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. 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).

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”.

Discography

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 TalkerAriana 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 2012 Grammy Award Best Comedy Album Turtleneck & Chain (songwriter & producer) Catchiest New Song "I Wish" (songwriter & producer) Denniz Pop Awards Rookie Songwriter/Producer Himself 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) Best Pop Vocal Album My Everything (songwriter, producer & programmer) "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 AwardBest Original Song Critics' Choice Movie AwardsBest Song Grammy AwardBest Pop Solo Performance Best Song Written for Visual MediaBest 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)