylor Swift – 1989 • "Good Thing" (ft. Nick Jonas) — Sage the Gemini – Bachelor Party • "Around the World" (ft. Fetty Wap) — Natalie La Rose – Around the World • "One in a Million" — Hilary Duff – Breathe In. Breathe Out. • "Confident" — Demi Lovato – Confident • "Mr. Hughes" • "On My Mind" — Ellie Goulding – Delirium • "Codes" • "Pay My Rent" — DNCE – Swaay • "Toothbrush" • "Focus" — Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman • 2016 — "Bad Decisions" • "Everyday" (ft. Future) • "Greedy" • "Into You" • "Side to Side" (ft. Nicki Minaj) • "Sometimes" • "Still Falling for You" — Ellie Goulding – Bridget Jones's Baby: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack • "Don't Talk About It" — Tove Lo – Lady Wood • "Fire Fade" • "They Don't Know" — Ariana Grande – Trolls: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack • "What U Workin' With?" — Gwen Stefani & Justin Timberlake – Trolls: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack • "DNCE" — DNCE – DNCE • "Pay My Rent" • "Toothbrush" • "Zoom" • 2017 — "Lions" — Skip Marley – Lions • "Calm Down" — Skip Marley – Calm Down • "Act My Age" — Katy Perry – Witness • "Ain't About What You Got" — Star cast – Star (season 1) soundtrack • "Would You Mind" — PRETTYMUCH – Would You Mind • "End Game" (ft. Ed Sheeran and Future) — Taylor Swift – Reputation • "Refugee" — Skip Marley – Refugee • "Teacher" — PRETTYMUCH – Teacher • "Open Arms" — PRETTYMUCH – Open Arms • 2018 — "Raindrops (An Angel Cried)" — Ariana Grande – Sweetener • "God Is a Woman" • "Everytime" • "Breathin" • "No Tears Left to Cry" • "Close To Me" (ft. Swae Lee) — Ellie Goulding & Diplo – Brightest Blue • "Last Goodbye" (ft. Tove Styrke & Stefflon Don) — Clean Bandit – What Is Love? • 2019 — "Bloodline" — Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next • "Bad Idea" • "Ghostin" • "Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored" • "Tu Vecina" (ft. Ty Dolla Sign) — Maluma – 11:11 • "Miracle" — Labrinth – Imagination & the Misfit Kid • "Oblivion" (ft. Sia) • "Spirit" — Beyoncé – The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack • "How Do You Sleep?" — Sam Smith – Love Goes • "Don't Call Me Angel" — Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey and various artists – Charlie's Angels: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack • "How It's Done" • "Bad to You" • "Nobody" • "How I Look on You" • "Motivation" — Normani – Motivation • 2020 — "I'm Ready" — Sam Smith and Demi Lovato – Love Goes • "Worry About Me" (ft. Blackbear) — Ellie Goulding – Brightest Blue • "My Oasis" (ft. Burna Boy) — Sam Smith – Love Goes • "High on Your Supply" — Katy Perry – Smile • 2021 — "Oh Na Na" (with Myke Towers and Tainy) — Camila Cabello – Familia • "Telepath" — Conan Gray – non-album single • "Alone Together" — Westlife – Wild Dreams • 2022 — "Lightning" — Charli XCX – Crash • "Unholy" — Sam Smith – Gloria • "I Love Your Girl" — Mabel – About Last Night... • "Grrrls" — Lizzo – Special • "If Jesus Was a Rockstar" — Kim Petras – non-album single • 2023 — "Brrr" — Kim Petras – Feed the Beast • "Vulgar" (Sam Smith and Madonna) — Sam Smith and Madonna – non-album single • 2024 — "Bye" — Ariana Grande – Eternal Sunshine • "Don't Wanna Break Up Again" • "Saturn Returns Interlude" • "Eternal Sunshine" • "True Story" • "The Boy Is Mine" • "Yes, And?" • "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" • "I Wish I Hated You" • "Imperfect for You" • "Never Ending Song" — Conan Gray – Found Heaven • "Lonely Dancers" • "The Final Fight" • "New Woman" (ft. Rosalía) — Lisa – Alter Ego • "WE PRAY" — Coldplay, Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna and Tini – Moon Music • "It's OK I'm OK" — Tate McRae – So Close to What • 2025 — "All of the Same Lights" — Sabliess – Chaotic • "Twilight Zone" — Ariana Grande – Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead • "Dandelion" • "Past Life" • "Hampstead" • "Sapphire" — Ed Sheeran – Play • "Azizam" • "Old Phone" • "Symmetry" • "Camera" • "Don't Look Down" • "Heaven" • "Medicine" — Khalid – After the Sun Goes Down • "In Plain Sight" • "Nah" • "Impulsive" • "Tank Top" • "Whenever You're Gone" • "Dumbstruck" • "Rendezvous" • "True" • "Instant" • "Momentary Lovers" • "Yes No Maybe" • "Angel Boy" • "Hurt People" • 2026 — "Kiss Me" — Ariana Grande – Petal • "Hate That I Made You Love Me" • "Petal" • "Stay" • "Oh Well" • "Big Feelings" • "Freak" • "Warning Signs" (interlude) • "Like I Do" • "Never Get Over Me" • "Bad Thing (Bunny Hop)" • "Nowhere, Nobody"
Awards and nominations
• Year — Award — Category — Nominated work — Result — Reference • 2012 — Grammy Award — Best Comedy Album — Turtleneck & Chain (songwriter & producer) • 2014 — Radio Disney Music Awards — Best Song to Rock Out to With Your BFF — "Me & My Girls" (producer) • Catchiest New Song — "I Wish" (songwriter & producer) • Denniz Pop Awards — Rookie Songwriter/Producer — Himself • Swedish Music Publishers Prize — Year's Breakthrough • Teen Choice Awards — Song: Female Artist — "Problem" (songwriter & producer) • MTV Video Music Award — Best Female Video • Best Pop Video • Best Collaboration • Best Lyric Video • MTV Europe Music Awards — Best Song • 2015 — People's Choice Awards — Favorite Song — "Bang Bang" (producer) • Favorite Album — My Everything (songwriter, producer & programmer) • Grammy Award — Best Pop Duo/Group Performance — "Bang Bang" (producer) • Best Pop Vocal Album — My Everything (songwriter, producer & programmer) • Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards — Favorite Song of the Year — "Bang Bang" (producer) • "Problem" (songwriter & producer) • iHeartRadio Music Awards — Best Collaboration — "Bang Bang" (producer) • "Problem" (songwriter & producer) • Radio Disney Music Awards — Song of the Year — "Problem" (songwriter & producer) • ASCAP Pop Music Awards — Writer Among the Most Performed Songs — Himself • Billboard Music Award — Top Soundtrack — Fifty Shades of Grey (songwriter) • MTV Europe Music Awards — Best Song — "Bad Blood" (producer) • "Love Me like You Do" (songwriter) • Latin Grammy Award — Best Urban Song — "Back It Up (Spanish Version)" (songwriter & producer) • American Music Award — Top Soundtrack — Fifty Shades of Grey (composer) • Collaboration of the Year — "Bad Blood" (producer) • 2016 — People's Choice Awards — Favorite Song of the Year • "Love Me like You Do" (songwriter) • Golden Globe Award — Best Original Song • Critics' Choice Movie Awards — Best Song • Grammy Award — Best Pop Solo Performance • Best Song Written for Visual Media • Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media — Fifty Shades of Grey (songwriter) • 2022 — Grammy Award — Album of the Year — Justice (producer & songwriter) • 2023 — Grammy Award — Album of the Year — Special (producer, engineers & mixer) • 2025 — Grammy Award — Best Dance Pop Recording — Yes, And? (producer)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Gradvall, Jan. World exclusive: Max Martin, #1 hitmaker. Dagens Industri. 11 February 2016.
- 2.How Ariana Grande and Max Martin Made 'Problem' the Song of the Summer. Rolling Stone. 22 May 2014.
- 3.Ilya Salmanzadeh. Grammy Awards.
- 4.Amorosi, A. D. Hitmaker of the Month: Producer-Songwriter ILYA Talks 'Unholy' Matrimony of Sam Smith and Kim Petras; What He Learned From Max Martin. Variety. 27 October 2022.
- 5.discogs. Mohombi – MoveMeant. 28 February 2011.
- 6.DirectLyrics Interviews Mohombi: On New Album 'Universe', Label Status & World Domination. Directlyrics.
- 7.The Saade Vol.2 Previews: 'Feel Alive'. Scandipop. 23 November 2011.
- 8.2012 Grammys: The comedy category has changed. HonoluluPulse.com. 8 February 2012.
- 9.Cher Lloyd – I Wish ft. T.I. alexurbanpop.com. 24 September 2013.
- 10.Fifth Harmony schedule release date for debut mini-album 'Better Together'. hamadamania.com. 8 September 2013.
- 11.Jennifer Lopez releases lyric video for new single 'First Love'. hamadamania.com. 4 May 2014.
- 12.Hill, Erin. Ariana Grande: 'I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything Annoying or Shocking to Convey My Maturity'. Parade. 27 August 2014.
- 13.Ariana Grande: "Max Martin är ett geni". Aftonbladet. 16 June 2014.
- 14.Ecouter Jennifer Lopez – First Love sur Musique Radio. MusiqueRadio.com.
- 15.Ariana Grande's 'Problem' Twitter Reactions to Her New Number 1 Single. International Business Times. 29 April 2014.
- 16.Caulfield, Keith. Ariana Grande's 'Problem' Set for Record Sales Debut. Billboard.
- 17.Ariana Grande Breaks iTunes Record With New Single Problem. Metro. 7 May 2014.
- 18.Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande & Jessie J Releasing New Single 'Bang Bang'. HollywoodLife.
- 19.Ilya – Problem. DennizPopAwards.com.
- 20.This year's Laureates in Denniz Pop Awards. Expressen. 12 June 2014.
- 21.Sinding-Larsen, Per. 13 hopp för 2015. Sveriges Television. 31 December 2014.
- 22.Lipshutz, Jason. Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj Combine For 'Bang Bang' Single. Billboard. 1 July 2014.
- 23.Alexis, Nadeska. The Reactions To Nicki Minaj's 'Bang Bang' Verse Are Even Better in French. MTV.
- 24.Denham, Jess. Ellie Goulding Fifty Shades of Grey song named most-streamed track in a week on Spotify. The Independent. 19 February 2015.
- 25.Trust, Gary. Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood' Blasts to No. 1 on Hot 100. Billboard. 27 May 2015.
- 26.Molanphy, Chris. Why Is Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar's "Bad Blood" No. 1?. Slate. 3 June 2015.
- 27.Ilya Salmanzadeh is a songwriter. artists.spotify.com.
- 28.Ed Sheeran Collaborates with Iranian Producer Ilya Salmanzadeh. SecneNow.
- 29.Ilya – Used To Be. Grooveshark.
- 30.discogs. Lazee – Supposed II Happen.
- 31.AllMusic. Ilya Salmanzadeh.
- 32.discogs. Ilya Salmanzadeh.
- 33.Ilya Salmanzadeh. Artistdirect.
- 34.Ilya Salmanzadeh. Sverigetopplistan.
- 35.Oblivion (feat. Sia). Apple Music.
- 36.Telepath. Apple Music. 29 October 2021.
- 37.Credits / Crash / Charli XCX. Tidal. 18 March 2022.
- 38.If Jesus Was A Rockstar. Apple Music. 11 November 2022.
- 39.WE PRAY. Apple Music. 22 August 2024.
- 40.eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead. Apple Music. 28 March 2025.
- 41.petal. Apple Music. 31 July 2026.
- 42.Hochman, David. Radio Disney Music Awards 2014: Full List Of Winners. Forbes.
- 43.Just Announced: The 2014 RDMA Categories and Nominees. Disney. 22 February 2014.
- 44.Nominated for Music Publishers Prize 2014. Musikförläggarna. 29 September 2014.
- 45.Teen Choice Awards: The Complete Winners List. The Hollywood Reporter. 10 August 2014.
- 46.MTV. Best Female Video 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. 24 August 2014.
- 47.Ehrlich, Brenna. Ponytail Princess Ariana Grande Wins Best Pop Video VMA. MTV.
- 48.MTV. Best Collaboration 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. 24 August 2014.
- 49.MTV. Best Lyric Video 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. 24 August 2014.
- 50.One Direction win three MTV Europe Music Awards in Glasgow. BBC. 9 November 2014.
- 51.CNN. People's Choice Awards 2015: The winners list. 7 January 2015.
- 52.Begley, Sarah. Here Are the Grammy Nominees for 2015. Time.
- 53.Keegan, Simon. Kids' Choice Awards: All the winners and losers at this year's gunge-fest. Daily Mirror. 29 March 2015.
- 54.Olson, Cathy Applefeld. Meghan Trainor, Iggy Azalea and More Nab Nominations at Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards. Billboard. 19 February 2015.
- 55.Vain, Madison. Taylor Swift Wins Big at iHeartRadio Music Awards 2015. Time. 29 March 2015.
- 56.Iggy Azalea & Sam Smith Lead 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards Nominations. Billboard. 4 February 2015.
- 57.Vulpo, Mike. Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez and Fifth Harmony Win Big at the 2015 Radio Disney Music Awards. E!. 26 April 2015.
- 58.32nd Annual Pop Music Awards – Most Performed Songs. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. 29 April 2015.
- 59.Billboard Music Awards 2015: See the Full List of Finalists. Billboard. 7 April 2015.
- 60.MTV Europe Music Awards 2015: Here Are All The Winners. Forbes. 26 October 2015.
- 61.Latin Grammy Winners 2015: Natalia Lafourcade, J Balvin Take Home Awards, Plus Full List. Latin Times. 19 November 2015.
- 62.American Music Awards 2015: Check Out All the Winners Here. Billboard. 22 November 2015.
- 63.People's Choice Awards 2016: Recap and Winners List. ABC. 7 January 2016.
- 64.The Golden Globes: Full List of Winners and Nominees. NBC. 10 January 2016.
- 65.CBS. Critics' Choice Awards 2016 nominees announced. 14 December 2015.
- 66.Kendrick Lamar Sweeps Rap Field at Grammys; Taylor Swift Wins Best Album. The New York Times. 15 February 2016.
References
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Studied at
1- Musicians InstituteOrganisation
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1- SwedenPlace
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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